Pioneer BDR-XD04

The Pioneer BDR-XD04 ($149.99 direct) is the latest in a long line of external optical drives, putting DVD and Blu-ray burning into a portable form-factor. For anyone who occasionally needs an optical drive since their ultrabook or laptop may not be equipped with one, the Pioneer BDR-XD04 is more than capable for reading and burning discs. It even offers Blu-ray XL support, reading and burning to triple- and quad-layer discs. With its slim form-factor and support for the full spectrum of optical media, the Pioneer BDR-XD04 gets our nod for Editors' Choice.

Design
The BDR-XD04 is a compact little drive, with a top-loading clamshell design. The drive measures 0.55 by 5.2 by 5.2-inches (HWD)—not much bigger than two classic style CD jewel cases. It's also light, weighing only 0.5 pounds.

The drive connects with an 18-inch USB 2.0 y-cable, which is included in the package. Because the drive is bus powered, there's no need for an extra AC adapter, but the drive still includes a connection for an optional adapter for those who prefer wall power.

The main housing of the drive is black plastic with a matte finish, but the underside of the chassis is metal. The lid appears to be plastic as well, but has a layer of reinforcing aluminum on the interior side. The lid flips up with the touch of a button, and a small latch on the bottom of the drive lets you open the lid when the drive is powered off. The bottom of the drive also has four rubber feet to keep it steady, even on a sloped surface. read more...