Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to a compact,
portable, external optical disc drives. In one embodiment of the present
invention, an optical disc drive is comprised of one or more substrates
having a width smaller than the diameter of an optical disc and that
covers and protects one or more data recording surfaces of the optical
disc. The optical disc drive may also include an external connector that
is capable of plugging into an outlet of an electrical device so that the
optical disc drive extends beyond an external sidewall of the electrical
device and is electronically interconnected to the electrical device.