Everything you need to install the LaCie d2 DVD+/-RW with LightScribe comes in the box, including the AC adapter, a FireWire cable, a USB 2.0 cable, a LaCie Utilities disc, and a quick-install guide. Best prices on Lacie usb dvd in CD & DVD Drives. Check out Bizrate for great deals on popular brands like ASUS, Buffalo and EZ Dupe. Use Bizrate's latest online shopping features to compare prices. Read product specifications, calculate tax and shipping charges, sort your results, and buy with confidence. The LaCie d2 Thunderbolt 3, 8TB USB 3.1 External Hard Drive is a slightly larger storage solution that combines 8TB of storage with standard USB and the lighting quick Thunderbolt 3 connectivity, which reaches speeds of up to 240MB/s. Respective LaCie hard drives are compatible with all USB or USB-C cables.
At a Glance
Expert’s Rating
Pros
- Fanless operation
- Bundled LightScribe labeling software
Our Verdict
Even if you have a Mac with a dual-layer DVD burner, there are good reasons for buying a newer external burner. For example, MacBook users might be fed up with the pokey performance of the MacBook’s built-in 8x burner. A burner like LaCie’s d2 DVD±RW with LightScribe can burn some single-layer DVD±R discs at 20x-a huge boost over 8x speed. However, if you plan on using the d2’s LightScribe feature to etch custom disc labels, be warned that any gains in burning speed will be more than offset by the 15 to 30 minutes needed for etching.
Featuring two FireWire 400 ports and a USB 2.0 port, the d2 leverages the thermal characteristics of the sturdy metal case common to LaCie’s line of d2 peripherals, allowing it to operate without an internal fan. A small AC adapter that plugs into the back supplies power.
Lacie Dvd Driver Software
Bundled software includes Toast 7 Basic and LaCie’s LightScribe Labeler 1.2 for designing and burning LightScribe labels (you must buy LightScribe CDs or DVDs to use the LightScribe feature). You can also download LaCie’s Remote Burn 1.0 for sharing the d2 across your local network.
In informal testing with 20x compatible DVD-R media, we found the 20x burn to be only 3 percent faster than burning the same media at 16x.
LaCie offers two other models of the d2: a USB-only version for $90, and a FireWire-only version for $170 that includes the full version of Toast Titanium.
Macworld’s buying advice
If you’re looking for the fastest DVD burner for writing at 20x (single-layer) and 12x (dual-layer) speeds using compatible media, the d2 is an excellent choice. Less expensive 20x dual-layer DVD burners are available, but inclusion of the full version of LaCie’s LightScribe Labeler software means you can label to your heart’s content, as well as allow other Macs on your network to burn discs using the drive-both features being unique to the LaCie.
Timed trials
| 16x +R Burn | 6:02 |
|---|---|
| DL Burn | 19:16 |
| DL Copy 655MB to Hard Drive | 1:32 |
Scale = Minutes: Seconds
How we tested: We ran all tests with the FireWire drives connected to a dual-2.66GHz Mac Pro with Mac OS X 10.5.3 installed and 1GB of RAM. We recorded the time it took each drive to burn 8GB of data onto dual-layer DVD+R media using Toast Titanium 8, and also the time it took to burn 4.4GB of data onto 16x DVD+R media. We then timed the copy of a 655MB file from a burned dual-layer DVD to the internal hard drive. —Macworld Lab Testing by James Galbraith and Jerry Jung
Specifications
| Drive Mechanism | Samsung SH-S203N |
|---|---|
| Connectors | FireWire 400 (2), 1 USB 2.0 |
| Rated Burn Speeds | DVD-R 20x, DVD+R 20x, DVD+R DL 12x, CD-R 48x |
| Included Software | Toast 7 Basic, LaCie DiscRecording, LightScribe Labeler for Mac |
Lacie Dvd Burner
[Jeffy Milstead is a former Macworld lab analyst and a writer living in San Francisco.]