DVD replacement for laptop

[2occupant]

I am planning on picking up laptop from Dell outlet. Would prefer to have one with DVD for travelling.
How easy/expensive is it to swap out a CDRW and go to DVD? CDRW not important, I have a desktop that can handle that.

Is it better to just find one with a DVD already?

 

[ssvegeta1010]

Unless the laptop supports modular drives, most Dells will be hard to find a replacement optical drive for.

Most Dell laptops have combo CDRW/DVD drives, I think it should be easy enough to find one with a DVD standard.

 

[Paperlantern]

it definitly is possible, but you will need to do some research to see if the drive is cross compatible with others. The data connection has to be identicle ( and by identicle i dont just mean look the same, the pins all have to have the same function as well), and the bezels have to be compatible, if you get one and the bezel from yours wont fit it, then, it will, a) look funny in the computer but still work, or b) not work at all because it wont fit with the bezel it came with at all, it is a pain, but most likely can be done, some dvd drives can be found for a little as $90.

 

[RaiderJ]

You're probably better off waiting and getting one that matches your needs. Enough machines cycle through Dell so it shouldn't be much of a problem. There is always ebay....