Here's the verdict...
1)read/write error on accessing audio cd's opens the window vies the audio files as.wav then the requester pops up. you have to eject the cd, or you end up canceling or retrying forever.
2)reads dvd's sometimes same issues with read/write errors(haven't seeing that since game disk days)
3) with trial and error or multiple tries, mplayer will play a dvd, but dound will be ahead and skip repeat reverb or loop, video is watchable but stutters or drags at times
played long enough the picture will catch the sound, but not good to the ear squeaks.
btw. fab author of mplayer recommends that mplayer wont play dvd well on efika.
4)mp3s play ok- no decoding hang ups
5)couldn't test avi no file on cd( too many to find where it was) but to efika's credit it can play from a usb external drive (i viewed a usb movie from my seagate)
6)burning....just can't get it to happen.
overall it's a nice drive to just sit on your efika, small none overlapping,shinny black, but if you get one, get it for your mac or other,because you wont get much use out of it on efika. i got it thinking that there was an outdated issue with my hpdvd603e but the lite-on usb lightscribe had similar issues in regards to not reading audio cd's.
one more thing is that you need the power source for the drive usb power isn't enough to power transfer.
