DVD-ROM Minimum Requirements for Laptop?

[RGalarza75]

I am wondering if SOMEONE out there can help me with a straight answer on the absolute minimum for an External DVD-ROM drive for a laptop computer. I'm talking about processor speed, memory, connection type, etc. Please please please someone help. Thanks!

[Budfred]

I have an external dvdrom for my laptop. Would I use it to watch dvd movies, probably not. Would I use it to install programs, definitely. It depends on what you want to use it for. If you have a newer laptop with USB 2 or Firewire and you have a matching connection on the external drive, you can run just about anything that will run on an internal drive. I am not sure there is a clear minimum configuration that would apply. If you have a laptop and want to know if a dvdrom will work with it, post the specs and we can probably give you a good idea.

Budfred

[saphalline]

You'd probably need a 200MHz processor or faster. 32MB of RAM minimum, maybe even 64MB. 1MB or 2MB graphics adapter, just as long as it's compatible and/or recognized by the DVD playing software. But I do agree with Budfred on needing a USB 2.0 or Firewire connection. Anything else is just too slow to attempt to watch a DVD, the stuttering alone would be enough to give you a headache!

If you just want to install things and use it as a CD-ROM drive, then USB 1.1 would be fast enough. Maybe even a parallel or serial connection, but that would be really stretching it...

[RGalarza75]

Thanks guys... I do have more than the minimum to be able to run a DVD movie - except USB 2.0 or firewire. Any suggestions on how I could upgrade my Toshiba Satellite? The whole idea here is that I don't use this laptop very often (I've already got a faster one), but I'd like my kids to be able to watch some movies while on plane trips or car trips. It's a 550Mhz Celeron with 64MB memory. It does have two PC Card slots that are available - you think I may be able to use these instead? I'm trying to be cost effective here, because if it's going to be over $200 to do this, I may as well pick up a portable DVD player instead. Any thoughts?

[Budfred]

I am guessing that you would be a lot better off picking up a portable DVD player instead if the main goal is watching movies. There would be less clutter for your kids to mess with, probably better sound, and reliable feedback. The portables have gotten quite a bit cheaper recently too, so it wouldn't be much more than the $200 that you mentioned.

The other side is that I suspect upgrading a laptop to take firewire or USB 2 would cost a lot more than $200 and I don't think a PC card connection would give you the speed you need, but I could be wrong on that.

Budfred

[Daniel-Man]

You also have to remember that laptop parts are more expensive and they usually come with, or are usually upgraded with older speeds of parts

[hiredgoonz]

They make pcmcia dvd players, but they're not cheap:

http://www.buy.com/retail/searchresults.asp?querytype=home&qu=pcmcia+dvd

[saphalline]

I agree with Budfred, a portable DVD player sounds like a much better solution. They don't crash :p, their cables don't come loose, their battery life is often double that of a laptop, they take up far less space, they don't generate excessive amounts of heat, and if they break the manufacturer can't blame you for installing beta apps! ;)

[mak]

Does the picture quality of a laptop rival portable DVD players? The larger screen would seem much better.