Blu Ray drive

[Bill]

So I've got all (I think) of my DVDs and CDs ripped and filed in iTunes, and all nicely backed up. It's time to tackle the Blu-Rays, but I'm slightly hampered by lack of a Blu-Ray drive

I've seen USB2 drives down to about £40, but they're all combination CD/DVD/Blu-Ray burners. At that price I don't trust them, and I have zero need for a burner anyway.

I'd be quite happy to pay about the same but for a plain, simple, good quality external USB2 Blu-Ray reader, but can't find one.

Does anyone know if such a beast exists?


(Couldn't find a recent thread on this, and didn't want to bump an 18 month old one!)

[pctech]

Where did you find one for 40 quid as all the ones I've seen are 100+

[Bill]

Here:

http://www.allcam.biz/catalog/product_info.php?ref=7&products_id=719

[.Griff.]

Here:

http://www.allcam.biz/catalog/product_info.php?ref=7&products_id=719

I can't see any mention of that supporting BR?!?

[Bill]

You're right, I picked up the wrong link there somehow

OK, forget the £40 bit, but the original question still stands- where can I get a vanilla Blu-Ray reader?

[pctech]

Thats very definitely a DVD burner only Bill.

I've seen a couple of Panasonic ones on Amazon but they are burners also but provided you have a reliable drive that is within your budget does it really matter?

[Bill]

Not really, it's just the feeling that a vanilla reader might be better quality than a burner of the same price.

I saw the Panasonic, but got myself sidetracked when I erroneously picked up that Freecom one. I'll have a closer look.

[DorsetBoy]

http://cpc.farnell.com/sony/bdu-x10s/blu-ray-bd-rom-sata-black-internal/dp/CS17625  not an external drive I know but you can get these
http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?moduleno=48965


and I just found that Dabs have this http://www.dabs.com/products/plextor-4x-external-slim-top-loading-bd-rom-usb2-blu-ray-player-73K9.html

[Bill]

Many thanks for that, I like the look of that Plextor... it only mentions Windows on the spec sheet, but I assume that's for the included playback software which I'm not interested in. As long as the Mac picks it up as a drive that's all I need.

edit- the Sony internal comes up as "No Longer Manufactured"

[DorsetBoy]

Odd, I looked at the Sony at CPC and clicked "Buy" it is in stock and was added to the basket.  The alternative LG shown below is OOS and no longer manufactured.

[Bill]

It's working for me now... wonder if I mis-clicked?

It's early and I probably need more coffee

[cavillas]

BigPockets

This any good?  Reliable company as well.

[Bill]

They're well named... that Plextor drive at £84.99 is only £69.99 from dabs.com

Thanks for the link though, always useful to find out about new (to me) companies.