Verbatim 98938 External Slimline CD/DVD Writer Review
A compact USB-powered external DVD and CD writer designed for everyday optical-media access, disc creation, legacy software, physical backups and portable use.
What It Is
The Verbatim 98938 is a slim external CD/DVD reader and writer designed primarily for laptops and desktops that no longer include an internal optical drive.
It reads and writes common CD and DVD formats, reaches up to 8× DVD writing and 24× CD writing, and receives its operating power through USB rather than requiring a separate AC adapter.
Verbatim also includes M-DISC DVD-R support, giving users a write-once optical option for selected archival data.
Key Specifications
| Model | Verbatim 98938 |
|---|---|
| Drive Type | External slimline CD/DVD reader and writer |
| Blu-ray Support | No |
| Maximum DVD Write | Up to 8× |
| Maximum CD Write | Up to 24× |
| Supported DVD Media | DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-R DL, DVD+R DL, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, DVD-ROM and miniDVD |
| Supported CD Media | CD-R and CD-RW plus compatible CD-ROM formats |
| M-DISC | M-DISC DVD-R supported |
| Interface | USB 2.0 |
| USB-C Connectivity | USB-A to USB-C adapter included with current package |
| Power | USB bus-powered |
| Loading Mechanism | Tray loading |
| Disc Sizes | 12 cm standard and 8 cm mini CD/DVD media |
| Windows | Windows compatible; current Verbatim material lists Windows 8 / 10 / 11 |
| Mac | Mac OS X 10.6 or later listed by Verbatim |
| Dimensions | Approximately 142 × 135 × 16 mm |
| Warranty | 2-year limited warranty |
Why a DVD/CD Drive Still Makes Sense
The decline of built-in optical drives did not make existing optical media disappear. Consumers still have music, software, photographs, documents and video stored on CDs and DVDs.
Legacy Software
Older applications, drivers, utilities and games may still exist only on CD or DVD.
Music CDs
A CD-capable external drive restores access to personally owned music collections for playback or digital library creation.
DVD Collections
Existing data and video DVDs remain accessible without adding an internal optical drive to the computer.
Physical Backups
Smaller collections of important files can still be copied to inexpensive removable optical media.
Occasional Disc Creation
Consumers who only burn a disc occasionally do not necessarily need a large desktop optical workstation.
Low-Cost Optical Access
Users who have no need for Blu-ray can avoid paying for Blu-ray hardware they may never use.
What Owners Are Saying
The Verbatim 98938 has enough exact-model consumer feedback to identify several useful recurring themes.
Best Buy currently reports a 4.3 out of 5 rating from 31 reviews, with 94% of reviewers saying they would recommend the drive.
Easy to Use
Ease of use is one of the most frequently identified positives. Owners commonly describe the drive as straightforward for basic DVD and CD work.
Does the Job
Performance feedback is generally practical rather than dramatic: users repeatedly report that the drive performs the basic optical tasks they purchased it to handle.
Compact & Lightweight
Owners appreciate the small physical size, especially when pairing it with laptops that lack an internal optical drive.
Legacy Software Access
Owner reports specifically include purchasing the drive to install older CD-based software on newer laptops.
Noise
Noise is the most visible recurring complaint in the current Best Buy review breakdown, appearing more often than other negative themes.
Lightweight Can Feel Cheap
Some feedback appreciates the low weight while also questioning whether the lightweight construction feels as substantial as a heavier desktop drive.
What People Are Actually Using It For
Adding a Drive to New Laptops
One of the clearest owner use cases is simply replacing the optical capability that modern laptops no longer include.
Installing Old Software
Exact-model owners report using the Verbatim to install software that remains available only on physical CD media.
Reading Existing Discs
Consumers can access older data, music and DVD collections without maintaining an older computer solely for its optical drive.
Burning DVDs
The drive handles ordinary recordable and rewritable DVD formats for data and compatible media projects.
Creating CDs
Up to 24× CD writing remains useful for conventional CD-R and CD-RW projects.
Portable Optical Access
Its slim chassis and USB power allow the drive to remain stored in a laptop bag until optical media is actually needed.
M-DISC DVD-R Support
Verbatim officially identifies the 98938 as M-DISC Ready and lists M-DISC DVD-R among its compatible optical formats.
