Is this external DVD drive good for my new x61s?

Merry Christmas everyone!

I found this LG external DVD drive:
http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=207656632

Would it make a good companion to my new x61s? Does the price look good? (sorry, never bought one before)

I can use my Verbatim DVD+RW discs with this drive for recording purpose?

(I see many similar models with E60L, E60N, E40L... Any idea how they differ?)

Can't find any AC powered drives. If anyone knows please inform. Thanks

 

I recently ordered this one off Newegg:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151178

The quality looks pretty good, and it's slim. It doesn't have Lightscribe, but I think that feature's pretty useless.

 

Thank you. Actually I'm looking for an AC powered one since I don't intend to carry it around, but everything I found online is USB. Does anyone know where I can find AC-powered external DVD drives for sale? I'd also like to see a picture of it. How does it connect to the laptop if not using USB?

 

Pioneer makes one that is powered by an AC adapter. You can find it at Newegg at:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827129033&Tpk=DVR-X162Q

Though nobody has reviewed it yet, I have always had good experiences with Pioneer's drives.

The name of the drive is:
Pioneer DVR-X162Q

 

Thanks, but it's about the price of a USB one? Got more cheaper ones to compare:

LG GSA-E60L
Samsung SE-S204S/AMWN
LITEON 2-Tone DX-20A4PU-06

Prices are close. Which is better? Input most appreciated!

 

A stupid question: how can I tell from the picture whether an external drive is AC powered or USB powered? Are all the bigger sized-looking ones AC-powered, and all slim looking ones USB powered? The descriptions make no mention of this.

 

As a general rule that is true. Most of the slim ones are USB powered (often by 2 USB ports because USB only provides 500mA per port), some of the USB ones can also run by AC (1 port USB for data, 1 AC/USB for extra power).

 

Thank you so much!

 

I just got that drive for Christmas to go with my X200. We bought it locally at Best Buy to go under the tree (waited too late to order online) and it was $85 at the store, so $63 is good.

I've only used it so far to make my product recovery media which I haven't actually tested since I didn't want to actually do a restore

It has an AC adapter for power. Seems fine so far. I'll be burning more media soon to test it. But I don't plan to use either Lightscribe or SecurDisc. I also don't have any dual layer media.

 

LG is not good. I have one that broke after 1 month.

 

A 20x DVD/48x CD drive is not going to run off bus power... Rotational speed is about the limit before the cd/dvd deforms. Once it gets going you'll understand that 5V/500ma isn't enough

I agree that lightscribe is a pretty much useless gimmick unless you are a neat freak with way too much time on your hands.

The most important question is: can the drive be flashed to be dvd region-free? I have the LiteOn DH20A4P to complement my X61 and am pretty happy with it. Obviously the drive sits on my desk and I'm not travelling with it...

 

I have been using my xbox 360 HD-DVD drive for now. I will look in to a nice burner soon.