The unbiased resource
for consumer electronics product
reviews, buying guides, and more...

Home | Reviews | Forum | Shop | What's New?

- log in
- join CNET
- welcome,
- my profile
- log out

Plextor PX-608CU

Manufacturer: Plextor Corp. Part number: PX-608CU/SW

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 Compare with most popular

$152.07 - $169.50 at 2 online stores

CNET Editor rating:
3.0 stars Good
Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

More product information:: Editors' review; User reviews; Specifications; Manufacturer info

Bottom Line:: The Plextor PX-608CU portable DVD burner is a great match for users who have a laptop without a built-in DVD burner; we just don't know who that might be.
Read more

Where to buy

store customer rating inventory tax & shipping price

store	customer rating	inventory	tax & shipping	price
Amazon.com Marketplace	Rate this store See store profile	In stock	Enter zip code to get total price: Price +Tax +Shipping =Total price	$169.50 Shop now as of 11/21/2008
Alwayslowest.com	Rate this store See store profile	In stock	$152.07 Shop now as of 11/22/2008

Amazon.com Marketplace

Rate this store
See store profile

In stock

Enter zip code to get total price:

Price

+Tax

+Shipping

=Total price

$169.50

Shop now

as of 11/21/2008

Alwayslowest.com

Rate this store
See store profile

In stock

$152.07

Shop now

as of 11/22/2008

*Total price for the Plextor PX-608CU are estimated and may vary slightly based on exact tax, shipping, manufacturer rebate or any sale/promotion on the merchant site.

show

CNET editors' review

Plextor PX-608CU

price range: $152.07 - $169.50

Reviewed by: Ryan Belonga
Edited by: Felisa Yang
Reviewed on: 08/16/2007

The good: Bus-powered; the Plextor PX-608CU DVD burner comes with an AC adapter for laptops that can't provide enough power; bundled with backup software; slim format.

The bad: No support for Macs; slow rip/burn speeds considering where the burner market is currently; expensive.

The bottom line: The Plextor PX-608CU portable DVD burner is a great match for users who have a laptop without a built-in DVD burner; we just don't know who that might be.

Read full review

The Plextor PX-608CU is an odd duck in the world of external DVD burners. Its slim profile makes it a clear match for laptops, but you'd be hard-pressed to find a laptop these days that doesn't already have a burner built in. Neither is it a good substitute for a standard external DVD burner, because its read/write speeds can't match those of the larger burners. At $170, it's very expensive as well. In our tests, the burner works as advertised, but we're just not sure who it's for. (Mac users are definitely out of luck here; the PX-608CU works only with Windows 2000 and Windows XP machines.)

The PX-608CU can be bus-powered, but that will require using two USB ports on your computer. If your USB bus can't provide sufficient power, you can use the included AC adapter to power the burner.

Drive type	External CD/DVD rewritable drive
Supported media	DVD+/R DL; DVD+/-R; DVD+/-RW; CD-R; CD-RW; DVD-ROM; DVD-RAM; DVD-Video; CD-DA; CD-ROM; Video CD; Photo CD; CD Text; CD Extra
Maximum write speeds	4X DVD+/-R DL; 8X DVD+/-R; 8X DVD+RW; 6X DVD-RW; 24X CD-R; 24X CD-RW
Buffer memory	2MB
Dimensions (WDH)	5.43x0.87x6.38 inches
Notable design feature	Motorized eject button
Connection options	USB 2.0
System requirements	Pentium III 800MHz or faster (or equivalent); 256MB RAM; 10GB HDD
OSes supported	Windows 2000; Windows XP
Software included	Roxio Easy Media Creator 8
Additional features	Supports 8cm and 12cm discs
Service and support	One-year limited warranty; toll-free phone support 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. PT; Web site includes tech support via e-mail, FAQs, self-help guides, and downloads.

