DVD Drives

Sony BWU-100A Blu-ray Burner
The Sony BWU-100A Blu-ray burner is still priced out of range for most users, but if you have $700 to spare, it's a good choice for its range of media support and acceptable task speeds.
Specs: BD-RE, 32x (CD) / 8x (DVD) / 2x (BD), 24x (CD) / 8x (DVD±R) / 4x (DVD±R DL) / 2x (BD-R), 16x (CD) / 6x (DVD-RW) / 8x (DVD+RW) / 5x (DVD-RAM) / 2x (BD-RE)

LaCie d2 External Blu-ray burner (2X BD-R/E)
The LaCie d2 Blu-ray burner offers good performance speeds, but it's still prohibitively expensive. Home users should wait for Blu-ray burners to drop in price and improve in performance.
Specs: BD-RE, 32x (CD) / 8x (DVD) / 2x (BD), 24x (CD) / 8x (DVD±R) / 4x (DVD±R DL) / 2x (BD-R) / 2x (BD-R DL), 16x (CD) / 6x (DVD-RW) / 8x (DVD+RW) / 2x (BD-RE) / 2x (BD-RE DL)

Sony DRX-840U External Multi-Format DVD Burner
Specs: DVD±RW (±R DL) / DVD-RAM, 48x (CD) / 16x (DVD), 48x (CD) / 20x (DVD±R) / 12x (DVD±R DL), 32x (CD) / 6x (DVD-RW) / 12x (DVD+RW) / 12x (DVD-RAM)

Plextor PX-810SA DVD?RW / DVD-RAM drive - Serial ATA
The Plextor PX-810SA internal CD/DVD burner is quick for both ripping and burning. We like it.
Specs: DVD±RW (±R DL) / DVD-RAM, 40x (CD) / 16x (DVD), 40x (CD) / 18x (DVD±R) / 10x (DVD±R DL), 32x (CD) / 6x (DVD-RW) / 8x (DVD+RW) / 12x (DVD-RAM)

Sony DVDirect MC5 Multi-Function DVD Recorder
Specs: DVD±RW (+R DL)

Sony DRX-S70U Multi-Format DVD Burner
Specs: DVD±RW (±R DL) / DVD-RAM, 24x (CD) / 8x (DVD), 24x (CD) / 8x (DVD±R) / 4x (DVD±R DL), 24x (CD) / 6x (DVD-RW) / 8x (DVD+RW) / 5x (DVD-RAM)

Canon DW-100 DVD Burner
Specs: DVD-RW (-R DL)

Sony BDU-X10S Internal Blu-ray Drive
Specs: 8x (DVD) / 2x (BD)

Sony DVDirect VRD-MC3
Although it's pricey, the Sony DVDirect VRD-MC3 is a boon for anyone who has lots of old videotapes but less time or tech skills to digitize them using a computer. Even better, it doubles as an external DVD burner, so you can use it with your PC long after you've transferred all those old tapes.
Specs: DVD±RW (±R DL), 40x (CD) / 16x (DVD), 40x (CD) / 16x (DVD±R) / 8x (DVD±R DL), 24x (CD) / 6x (DVD-RW) / 8x (DVD+RW)

Sony DRU 830A internal burner
The Sony DRU-830A is a fast drive, but it's on the expensive side.
Specs: DVD±RW (±R DL) / DVD-RAM, 48x (CD) / 16x (DVD), 48x (CD) / 18x (DVD±R) / 8x (DVD±R DL), 32x (CD) / 6x (DVD-RW) / 8x (DVD+RW) / 12x (DVD-RAM)

HP dvd1040e Super Multi DVD+/-RW Dual Layer DVD Writer
Specs: DVD±RW (±R DL) / DVD-RAM, 48x (CD) / 16x (DVD), 48x (CD) / 20x (DVD±R) / 8x (DVD±R DL), 32x (CD) / 6x (DVD-RW) / 8x (DVD+RW) / 12x (DVD-RAM)

Sony DRX-S50U External Slim DVD Multi Drive
Specs: DVD±RW (±R DL) / DVD-RAM, 24x (CD) / 8x (DVD)

Philips SPD7000 Blu-Ray Disc Recorder
Specs: BD-RE, 32x (CD) / 12x (DVD) / 2x (BD), 32x (CD) / 12x (DVD±R) / 4x (DVD+R DL) / 2x (BD-R), 24x (CD) / 6x (DVD-RW) / 8x (DVD+RW) / 2x (BD-RE)

