Jeffy Milstead

The DVD burners in the iMac (8X write speed for DVD±R) and the Mac Pro (16X write speed for DVD±R) aren't the fastest on the market. There's actually a mechanism created by Samsung that can write DVD±R at 20X, and it's found in OWC's Mercury Pro DVD-/+RW Samsung Super Writemaster 20X External DVD burner.

While 20X DVD media isn't readily available, the Mercury Pro can burn certain 16X DVD±R media at 20X; not all 16X DVD±R media can handle the 20X speed. The Mercury Pro also adds LightScribe to the mix, a feature that allows you to etch a monochrome label onto your discs. The catch is that it can take some time to complete the etching process--up to half an hour--and you can only etch labels onto LightScribe-compatible media. According to OWC, LightScribe in the Mercury Pro works only when the drive is connected to your Mac via USB.

Even if you have a Mac with a dual-layer DVD burner, there are good reasons for buying a newer external burner. For example, MacBook users might be fed up with the pokey performance of the MacBook's built-in 8x burner. A burner like LaCie's d2 DVD±RW with LightScribe can burn some single-layer DVD±R discs at 20x-a huge boost over 8x speed. However, if you plan on using the d2's LightScribe feature to etch custom disc labels, be warned that any gains in burning speed will be more than offset by the 15 to 30 minutes needed for etching.

Featuring two FireWire 400 ports and a USB 2.0 port, the d2 leverages the thermal characteristics of the sturdy metal case common to LaCie's line of d2 peripherals, allowing it to operate without an internal fan. A small AC adapter that plugs into the back supplies power.

Portable products typically must balance a set of contrary design goals: they can either offer fast performance or be physically light, but not both. LaCie's Portable DVD±RW with LightScribe, Design by Sam Hecht, is one product where style and weight trumped speed and (to a certain extent) sturdiness. Even so, it's the portable DVD burner of choice for MacBook Air owners. Just don't drop it.

The drive draws its power from USB, so it needs to be connected to a powered USB port. LaCie includes a small AC adapter for situations where the Mac's USB can't provide the requisite power.