The CNET Labs test results revealed slower rip and burn speeds than we've seen lately from burners, but it's not surprising considering the drive's rated speeds. Ripping an 8.46GB commercial DVD to the hard drive took 23 minutes, 38 seconds. Burning that image to a DVD+R DL disc took 30 minutes, 50 seconds. Burning a 4.48GB mixed-data file to a DVD+R disc took 13 minutes, 26 seconds. Ripping a commercial CD (746MB) took 4 minutes, 23 seconds. Burning that image to a CD-R disc took 6 minutes, 16 seconds.

See pricing

show

User reviews

Write Review

Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!
My rating: 0 stars

show

Specifications

Manufacturer: Plextor Corp.
Part number: PX-608CU/SW
Description: Plextor's shape ultra-portable DVD writer is the smallest available in the world. Measuring just 15.9mm high and weighing 250g, the pocket-sized PX-608CU is ideal for mobile laptop users and those requiring a modern, stylish and compact unit to use anywhere. The newly designed clamshell chassis is the latest innovation from Plextor and not only provides a highly portable ergonomic unit for improved ease of use, but it also incorporates high reliability and durability for long-term operation. It is USB 2.0 bus-powered for both maximum convenience and true plug-and-play usability (no need for an external power supply) - very handy for the mobile executive to burn CDs and DVDs on the move, or for home users to burn and back-up important data from multiple computers.

General
Device Type DVD?RW (?R DL) / DVD-RAM drive
Enclosure Type External
Interface Hi-Speed USB
Width 5.4 in
Depth 5.6 in
Height 0.6 in
Weight 8.8 oz
Optical Storage
Type DVD?RW (?R DL) / DVD-RAM
Read Speed 24x (CD) / 8x (DVD)
Supported Recording Modes Multi-border recording, Multisession
Supported CD Formats CD-DA (audio), DVD+VR, Video CD, CD Text, CD-ROM, DVD-VR, Photo CD, CD-ROM XA, Mixed-mode CD, DVD-Video, CD Extra
Supported Media Types DVD+R, DVD-R DL, CD-ROM, DVD+R DL, CD-RW, DVD-RW, CD-R, DVD+RW, DVD-RAM, DVD-ROM, DVD-R
Media Load Type Top-load
Buffer Size 2 MB
Buffer Underrun Protection BURN-Proof
Compliant Standards Video CD
Optical Storage (2nd)
Type None
Storage Removable
Type None
Storage Removable (2nd)
Storage Removable (2nd) None
Storage Controller
Type None

Video
Video Output None
Expansion / Connectivity
Expansion Slots Total (Free) None
Interfaces 1 x Hi-Speed USB
Compatible Bays None
Compatible Slots None
Storage CD / DVD
Type DVD?RW (?R DL) / DVD-RAM
CD / DVD type DVD?RW (?R DL) / DVD-RAM
Miscellaneous
MTBF 60,000 hour(s)
Compliant Standards RoHS
Software / System Requirements
Software Included PlexTools Professional
OS Required Microsoft Windows XP, Microsoft Windows 2000
Min Processor Type 800 MHz
System Requirements Details Pentium III - RAM 256 MB - HD 10 GB

See pricing

show

Similar products

Sony DRX-S50U External Slim DVD Multi Drive $59.99
- CNET Editor rating:
  Not yet rated
- Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!
LG GSA E50L Super-Multi - DVD?RW (?R DL) / DVD-RAM drive - Hi-Speed USB $85.34 - $199.99
- CNET Editor rating:
  Not yet rated
- Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!
LG GP08LU10 Super Multi - DVD?RW (?R DL) / DVD-RAM drive - Hi-Speed USB $89.99 - $123.73
- CNET Editor rating:
  Not yet rated
- Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!
Sony DRX-840U External Multi-Format DVD Burner $79.99 - $109.95
- CNET Editor rating:
  Not yet rated
- Average user rating: 0.5 stars out of 1 review
Sony DVDirect VRD-MC3 $249.99
- CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good
- Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 7 reviews

Shopper.com strives to provide the best price, review, user opinion, and product information on the Plextor PX-608CU. Shopper.com updates pricing for all products multiple times each day. If you find a price, link, product specification, review, user opinion, or any other error for the Plextor PX-608CU, please notify us through our support form.