The little handbook I have got with the dive summarizes all it does: "Use ... to lay and burn DVD's, CD's. You can watch a DVD, install software, create a backup disc. I personally have not yet got my Mac to use it on but I intend recording several CD's I own onto my Mac to listen free of charge on my iPhone! A lot of software is available on CD and it is very useful to have to create back ups of very important data which you do not want to loose. I also intend editing my collection of videos I have on my camera and burning them onto discs to watch when I feel nostalgic on my sound system DVD player. So............. if you would like to do any of this then get one - they are really inexpensive and I love the thought I have a slim PC because I don't have it in the PC! Much lighter to carry with me.