Portable DVD drive with its own battery?
July 30, 2014 7:26 PM Subscribe
Are there any portable DVD drives (not players) with their own internal battery?
I wish for a portable DVD drive with its own battery, so it doesn't run off the USB port, and run down my laptop battery. My Mac doesn't have a DVD drive.
I wish for a portable DVD drive with its own battery, so it doesn't run off the USB port, and run down my laptop battery. My Mac doesn't have a DVD drive.
How is the drive going to get the information from the DVD to the computer if it isn't connected to it somehow?
posted by turbid dahlia at 8:31 PM on July 30, 2014
posted by turbid dahlia at 8:31 PM on July 30, 2014
An external DVD drive only uses a couple of watts from USB. This is pretty small compared to the total power budget for running the laptop. The difference in laptop battery life would be pretty trivial and not worth the hassle of an extra battery. The power to run the DVD drive is tiny compared to the power required for running the display.
posted by JackFlash at 9:05 PM on July 30, 2014
posted by JackFlash at 9:05 PM on July 30, 2014
Response by poster: Yes, thanks all for your speedy responses. You are all correct, but there is more I can add to each of your replies.
To mathowie I agree it is certainly Apples' intent to force us into the downloading/ streaming world of the internet and clouds for software downloads, movies and backups/ storage and everything. However, Apple/ iTunes is not the only choice for these services so perhaps "subtle way of forcing" is too sinister. I think they also want to save space and weight and complexity(?), (and keep an eye). I want to be able to keep my own physical copies of stuff independently, 'cause I'm old fashioned. Anyhoo, my real question is if there're any external drives that get their power not from the USB port, but from their own battery.
To turbid dahlia, I agree the drive would still be connected to the laptop via USB for information transfer, but I would point out it could be connected via wi fi or bluetooth, with its own battery. If the drive was connected to USB, it would be drawing power from the laptop battery.
To JackFlash, I agree the power drain on the laptop battery would be relatively light with the external drive running, but there none the less. Pretty trivial? Hmm... A relative concept.
To you three, and everyone else out here, I must confess to having seen an ad/ webpage for what I am describing, but I can't find it again for the life of me, despite hours of what I thought was intelligent searching! Someone else may be knowledgeable. Thanks!
posted by Metaone at 10:03 PM on July 30, 2014
To mathowie I agree it is certainly Apples' intent to force us into the downloading/ streaming world of the internet and clouds for software downloads, movies and backups/ storage and everything. However, Apple/ iTunes is not the only choice for these services so perhaps "subtle way of forcing" is too sinister. I think they also want to save space and weight and complexity(?), (and keep an eye). I want to be able to keep my own physical copies of stuff independently, 'cause I'm old fashioned. Anyhoo, my real question is if there're any external drives that get their power not from the USB port, but from their own battery.
To turbid dahlia, I agree the drive would still be connected to the laptop via USB for information transfer, but I would point out it could be connected via wi fi or bluetooth, with its own battery. If the drive was connected to USB, it would be drawing power from the laptop battery.
To JackFlash, I agree the power drain on the laptop battery would be relatively light with the external drive running, but there none the less. Pretty trivial? Hmm... A relative concept.
To you three, and everyone else out here, I must confess to having seen an ad/ webpage for what I am describing, but I can't find it again for the life of me, despite hours of what I thought was intelligent searching! Someone else may be knowledgeable. Thanks!
posted by Metaone at 10:03 PM on July 30, 2014
Best answer: I've never seen one with a built-in battery, so I can't help there.
One alternative suggestion: I have an external DVD drive that has a DC power jack on the back. If you plug it in it uses the power from the jack otherwise it uses power from USB.
If you can find one like this you could attach it to a small battery pack that provides the right voltage (haven't checked but I'd bet it's 5V).
posted by duoshao at 11:09 PM on July 30, 2014
One alternative suggestion: I have an external DVD drive that has a DC power jack on the back. If you plug it in it uses the power from the jack otherwise it uses power from USB.
If you can find one like this you could attach it to a small battery pack that provides the right voltage (haven't checked but I'd bet it's 5V).
posted by duoshao at 11:09 PM on July 30, 2014
Best answer: Responding to myself... :)
From the photo it seems like this one has a DC power jack on back.
posted by duoshao at 11:29 PM on July 30, 2014
From the photo it seems like this one has a DC power jack on back.
posted by duoshao at 11:29 PM on July 30, 2014
Response by poster: Thanks, duoshao, this is a very promising possibility. I could easily attach a battery power adaptor, if compatable, and its something I already own. I'll give them a call.
Anyone else? I swear I saw a portable, external DVD with its own internal battery, on line, but I just can't find it again! I need to save my "history" file to prevent this problem ever again. Duh.
posted by Metaone at 10:23 PM on July 31, 2014
Anyone else? I swear I saw a portable, external DVD with its own internal battery, on line, but I just can't find it again! I need to save my "history" file to prevent this problem ever again. Duh.
posted by Metaone at 10:23 PM on July 31, 2014
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by mathowie at 8:30 PM on July 30, 2014