While compatibility issues are largely a thing of the past, it’s still worth double-checking to make sure your hardware and operating system of choice are supported. The most important factor to consider when shopping for a DVD player is compatibility. High-end DVD drives include software that improves reliability reading disks that have fingerprints or minor scratches. Since internal DVD drives may not be very popular in modern computer design, there’s never been a better time to buy an external DVD drive. Many individuals have years of backups on DVD, not to mention pictures, media, and older program installers. Just because they’re not a popular option in today’s computers doesn’t mean DVDs don’t have a place, as they are still one of the most popular formats for watching movies. Now, everything from shareware programs to operating systems can be downloaded, while many programs are web- or cloud-based. Before broadband internet became widespread, DVDs were the best way to install large programs, software packages, and operating systems. The rise of faster internet speeds and cloud computing has furthered this trend. As laptop designs have become slimmer and sleeker, eliminating DVD players and optical drives proved one of the easiest ways to drop weight and free up additional space.

Once one of the most sought-after features in many computers, DVD players are all but an afterthought on many current models, especially among laptops.

Buying guide for best external DVD drives

Best dvd burner for mac free