DVD burners: How to buy
Do you really need one?
Don't forget blank discs for burning your data to
First of all, decide whether you really need a DVD burner – many computers already have one included, though it isn’t always obvious.
If you want a comprehensive list of which types of disc your drive supports, there’s a handy piece of software called DISCInfo (free to download from http://discinfo.rpc1.org/) that’ll tell you.
- Click download on the web page, then click again on DISCInfo 1.6.1 and save this file.
- Right-click on the downloaded file and Extract all, then follow the instructions that pop up, and run it by double-clicking the DISCInfo program.
- Within the program, click View > Capabilities Info. This will tell you which of the main disc types your drive supports – DVD+R, DVD+RW, DVD-R or DVD-RW.
Desktop vs portable DVD burners
You then need to decide whether you want a desktop drive or a portable one. Desktop drives tend to be faster, and slightly easier to use because of their larger size, but they’ll need a separate power supply.
Where to buy
You’ll generally find slightly cheaper prices online. However, if you want to inspect the products before buying, high street computer retailers such as PC World will have them in stock.
Compatibility and added extras
Most DVD burners will be compatible with both PCs and Macs, but makes sure you check the manufacturer’s information if you’re unsure.
And you’ll need some blank discs to write your data to. DVD+R and DVD-R can be written to only once, whereas DVD+RW and DVD-RW discs can be re-written multiple times. Check whether your drive supports + or – discs (or both), and make sure you buy a type that’s compatible.