Slim External USB 2.0 CD-ROM Drive (Black)

Pros: I read the Forum out it being a refubished drive but I ordered this only for the case so I was prepared for the drive itself being useless. Well, mine was in great shape. A probably unused Teac drive from 99, looks at least like new. However, what's a CD-ROM drive of use in 2008? I'll keep it for fun and put in a recycled DVD burner from another laptop for my Acer One.

Cons: You might get a "refurbished" drive but mine was in great shape. None the less the drive was from 1999 :D

Other: Buy it if you have another slim drive in great condition which you want to put to use as an external drive for your netbook or not to wear your internal drive when watching DVD movies. An external drive is also a lot cooler so might be good for the DVDs too.

Pros: A sturdy little drive, can't really fault it when you consider the fact it is a cd-rom drive and not a dvd drive. Read speed is pretty decent, seek time on my (seemingly non refurbished) drive is quite good too.

Cons: Depending on the USB port you have you may or may not need to use the (included) secondary usb power cable to give the drive enough umph to work properly. It's a little annoying but you can't help it if your hardware manufacturer makes something under-spec.

Other: For a little more you can get a dvd-r or preferably a dvd-r/w drive. Which would be a smarter investment in the longer term to just getting this one. That being said the drive has one thing to do and it seems to do it pretty well. No complaints here.