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-740UF comes with a CD full of software from Nero. If you have autorun enabled on your computer, the menu shown below will automatically come up when you insert the disc.
As you can see, this menu is pretty straight forward. To install the writing software, you will want to choose the "Nero 6 and Express Suite" option. After that, you will be taken to the Nero installation menu.
By now most of you should be pretty familiar with this menu. From here you can install Nero, NeroVision Express 3, Nero Media Player, Nero PhotoShow Express or InCD 4. You can install each component individually, or everything but InCD and PhotoShow Express in one shot. Once you reboot, you'll be ready to start burning your own discs.
Documentation:
To make the PX-740UF as affordable as possible, Plextor has tried to cut costs in a few areas. One example of this is the documentation. Instead of large printed manual, most of the drive'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 DVD writer. The first section goes over the drive's capabilities, features and system requirements.
From here, the manual jumps right into the physical installation of the PX-740UF. 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-740UF. Along with information on how to use and maintain the drive, there is a short list of frequently asked questions. Last but not least, you have a list of specifications and recommended media.
The PX-740UF also comes with a "Quick Reference 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 "Quick Start Guide" will be all they'll need to get the PX-740UF up and running.
Installing Plextor's external DVD writer couldn't be easier. 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.
