I'm going to be buying a new Mac Mini shortly and would like an External USB CD/DVD reader/burner.

Any suggestions on brands/models that work reliably with Mountain Lion?

Thanks

although I have no specific mountain lion experience with them, we sell a LOT of lacie external optical drives. they're fairly cheap and appear to be reliable. the power packs fail more often than the drives.

Nowadays I think optical drives are going to be nearly 100% plug-and-play, I would be very surprised to find one that didn't work with ML.

I have had good service from LaCie and OWC Mercury drives.