Storage Depot Combo Dual Format DVD RW Drive Azusa CA

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Storage Depot's latest external DVD writer supports LG's SecurDisc technology, which allows you to password-protect discs written using the included copy of Nero Essentials (or the full version of Nero Premium, available separately). Files on such discs can't be opened without the appropriate password, although they can still be seen in Windows Explorer. It's more than enough to deter casual snoopers, though, and it adds only a few seconds to the time taken to burn a full disc.

Disc-writing speeds were generally fast. It was quick at writing DVD-R discs and was one of the fastest burners we've seen for two-layer DVDs. Unfortunately, it wasn't as impressive when writing DVD+R discs, where it was one of the slowest external drives we've tested.

Usefully the Combo can be connected to your PC using either USB2 or FireWire 400. Strangely, though, there's only one six-pin FireWire port on the rear along with one four-pin port, instead of two six-pin ports. If you want to connect multiple FireWire devices to your computer by daisy-chaining them, the Combo Drive will have to be the last device in the chain.

Storage Depot's writer is generally fast but is distractingly loud because of its cooling fan. If you want an external DVD writer with SecurDisc support and can live without a FireWire interface, LG's own GSA-E60L (£35 from www.amazon.co.uk) is a better choice. It has similar performance but is much quieter.20X DVD-R, 20X DVD+R, 6X DVD-RW, 8X DVD+RW, 10X DVD-R DL, 10X DVD+R DL, 12X DVD-RAM, 48X CD-R, 32X CD-RW, 16X DVD, 48X CD, USB Hi-Speed, FireWire 400 interface

Author: Alan Lu

Storage Depot Combo Dual Format DVD RW Drive