detail information

Positive Points:

• External portable combo drive!
• Complete software package
• Cool design (personal opinion)
• Very easy to use because of USB 2.0 interface
• One year full warranty and unlimited toll-free tech support
• Supports 8X CLV writing
• Supports 8X CLV re-writing
• Supports 24X CAV reading
• Supports 8X CAV reading of DVD's
• Good software package:
  • Ahead's Nero Burning Rom
  • CyberLink's PowerDVD XP
• Good DAE quality
• Excellent performance with scratched and low quality discs
• Supports USB 2.0 and 1.1
• Supports DAO-RAW writing
• Supports reading and writing of 8cm discs
• Supports reading and writing of CD-Text
• Supports CloneCD's 'Amplify Weak Sectors' option
• Could partially back-up SafeDisc v2.51.021

Negative Points:

• 'Correct EFM Encoding of regular bit patterns' not supported
• Couldn't read copy protected audio discs
• Cannot overburn (will only go to about 81 minutes)
• Cannot read 99 minute discs (will fail at about 90 minutes)
• Limited DAE speeds, CD-RW reading and DVD reading
• Mount Rainier format not supported

The PleXCombo PX-208TU drive is the second external drive we've reviewed but this time we weren't as pleased with it as with the PX-320A drive. Let's start with the positive points first. Since the PX-208TU drive uses the USB 2.0 interface it was very easy to install and use. Just attach two cables (power and USB) and the system will automatically recognize the drive and it's ready to be used. Because of the low weight and small dimensions of the PleXCombo, the drive is very portable.

Besides being a very portable drive the PleXCombo drive has some impressive features on board. The drive combines four drives in one, making it an ideal drive to use with a laptop for instance. Whether you quickly want to burn a disc or just want to play a game or watch a DVD movie, the PleXCombo PX-208TU can do it all. Because the PleXCombo drive has BURN-Proof you never have to worry about your computer not being fast enough to supply data to the recorder.

When reading the discs the PleXCombo performed well and had no problems reaching 24X with pressed and CD-Recordable media. When reading CD-ReWriteable media the PleXCombo was limited to about 10X reading. Unfortunately that wasn't the only thing the drive is limited in. When extracting audio tracks (DAE) the drive was stuck at about 8X average reading and when reading single layered DVD discs we couldn't reach the claimed 8X.

With copy protections we simply had a disappointing result. The drive had no problems with older copy protections such as LaserLock and SafeDisc but the drive failed to copy SafeDisc 2 and SafeDisc 2.51. When we enabled CloneCD's 'Amplify Weak Sectors' option we could create a working back-up but with SafeDisc 2.51 the back-up wasn't perfect. When it came to reading the SubChannel Data the drive simply failed. The drive was able to write the SubChannel Data though.

Unlike we expected the PleXCombo PX-208TU drive failed in reading copy protected audio discs. Normally Plextor drives are known for their ability to handle copy protected audio discs but the PleXCombo drive again failed. No matter what we tried the discs could not be recognized and read. Overburning is another thing the PleXCombo drive couldn't do.

So what's our conclusion? Well if you don't care about copying protected discs and extra features such as overburning and you simply want an all-in-one portable drive to use with your laptop then the PleXCombo PX-208TU is definitely for you. But on the other hand if you're looking for a drive that can handle data and audio copy-protections then you might want to reconsider. The price of the PleXCombo PX-208TU is about 260EURO ($260).

Update August 9^th:

Since we weren't satisfied with the results we achieved with this PleXCombo PX-208TU drive we did some further research and simply opened up the drive to see its 'guts'. We quickly discovered why the PleXCombo drive didn't perform as a real Plextor. The drive uses parts of the NEC CB-2100A drive! Here's a picture of the label on the laser-unit inside the PleXCombo drive:

Click on the image to enlarge

So there you go. The PleXCombo drive simply uses a NEC CB-2100A laser-unit inside this slim portable drive and that's probably why the drive couldn't read SubChannel Data and audio protections. We're now satisfied