Asus LITE
Score: 70/100
Amicool External DVD Drive
Score: 71/100Rankings
The Amicool External DVD Drive is a slim, USB-3.0 portable optical drive offering fast 24× CD and 8× DVD speeds with broad format support. Its lack of M-DISC compatibility and occasional power-related recognition issues limit its use for archival or low-power devices. Ideal for travelers and MacBook users needing a lightweight, bus-powered solution.
The ASUS SDRW-08D2S-U Lite is a slim, bus-powered external DVD writer offering 24× CD and 8× DVD write speeds with plug-and-play USB 2.0 connectivity. Its lightweight design and optional stand make it highly portable, but the thin housing feels fragile and the USB cable is short. Best suited for laptop users needing occasional disc burning.
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
24 xbest | 24 xbest | |
8 xbest | 8 xbest | |
24 xbest | 24 xbest | |
— | 8 xbest | |
— | 2 MBbest | |
| ↓ lower better | 45 gbest | 332 g |
| ↓ lower better | — | 17 mmbest |
— | 1 yearsbest |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
Connectivity(2) | ||
Interface | USB 2.0 | USB 3.0 |
USB Standard | USB 2.0 | USB 3.0 |
Features(1) | ||
Supported Media | Double-layer DVD, DVD-RAM | CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-ROM, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, DVD+R, DVD+R DL, DVD-R DL, DVD-RAM |
Power(1) | ||
Power Source | Bus-powered (USB) | USB-powered |
Build & Design(1) | ||
Weight (g) | 45 g | 332 g |
General(1) | ||
Operating System Compatibility | Windows XP/Vista/7, Mac OS X 10.5+ | Windows, macOS, Linux |
Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).
Professional reviewers praise the ASUS SDRW-08D2S-U Lite for its budget-friendly pricing, fast 8× DVD and 24× CD write speeds, and eye-catching diamond-cut lattice finish. They note its bus-powered USB 2.0 design makes it perfect for netbooks and Macs, and they cite several design awards that highlight its fashion-forward styling.
Everyday users overwhelmingly commend the drive's instant plug-and-play operation, reliable reading of older media, and compact, attractive design. Common praise centers on its ease of use, included software, and the optional stand, while recurring complaints focus on its fragile feel, short cable, and the need to steady the unit when using the eject button.
Professional reviewers commend the Amicool drive for its fast USB 3.0 data rates, plug-and-play simplicity across Windows and macOS, and the convenience of an integrated USB-A/Type-C cable, while noting the lack of Blu-ray support and limited compatibility with non-PC devices as the main drawbacks.
Everyday users appreciate the drive's cross-platform reliability, especially as a replacement for discontinued Apple optical drives, and praise its portability and ease of use; complaints are few but focus on occasional power-related recognition issues and the absence of Blu-ray capability.
“Plug in and works instantly”
“perfect for laptops without drives”
“compact and pretty”
