Plextor's new external DVD writer was very easy to install. Thanks to its support for both USB 2.0 and FireWire, the entire installation process took only a matter of minutes. With no jumpers to worry about, it was as simple as connecting the USB (or FireWire) cable, plugging in the power cable, and powering the drive on. Once connected to our test computer, it took only a matter of seconds for plug and play to install the necessary drivers. After making sure that the drive was recognized correctly in the Device Manager, I was ready to start installing the software.
Software Installation:
As I mentioned earlier, the PX-810UF comes with a DVD full of software from Roxio. If you have autorun enabled on your computer, the menu shown below will appear when you insert the disc.
From here you can access the manual, register your drive or install the bundled software. Simply click the name of the application you want to install, and its setup program will start up automatically.
If you have installed Roxio's Easy Media Creator before, you're probably already familiar with the installation process. All you need to do is choose what language you want and select your installation options.By default the setup program will install the entire suite onto your computer. If you don't want to install everything, select the custom installation. From here you can choose just the components you want.
Documentation:
The bulk of the PX-810UF's documentation is located on the software CD in electronic format. Similar to the ones included with Plextor's other DVD writers, the manual starts out by getting the user familiarized with their new drive. The first section goes over the drive's capabilities, features and system requirements. Plextor has also provided some pretty good diagrams showing the various buttons and connectors located on the front and back of the drive. Everything is labeled clearly and the functions of each are easy to understand.
From here, the manual jumps right into the physical installation of the PX-810UF. The instructions are pretty brief since there really isn't much to do other than plug in a few cables and turn the computer on. Even then, Plextor has provided a nice diagram showing how the drive should be hooked up. The manual continues on by going over the basic operation of the PX-810UF. Along with information on how to use and maintain the drive, there is a short list of frequently asked questions. Last but not least, the manual finishes up with a comprehensive list of specifications for the PX-810UF.
The PX-810UF also comes with a "Drive Installation Guide." This small, fold out guide takes the user step by step through the installation process. While a little short on words, Plextor has provided a few diagrams showing how the drive should be hooked up. For most people, the "Drive Installation Guide" will be all they'll need to get the PX-810UF up and running.
Like the other Plextor drives I've reviewed, the PX-810UF was very easy to install. Thanks to its FireWire and USB 2.0 interface, it's as simple as plugging in a few cables and flipping a switch. Nevertheless, if you do run into trouble, the documentation Plextor has provided is quite good, even though it is in electronic format. Overall, I give the installation a solid 9 out of a possible 10.
