Lite-On ETAU208-96 Slim External DVD Writer (Image from TigerDirect.com)

(Image from TigerDirect.com)

A Personal Story
I normally just post about netbooks, but this is a great deal on a good minilaptop accessory.

I’ll tell you a secret: I’m a books on tape addict. I grab a bunch at the library and steadily listen through them as I drive to and from work. The problem is most of the readers read way too slowly.

Luckily, there is a solution: VLC Media Player’s pitch control. I can play books at 1.5 to 2.2 x faster without any problems and I can control it with just a simple keyboard click (“[" and "]” are the shortcuts).

The only problem is netbooks don’t have cd drives or any other kind of optical drives. To get around this I ended up buying a generic USB-powered CD drive from eBay and couldn’t wait to get my efficiency booster into action (2x the speed = 2x the books).

Sadly, after a few trips, I ended up putting it away. Loading it was just too much for the road. As much as I want to listen to more books, safety and accident avoidance are higher priorities.

Now there’s a good solution available: a nice, sleek, top-loading DVD Writer (not just a CD player) and it’s only $29.99 at TigerDirect.

Whether you want a books on tape pitch control solution or are looking for a quality optical drive for your netbook, this is good deal.

Specifications
Here are the specs, just in case:
Lite-On ETAU208-96 Slim External DVD Writer
DVD+R / DVD-R 8X
DVD+R9 / DVD-R9 6X
DVD+RW 8X
DVD-RW 6X
CD-R 24X
Power-Saving Mode
Lightscribe Technology
Color: Black

For more details and warranty and shipping options, visit TigerDirect’s ETAU208-96 Product Page.

Disclaimer: I’m an affiliate, meaning I may make around dollar if you choose to buy this DVD writer or maybe a little more (a few dollars) if you choose to buy something more expensive. Please notice that I don’t post too often and only write about truly worthwhile deals and stories.

OnSale has an awesome Black Friday deal and they’ve extended it for two more days:

List Price : $309.99
New Price: $249.99
Rebate(s): $50.00 (20%)
Savings: $110 (35%)
Final Price: $199.99

Lenovo IdeaPad S10E (4187XB5) Netbook RF (4187XB5) – Just $199 After Rebate.

This sleek minilaptop has a 10.1 inch screen, webcam, Atom Processor, 1GB RAM, 160GB HDD, and Windows XP. It’s thin and light and has the Lenovo quality you can depend on. With its 85% keyboard and a standard two button touchpad and XP OS, you’ll have no trouble making this laptop your travel companion. Take this minilaptop on the road and connect it via its VGA output for presentations, take it on vacation without worrying about size or weight. It’s a netbook under $200 with great specs, design, and durability! Upgrade and warranty options available. See OnSale for full details.

Here’s the official link: Lenovo IdeaPad S10E Intel Atom N270 1.6GHz Netbook – Refurbished ONLY $199.99 (was $309.99) after rebate.

Detailed Specifications Below:

Visit OnSale for full specs, warranty choices, and shipping options.