External DVD drives.?

Question

My cheap computer has no DVD drive, so I've decided to purchase an external one. I have researched DVD drived over the Internet but confuse me because their product information provides information about burning dics and other similar information. I am wondering if certain DVD drives can only burn music or can you also watch movies on them and stuff, because I purchased a game (Marvel Ultimate Alliance) and it appears I need a DVD drive to play it, so I am wondering if I need to buy a dvd drive specifically designed to play/watch games/movies, rather than only being able to burn dics. Any information would be helpful, thanks.

Thanks for your replies. For a much better understanding sine my quesiton was a worded a little weird. When I look at the information for DVD drives on the internet, many state that he DVD drive can burn music, but they don't mention about the capabilities of being able to play movies or games with the DVD drive. As a result, I get confused and wonder if the DVD drivers capability is only burning music.

Answer 1

Nope a burner works just like a rom. with a dvd burner you can do everything with it. just get one that plugs into your usb port and your good to go just make sure you buy the right dvds to burn with

Answer 2

About DVD+RW/+R

This DVD ReWritable drive supports the DVD+RW/+R format which offers many unique advantages over the competition. DVD+RW/+R has been designed from the start to be compatible with DVD drives and DVD Video players both physically as well as logically. What this means is that DVD+RW/+R discs recorded on a DVD+RW/+R recorder can be played on virtually all DVD players, and data DVD’s can be played on all DVD-ROM drives.

With industry wide support from major manufacturers from the DVD+RW Alliance, you’re assured that your DVD format will be virtually compatible everywhere in the world. What this means is that your DVD+RW/+R disc that you wrote, will be playable on your friend’s DVD player. Sharing home movies and files couldn’t be easier. Some distinct advantages that DVD+RW/+R format provides include:

Lossless Linking

DVD+RW/+R Lossless Linking technology is built within the basic specification of the system. This means that you can stop the writing process at any given point, and then resume the writing of data, or it can replace individual sectors on the disc at any given location. This distinctive Lossless Linking technology keeps the gap between data within 1 micron when adding/editing data. This results in the writing of sectors on the disc that remain fully compatible with existing DVD-ROM drives and even the more critical DVD-Video players in case you are creating a DVD-Video disc. Lossless Linking allows for high performance drag-'n-drop applications like packet writing.

Defect Management

DVD+RW/+R incorporates a Defect Management System by default which was designed to be 100% invisible to existing drives and players, so that the discs can be read as if they were normal DVD-ROM or DVD-Video discs. Furthermore, DVD+RW/+R allows address information (stored in land pre-pits) to be read during the recording process, which allows it to locate at what position of the disc the writing process is taking place. When the writing process is interrupted due to a shock of the drive, it returns to the previous writing location so that the writing can be continued.

Higher Write Speeds

DVD+RW/+R drives will write DVD+RW/+R discs at 2.4x DVD speed. This results in a transfer rate of about 25Mbit/sec, which is comparable to a CD drive writing at about 22x CD speed. A full DVD-Video disc can this way be completed within 25 minutes!

Background Formatting

Background formatting allows the drive to format only a portion of disc at first, which is necessary for initial writing, and then automatically resumes formatting for the remaining portion in the disc when writing/reading is not processed. Formatting is suspended anytime writing or reading starts. This reduces formatting time and discs partially formatted can be ejected from the drive and still be completely playable.

Answer 3

read what it says on your dvd burner it should say some like DVD +R/RW and update your question so i can give you a better answer