Model: Lite-On DX-4O1S USB 2.0 4x BD-ROM
Manufacturer: Lite-On IT
Provided By: Lite-On IT America
Lite-On IT got its start in 1995 when its parent company, Lite-On Technology, gathered together a group of scientists and engineers to start an optical storage research and manufacturing business. Lite-On Technology quickly established itself as Taiwan’s largest CD-ROM drive manufacturer and by 1999 the business had spun off into a separate company, Lite-On IT. Since then, Lite-On IT has continued to grow. By working closely with companies like BenQ and Philips, they've expanded into the consumer and automotive electronics markets, becoming the world's second largest ODD manufacturer.
With the format war coming to an end, Lite-On has begun to focus on the emerging Blu-ray Disc market. This summer, the company introduced its first external BD-ROM drive, the DX-4O1S. While lacking the writing capabilities found on more expensive units, this read-only drive offers cost-conscious consumers the ability to watch Blu-ray movies on their computers. Along with 4x BD read speeds, the DX-4O1S is capable of reading DVD's at 12x and CD's at 32x. The drive also features an 8MB buffer, a USB 2.0 interface and CyberLink's popular PowerDVD software.
We've had Lite-On's external BD-ROM in the 'Labs for a few months now and have had the time to put it through its paces. To give you an idea of what to expect from the DX-4O1S, we'll take a look at its features and then see how it compares to some of the Blu-ray drives from LG and ASUS. Does the DX-4O1S have what it takes? More importantly, is it the best bang for your buck? Keep reading to find out.
