Slimline external burners

       If there's a bright spot on the balance sheet of computer makers right now,it's the netbook. Some 21.6 million of the extra-small units are expected to have been sold by the end of the year,report German industry consultants IDC.
       The mobility and low cost come at a price, though: no bells and whistles. That usually means that no DVD drive or burner is included. There are two options for getting around that missing equipment: burn CDs or DVDs using a network drive, or purchase an external burner.
       Slimline models are well suited for netbooks, says Sven Schulz from Germany's Computer Bild magazine. They are very small -"about as large as two or three CD cases stacked on top of one another," he says. And they draw their power from the computer's USB port that means you don't have to carry along an extra power adaptor for them.
       External burners draw so little power than the extra consumption will hardly register on the netbook's battery."It won't go empty significantly quicker than normal," Schulz says. Most burners only require a connection to one USB port.
       If problems arise with the unit, though,they may be power related. That's because one single port does not necessarily provide enough juice for an external burner."Practically speaking, it's enough for most units," says Schulz, who tested a variety of burners in that class.
       Otherwise, try plugging in the Y cable included with many models. It is split to plug into two USB ports at the same time, since many netbooks include USB ports on the right and left sides. In some cases even the Y cable isn't long enough to reach both. In that case, use a USB extender for one side or the other.
       Users are advised to test out the interplay between the burner and computer immediately after purchase. That leaves time to return the device if the two don't get along.