Recommend me an external CD/DVD drive?

[lost in space]

The optical drive in our mid-2011 21.5" iMac gave up the ghost. I really do need the optical drive, but am not keen on taking the iMac apart to replace the drive. It's old, I'm old and I'm lazy. Any recommendations for an external replacement?

[graylocks]

Haven't needed to play a DVD on it but this has been fine playing CDs for me.

External DVD Drive, USB 3.0 Portable CD/DVD+/-RW Drive/DVD Player

[ztirffritz]

Our Phorum host provided the last one that I purchased. Still works and we still use it.

https://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/MRSSDSDT8X/

[Ombligo]

Try to avoid the ultraslims, they seem to break quickly. of course, finding one that isn't ultraslim is near impossible anymore.

[Robert M]

Lost,

I needed an optical drive for my 2019 iMac 5K 27". I got the LG GP70NS50 Supermulti Blade 8x Portable DVD Rewriter With M-Disc. Does the job very nicely.





Dollar for dollar, the OWC drive recommended by zt is much less expensive. If it does as good as job as the LG, I'd go for it.

Robert

[N-OS X-tasy!]

Ombligo wrote:
Try to avoid the ultraslims, they seem to break quickly. of course, finding one that isn't ultraslim is near impossible anymore.

Yeah, I'm not a big fan of the ultraslims either.

As documented in a recent thread, my external (full-size) burner recently took a dirt nap. Fortunately, I had the foresight years ago to buy a second full-size burner and keep it as a replacement for when my first one died.

That day finally came - and that bit of foresight I had years ago saved me from the search in which you now find yourself engaged.

[sekker]

I have a Pioneer ultraslim purchased a number of years ago, has been a fine reader.

If I were to replace it, I would just get one from OWC. Just a good value considering the hardware, Mac compatibility and great customer service.

[Thrift Store Scott]

graylocks wrote:
Haven't needed to play a DVD on it but this has been fine playing CDs for me.

External DVD Drive, USB 3.0 Portable CD/DVD+/-RW Drive/DVD Player

How old is your computer? Mine is one just like the one Lost In Space has and it flatly refuses to recognize a CD/DVD via a USB port. Apparently only newer models can do that.

I got an OWC Mercury Pro Optical full-sized drive (tray-loading, not slot-loading because I don't like how slot-loaders scratch my discs) that uses the Thunderbolt line a few years ago and it has served me well.

[NewtonMP2100]

.....if you are an introvert.........you can use an internal CD/DVD drive.....???

[graylocks]

Thrift Store Scott wrote:
How old is your computer? Mine is one just like the one Lost In Space has and it flatly refuses to recognize a CD/DVD via a USB port. Apparently only newer models can do that.

using it with a 2019 iMac.