Buffalo BRHC-6316U2 External Blu-ray and HD DVD Drive
Specs: BD-RE / HD DVD-ROM combo, 40x (CD) / 16x (DVD) / 6x (BD) / 3x (HD DVD), 40x (CD) / 16x (DVD±R) / 4x (DVD±R DL) / 6x (BD-R) / 4x (BD-R DL), 24x (CD) / 6x (DVD-RW) / 8x (DVD+RW) / 5x (DVD-RAM) / 2x (BD-RE) / 2x (BD-RE DL)

LG GSA E60L Super-Multi - DVD?RW (?R DL) / DVD-RAM drive - Hi-Speed USB
Specs: DVD±RW (±R DL) / DVD-RAM, 48x (CD) / 16x (DVD), 48x (CD) / 20x (DVD±R) / 10x (DVD±R DL), 32x (CD) / 6x (DVD-RW) / 8x (DVD+RW) / 12x (DVD-RAM)

Sony BWU-200S Blu-ray Burner
Specs: BD-RE, 40x (CD) / 16x (DVD) / 4x (BD), 40x (CD) / 16x (DVD±R) / 4x (DVD±R DL) / 4x (BD-R), 32x (CD) / 6x (DVD-RW) / 8x (DVD+RW) / 5x (DVD-RAM) / 2x (BD-RE)

Samsung WriteMaster TS-H552B
The TS-H552B offers merely decent DL performance, but its speedy scores with single-layer media could attract those seeking a well-rounded DL drive.
Specs: DVD±RW (+R DL), 48x (CD) / 16x (DVD), 40x (CD) / 12x (DVD-R) / 16x (DVD+R) / 2.4x (DVD+R DL), 32x (CD) / 4x (DVD±RW)

Pioneer DVR K06 - DVD?RW (?R DL) / DVD-RAM drive - IDE
Specs: DVD±RW (±R DL) / DVD-RAM, 24x (CD) / 8x (DVD), 24x (CD) / 8x (DVD±R) / 4x (DVD±R DL), 24x (CD) / 6x (DVD-RW) / 8x (DVD+RW) / 5x (DVD-RAM)

Sony DRU-840A Internal Multi-Format DVD Recorder
Specs: DVD±RW (±R DL) / DVD-RAM, 48x (CD) / 16x (DVD), 48x (CD) / 20x (DVD±R) / 12x (DVD±R DL), 32x (CD) / 6x (DVD-RW) / 12x (DVD+RW) / 12x (DVD-RAM)

Plextor PX-608CU
The Plextor PX-608CU portable DVD burner is a great match for users who have a laptop without a built-in DVD burner; we just don't know who that might be.
Specs: DVD±RW (±R DL) / DVD-RAM, 24x (CD) / 8x (DVD)

LG GSA H55L Super-Multi - DVD?RW (?R DL) / DVD-RAM drive - IDE
Specs: DVD±RW (±R DL) / DVD-RAM, 48x (CD) / 16x (DVD), 48x (CD) / 20x (DVD±R) / 10x (DVD±R DL), 32x (CD) / 6x (DVD-RW) / 8x (DVD+RW) / 12x (DVD-RAM)

LG GSA E50L Super-Multi - DVD?RW (?R DL) / DVD-RAM drive - Hi-Speed USB
Specs: DVD±RW (±R DL) / DVD-RAM, 24x (CD) / 8x (DVD), 24x (CD) / 8x (DVD±R) / 6x (DVD±R DL)

Pioneer DVR 2810 - DVD?RW (?R DL) drive - Serial ATA
Specs: DVD±RW (±R DL), 40x (CD) / 16x (DVD), 40x (CD) / 18x (DVD±R) / 10x (DVD±R DL), 32x (CD) / 6x (DVD-RW) / 8x (DVD+RW)

LG GH20NS10 Super Multi - DVD?RW (?R DL) / DVD-RAM drive - Serial ATA
Specs: DVD±RW (±R DL) / DVD-RAM, 48x (CD) / 12x (DVD), 48x (CD) / 20x (DVD±R) / 12x (DVD±R DL), 32x (CD) / 6x (DVD-RW) / 8x (DVD+RW) / 12x (DVD-RAM)

LG GH20NS15 Super Multi - DVD?RW (?R DL) / DVD-RAM drive - Serial ATA
Specs: DVD±RW (±R DL) / DVD-RAM, 48x (CD) / 12x (DVD), 48x (CD) / 20x (DVD±R) / 12x (DVD±R DL), 32x (CD) / 6x (DVD-RW) / 8x (DVD+RW) / 12x (DVD-RAM)