USB Power Keeps It Simple
The Verbatim receives operating power from the computer through USB, eliminating the AC power brick required by full-size desktop optical drives.
Portable
One USB connection handles the drive's computer connection and power requirements, making it easier to carry with a laptop.
Power Still Matters
Like any bus-powered mechanical drive, reliable USB power is important during disc loading, spinning and writing.
USB-C Compatibility — With an Adapter
The current Verbatim package includes a USB-A-to-USB-C adapter, which is useful as newer laptops increasingly eliminate traditional USB-A ports.
Nero & Backup Software
Verbatim currently lists Nero Burn & Archive software and Verbatim 3-2-1 Eternity Backup Software with the package.
Windows
The included software provides Windows users with disc-burning and backup tools without requiring them to immediately find separate applications.
Mac
The drive itself supports Mac systems, but Verbatim explicitly states that the included software package is Windows-only.
Verbatim 98938 vs ASUS SDRW-08D2S-U
Verbatim 98938
Offers the same basic 8× DVD / 24× CD class of portable optical access, M-DISC DVD support, USB bus power and a current package that includes a USB-C adapter.
ASUS SDRW-08D2S-U
Fills a very similar role and has a larger accumulated exact-model review history. ASUS also provides its own Windows-oriented disc utilities and distinctive circular exterior design.
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- External slimline design
- Up to 8× DVD writing
- Up to 24× CD writing
- M-DISC DVD-R support
- USB bus-powered
- No external AC adapter required
- USB-C adapter included in current package
- Supports common recordable and rewritable DVD formats
- Supports standard and mini optical discs
- Windows and Mac hardware compatibility
- Compact laptop-friendly design
- 2-year limited warranty
- Favorable exact-model owner feedback overall
Limitations
- No Blu-ray support
- USB 2.0-class optical device
- Included Nero/backup software is Windows-only
- Noise appears repeatedly in owner complaints
- Light construction can feel less substantial than desktop drives
- M-DISC support is DVD-based, not Blu-ray M-DISC
- Not designed for high-volume optical production
- Some detailed specifications vary across regional listings
Works Best With
Laptops Without Optical Drives
The 98938 restores DVD and CD capability without permanently adding hardware to the computer.
Legacy Media Collections
Useful for consumers who still own software, music, documents and other files on CD or DVD.
Occasional Disc Users
A compact solution for users who need optical media periodically but do not need the cost or capacity of Blu-ray.
Optical Media Is One Backup Layer
Rockin Box Tech Summary
The Verbatim 98938 is not trying to compete with the high-capacity Blu-ray writers in this category. It solves a much simpler and still surprisingly common problem: modern computers have stopped including optical drives while consumers still own CDs and DVDs.
Its 8× DVD and 24× CD headline speeds are appropriate for that job, and USB bus power keeps the setup considerably simpler than a full-size desktop writer. The included USB-C adapter also makes the current package more practical for newer computers.
M-DISC DVD-R support gives the drive an additional archival role, although buyers need to understand the capacity limitations of DVD media compared with Blu-ray.
Consumer feedback is favorable overall. The current Best Buy exact-model pool sits at 4.3 out of 5, with 94% recommending the product. Owners frequently praise ease of use, basic performance and compact size. Noise is the most consistent negative theme, while some users feel that the very lightweight construction is less substantial than a traditional desktop mechanism.
Actual owner use is also revealing. People are not buying these drives because optical technology is fashionable; they are buying them because a new laptop cannot install an old CD-based program, an existing music or DVD collection still matters, or a physical disc needs to be created.
For those jobs, the Verbatim 98938 remains a straightforward external DVD/CD solution. Consumers who need Blu-ray should move higher in this category, but users who only need reliable access to DVD and CD media have little reason to pay for capabilities they will never use.
Research Disclosure: Rockin Box Tech reviews are research-driven. Information is compiled from current manufacturer documentation, retailer specifications and exact-model owner feedback. Rockin Box Tech does not represent that this product was physically tested unless explicitly stated. Consumer experiences are used to identify recurring real-world strengths and complaints and are kept separate from manufacturer specifications. Regional package contents, software, compatibility, pricing and availability may change over time.