Product Reviews for the Toshiba DVD-ROM SD-R2102 Slimline Combo

The Toshiba SD-R2102 slimline combo drive (laptop drive), like most laptop optical drives, is an unlikely subject for professional review, since relatively few people purchase laptop drives (it's a trickier upgrade than for a desktop machine). Below are the slim pickings I've found. If you've discovered some informative (OK, even vaguely informative!) review or information I've missed, please mail me a link, using the address available via the contact link on every page here.

Hardware Analysis Likes SD-R2102 for Upgrades

November 29, 2001 In this article about upgrading notebooks, Sander Sassen likes the SD-R2102 for adding a CD burner/DVD reader to older laptops. He says, in part, the drive "combines the broadest feature set combined with an affordable price", and also notes its retail availability.

A Powerbook G3 "Pismo" Replacement Drive

2003/01/15 Brad Stone writes in this article about using the SD-R2102 to give us Powerbook G3 "Pismo" a real combo drive. The SD-R2102 was a logical choice, since it's the same drive Apple uses in iBooks. The driver offered a smooth upgrade, with the only glitch being an OS9 error message that pops up if you put it to sleep with media in the drive.

If you're trying to keep your Pismo alive, you might also be interested in this thread about enumerating the drives that are compatible with the Pismo.

Random Anonymous Reviews

Here's where we list random reviews that may or may not be legitimate. Assess their relevance accordingly.

August 2, 2005 Over at Pricegrabber, a user claims the SD-R2102 in his Toshiba laptop only lasted 2 years before dying. This "review" is repeated many times if you do a Google search for this drive.

See Also:

• Our main page on the Toshiba SD-R2102 slimline combo drive.
• The SD-R2102 specifications page.

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