External optical drive recommendations for macbook air?

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Dancedance

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

#202103 17-Sep-2016 10:13

Hiya,

I've got such great info from here before so I'm hoping someone wonderful can help me out with this one.

I'm looking for a good external optical drive. My priorities are:

plays nice with apple computers
can cope with a minor scratch in a disc
doesn’t require a separate power cable - runs via the USB connection from the computer’s power

I have a superdrive that skips for even the smallest surface scratch on even a brand new CD. I really only use the drive for ripping my CDs so it's kinda a big deal.

I don't use the drive for DVDs or Blu ray, so that's not really the big focus. Obviously that regional lock thing that they put for DVDs would be nice not to have though I'm really more concerned about finding something that will do a beautiful job with my CDs.

Not bothered about appearances. Nothing too hefty (I can't imagine this will come up) my disability means it has to be easy to move around. Don't care what brand as long as it does a beautiful job.

Thank you!

And also a little thank you to the person who posted a deal about a Panasonic DVR in early 2011, I think from Dick Smith. It was an amazing deal and I was lucky enough to get one. The timing couldn't have been better.

gzt

17104 posts

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#1632048 17-Sep-2016 10:36

If your superdrive is still under warranty consider a warranty claim. It sounds like there is something wrong with it.

Andib

1363 posts

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#1632053 17-Sep-2016 10:52

I have one of these which my partner uses on her Macbook Air which seems to do a fairly good job. I use it regularly on my Surface.\

I haven't had an issue of it not reading any discs yet.

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Dancedance

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1632079 17-Sep-2016 11:21

gzt: If your superdrive is still under warranty consider a warranty claim. It sounds like there is something wrong with it.

It's not under warranty, but I did raise it with them soon after I bought it. I actually have to contact them about a faulty home button on a brand new iPod I got yesterday so I'll ask, just in case there's something they can do. At the time it was hard to replicate the problem as not many of my discs have scratches, so I ended up just bailing and hoping it would work out. Over time though it's become obvious & I've had to resort to using my husband's Dell to import discs. It's a PITA. But I'll bring it up. You never know.

I have one of these which my partner uses on her Macbook Air which seems to do a fairly good job. I use it regularly on my Surface.\

I haven't had an issue of it not reading any discs yet.

Thanks very much - I'll check it out! :)

RunningMan

8953 posts

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#1632150 17-Sep-2016 13:46

Superdrive shouldn't be that temperamental - dirty lens perhaps?

gzt

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#1632153 17-Sep-2016 14:17

Agree but if it's been that way since new it sounds like a manufacturing tolerance fault. If it goes back for diagnosis and testing I'm guessing that would be picked up easily.

Alternatively it is relatively low cost so going back with that description Apple may just elect to replace it instead of spending time on detailed diagnosis.

Dancedance

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1632156 17-Sep-2016 14:36

I'll ask. It's over two years since I bought it so they mightn't do anything with it, but on the other hand they've been so helpful in the past - maybe since I did lodge the issue with them way back then they might be able to help. A lot of my media is audiobooks so it didn't necessarily show up on those, but I took a brand new (music) CD out of it's packaging a couple of weeks ago and several skips through the beginning of the first track. None of the CDs it skips with skip on my CD receiver or on my husband's computer. They're not scratched up. But what would be a cosmetic "scratch" for any other player gets picked up by the Superdrive. It's like it's super sensitive.

I have to ring them anyway so I'll bring it up. I don't expect anything after 2 years but no harm in asking.

Still looking for recommendations to compare in case Apple say they can't help.

bcourtney

652 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#1632159 17-Sep-2016 14:43

Andib:
I have one of these which my partner uses on her Macbook Air which seems to do a fairly good job. I use it regularly on my Surface.\

I haven't had an issue of it not reading any discs yet.

I use these with my MacBook Pro and other computers regularly and have no issues. However, that price is ridiculous. These things are $50 at most. Like from here

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Dancedance

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1632278 17-Sep-2016 18:06

Thanks a lot. I'll check pricespy before I place an order. Looks like this is a great option if Apple can't replace the SuperDrive.

richms

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#1632279 17-Sep-2016 18:10

Try not to get the one with the old style laptop tray loading, I have one and it is a pain to use since the force to close is more than the friction of the feet on the table so you need 2 hands.

Richard rich.ms

Dancedance

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1632306 17-Sep-2016 19:24

richms:
Try not to get the one with the old style laptop tray loading, I have one and it is a pain to use since the force to close is more than the friction of the feet on the table so you need 2 hands.

Thank you so much for the reminder. I read a review a while back that made your exact point, but I'd totally forgotten about it. The tray loading style was always awkward & would be a complete pain in the butt on an external drive. I'll make sure to check the specs for that before I get anything.

Edit: not so good to see the model recommended on this thread has tray loading :/ Maybe that's why it's so inexpensive.

Edit 2: Wow, I was looking at 2016 models and they all have trays. Good to know. I assumed that would have disappeared.