By Jasmine Osada

With our computers and our digital life constantly flooded with pictures, videos, documents and other data, backing up such information on optical discs is something we find ourselves doing more each day.

If you find yourself copying or burning DVDs and CDs on a regular basis, the ASUS SDRW 08D 1S-U external optical drive might be of consideration.

The drive's design stands out for being both aesthetically pleasing and easy on space. All dressed up in a sleek chassis with a glossy finish, the external optical drive is available in either black or white. Users can also choose to place it flat or on its side, with the help of the provided vertical stand.

Decked out with Turbo Engine, the SDRW 08D 1S-U is able to read and write data at extremely high speeds of up to 8X for DVDs and 24X for CDs and is not tied to a computer's bandwidth.

In the box, users will also find copying and burning software CyberLink DVD Suit and Power2Go. While users can use their own software, I find those included in the bundle to be easy to use for both work and play.

The Verdict

At $160, the SDRW 08D 1S-U is not exactly the cheapest out there, but if you're looking for a fast, functional drive that promises performance, then this one might very well be worth your buck.