Having an external DVD drive has many advantages and many disadvantages, and we’ll review both so you can decide which one is best for you.
The advantages of an external USB DVD drive…
Well, the first obvious advantage is that they are mobile and portable. You can very easily move them anywhere you go or travel to.
Another reason why these external drives have continued to be useful is because of the advent of the super portable laptop. Because with these super-fast, ultra-light, ultra-portable laptops also came the removal of many of their key components. This, for example, may include removing a decent DVD-RW drive… Replaced in its place with a CD-RW and DVD playback or the possibility of having nothing at all. So this would make you buy an external drive as a substitute. This adds a lot of flexibility because you can then take it if you need it, or just leave it behind if you don’t.
Another advantage of these external drives is that they can be carried from one computer to the next, which is beneficial in a small business office environment, as well as for sharing within a home.
And if you’re not a techie, you can very easily update the external driver by simply plugging it into the USB port, installing the software, and you’re good to go.
The Disadvantages of an External USB DVD Drive…
Well, for one, external drives are more expensive than their internal equivalent. Additionally, external drives are much slower at writing and reading discs than their equally rated internal counterparts.
Another disadvantage is that they take up additional space and need additional cables such as power cable, Firewire cable or USB cable (there are no wireless solutions yet).
And because external drives are moved around a lot, you risk having them fall on the floor or break, increasing the chances of you crashing.
So, of the two, which is better? Well, very simple, it all comes down to the individual needs and desires of each user.