answer:I used to have one, but it never got used, ever! They work really well you plug em in, mine was recognised out the box, no software and away you go… Only any use these days if you are burning cd’s for the car/stereo or dvd’s to watch on the TV… but yes, there just as good as internals…don’t pay through the nose for them though, you can get a good Samsung one for £30/$35