[phobos512]

I've been looking the last few days for a very inexpensive external CD/DVD solution solely for doing install/backup of data (not for day to day use - we all have USB sticks for that now). This means it could be inelegant and bulky and I didn't care. If you're looking for something similar, listen up, because I just now found what I was looking for and it's a pretty fantastic deal.

I determined that the combination of an INTERNAL DESKTOP CD/DVD drive and a SATA/IDE->USB adapter would do the trick. How did I come to this revelation? Well Newegg.com's "Shell Shocker" deal of the day is an internal IDE $19 CD/DVD Burner. I looked around on their site and found a Bytecc BT-200 IDE->USB adapter Open Box (with power adapter) for only $7! The other nice thing is, the "Shell Shockers" have free shipping so I was able to get a great deal.

The cheapest external CD/DVD drive that Newegg sells as a one piece unit is $45 not including shipping, so you're already saving $19 dollars. There are cheaper CD/DVD drives but NOT burners and NOT with free shipping. The BT-200 IDE->USB adapter is also hugely discounted ($11 off, over 50%).

Shell Shocker CD/DVD Drive: http://promotions.newegg.com/shellshock ... andBnr.jpg

Bytecc BT-200 IDE->USB adapter: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 812156101R

Bytecc BT-200 IDE-> USB adapter review (they liked it a lot): http://www.virtual-hideout.net/reviews/ ... ndex.shtml

The Shell Shocker especially is a limited time offer, they change those daily and just like woot! once they're sold out they're gone.

[Taxidermista]

Is there any similar adapter for slim drives who don't need external power?

[medicThree]

For slim drives you can buy an enclosure off of ebay for 18 bucks.

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-USB-2-0-Slim-En ... 1|240:1318

[dont]

Thank you for this idea.

For those of us who are not in the US and able to order from NewEgg I have found similar (maybe from the same factory in China?) devices from Deal Extreme. I ordered this one:

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.474

for $16.45 including shipping to anywhere in the world.

[Codeblue1296]

Would this work on Linux? Because I really need to put windows or osx on my mini.

[TekWarren]

Maybe you guys know this but even having an external DVD drive I get around most of the time just sharing a drive from another computer on my home or work network. For installations it works fine...not for installing OS's or anything like that of course.

[mysterE]

How about using an Microsoft Xbox 360 HD DVD Player Drive? I think you can find them pretty cheap!

[venin]

After using a SATA-USB-adapter and the optical drive in my desktop to install a few OSes on the mini, I finally decided it was too much of a hazzle. I just ordered one of these:

http://cgi.ebay.com/USB-2-0-External-Sl ... m153.l1262

Like previously posted, you can get them a lot cheaper if you do not need DVD burning.

Now I just have to decide if I wanna hook up the mini to my desktop DVDROM to install Win 7, or to wait for the external drive to come in mail. :P

[dont]

Originally Posted by venin

After using a SATA-USB-adapter and the optical drive in my desktop to install a few OSes on the mini, I finally decided it was too much of a hazzle. I just ordered one of these:

http://cgi.ebay.com/USB-2-0-External-Sl ... m153.l1262

That is a pretty good price, please let us know how it works out when you receive it.

[Circs]

Originally Posted by mysterE

How about using an Microsoft Xbox 360 HD DVD Player Drive? I think you can find them pretty cheap!

That actually might be a surprisingly good idea.