An optical drive uses a laser to read and write data to and from optical media. There are several factors to consider when purchasing an optical drive:
- Interface type
- Reading capability
- Writing capability
- Format
A CD-ROM drive can only read CDs. A CD-RW can read and write to CDs. Choose a CD-RW if your customer needs to read and write to CDs.
A DVD-ROM drive can only read DVDs and CDs. A DVD-RW can read and write to DVDs and CDs. DVDs hold significantly more data than CDs. Choose a DVD-RW if your customer needs to read and write to DVDs and CDs.
A Blu-ray reader (BD-R) can only read Blu-ray Discs, DVDs, and CDs. A Blu-ray writer (BD-RE) can read and write to Blu-ray Discs and DVDs. Blu-ray Discs hold significantly more data than DVDs. Choose a BD-RE drive if your customer needs to read and write to Blu-ray Discs.