Since a lot of modern laptops (mine included) no longer include built in CD/DVD drives it can be handy to have an external drive for when you need to read or burn a CD or DVD. I tested the performance of this drive and it meets the spec for a 52x CD/DVD drive so everything is great there. It uses USB 3.0 so it can use the full speed of the CD drive without a problem.

I tried it in Windows, Linux and in BIOS/preinstall situations and it worked great with no extra drivers required.

Design wise, it’s lightweight but all the components feel sturdy. It has an interesting faux brushed metal white plastic top. The USB cable stows away into the bottom of the drive when not in use.

It’s not showing as available right now on Amazon but it was here: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BS1W6GU

Full Disclosure: I received this product for free or at a discount in exchange for my honest review.