What are my options for connecting a Burner to my laptop?

[JuanTabonia]

Hi,
I'm shopping for a CD-RW drive for my sister's laptop. I'm thinking my options are:
1) External Firewire drive
2) External USB 2.0, requiring PCMCIA USB 2.0 adapter card
3) Internal IDE burner, converting it to external somehow

Is option 3 possible, and if so, how? It seems like options 1 and 2 would cost about the same because firewire drives are a little more expensive than the USB 2.0 drives, and a USB2 PCMCIA card is about 30-40 bucks.

If you know of any good brands/models/stores please let me know!
Thanks for your help!

 

[Smilin]

I'd first see if the manufacturer offers a burner as a internal upgrade.


Otherwise probably option #2.

 

[10102BORG]

The cheapest way would be Option 3, about $120 for the entire package. You just need an external firewire case, an ide CDRW and pc card firewire controller.

Remember to use the code "bensbargains" for an additional 10% OFF for the first 2 items. The CDRW is already on special.

http://www.compgeeks.com/details.asp?invtid=ME-320F
http://www.compgeeks.com/details.asp?invtid=2PFWPCCARD
http://www.compgeeks.com/details.asp?invtid=WRR-4848

 

[JuanTabonia]

Thanks for your help 10102BORG. Since the laptop already has a firewire port, your option would have been cheaper by about $25, but I decided to go w/ the Iomega drive below. It should be lighter and more 'stylish' for my sister. I personally don't care what it looks like but I'm sure she'll get a kick out of it.

http://www.compuplus.com/insidepage.php3?sid=itc036if7g8gl02&id=325

The price keeps going up on this thing....yesterday it was $105, then $107, now it's $110

 

[10102BORG]

Iomega makes some of the better looking external drives. All the other cases look like a brick. Also, Compuplus is known to stick it to the customer will high shipping charges.

Merry X-mas......

Borg out.......