Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition DVD Drives

The Bottom Line: The Plextor PX-740UF is a sturdy drive that performs beautifully, but it's expensive.

Specs: DVD±RW (±R DL), 48x (CD) / 16x (DVD), 48x (CD) / 16x (DVD±R) / 4x (DVD-R DL) / 8x (DVD+R DL), 32x (CD) / 6x (DVD-RW) / 8x (DVD+RW)

The Bottom Line: The LaCie d2 DVD+/-RW FireWire and USB 2.0 (16X/8X/4X/2.4X) with LightScribe is an average external drive at an average price.

Specs: DVD±RW (+R DL), 40x (CD) / 16x (DVD), 40x (CD) / 8x (DVD-R) / 16x (DVD+R) / 2.4x (DVD+R DL), 24x (CD) / 4x (DVD±RW)

The Bottom Line: The Asus DRW-1608P is a steal: good overall performance at a low price.

Specs: DVD±RW (±R DL), 40x (CD) / 16x (DVD), 40x (CD) / 16x (DVD±R) / 6x (DVD±R DL), 24x (CD) / 6x (DVD-RW) / 8x (DVD+RW)

The Bottom Line: The Asus DRW-1608P is a steal: good overall performance at a low price.

Specs: DVD±RW (±R DL), 40x (CD) / 16x (DVD), 40x (CD) / 16x (DVD±R) / 6x (DVD±R DL), 24x (CD) / 6x (DVD-RW) / 8x (DVD+RW)

The Bottom Line: The Asus DRW-1608P is a steal: good overall performance at a low price.

Specs: DVD±RW (±R DL), 40x (CD) / 16x (DVD), 40x (CD) / 16x (DVD±R) / 6x (DVD±R DL), 24x (CD) / 6x (DVD-RW) / 8x (DVD+RW)

The Bottom Line: This double-layer drive is versatile but is easily outpaced by other external DVD drives.

Specs: DVD±RW (+R DL), 40x (CD) / 8x (DVD), 40x (CD) / 8x (DVD-R) / 12x (DVD+R) / 4x (DVD+R DL), 24x (CD) / 4x (DVD±RW)

The Bottom Line: The Asus DRW-1604P's generally slow performance scores overshadow its fast double-layer burning.

Specs: DVD±RW (+R DL), 40x (CD) / 16x (DVD), 32x (CD) / 16x (DVD±R) / 4x (DVD+R DL), 24x (CD) / 4x (DVD±RW)

The Bottom Line: For the price, this drive isn't worth it. You can find faster double-layer drives for less money.

Specs: DVD±RW, 48x (CD) / 12x (DVD), 48x (CD) / 8x (DVD-R) / 12x (DVD+R), 24x (CD) / 4x (DVD±RW)

The Bottom Line: Need movie burning and massive archiving on the cheap? Verbatim's Producer 44 is a steal--but the pricier Sony DRU-510A may be a better deal.

Specs: DVD±RW, 40x (CD) / 12x (DVD), 16x (CD) / 4x (DVD), 10x (CD) / 2x (DVD-RW) / 2.4x (DVD+RW)

The Bottom Line: Despite some petty penny-pinching on Sony's part, the DRU-510A establishes a new industry standard for burning performance and versatility.

Specs: DVD±RW, 32x (CD) / 8x (DVD), 24x (CD) / 4x (DVD), 16x (CD) / 2x (DVD-RW) / 4x (DVD+RW)