BleepingComputer.com: DVD burner for 98SE machine

I just need a respectable make and model. I want to wipe my hard drive, but I need to back up my data first. Since it's going to become a dual-boot linux box, too, I figured DVDs instead of CDs or even USB devices would be the best choice.

I'm probably looking at something for IDE, if they still make them.

Anyone have a favorite manufacturer or model that's good for vintage systems?

Or, is it possible to install any dvd drive, run a live linux distro (say, knoppix - I have one of those lying around) and back everything up?

Linux has USB functionality built-in most of the time now. But what does it have for burning software? Is this an effective workaround?

What are the specs for the unit ?
[How fast is the CPU, how much memory does it have ]

500 mhz P3
384 mb RAM

"500 mhz P3
384 mb RAM"

That's a toughie !

I looked at the new DVD burners/drives & the one with the lowest system requirements says a P4 1.3GHZ or better CPU.

There are dives that will work on older units but apparently they aren't sold anymore.

BTW , Booting a Linux disk & saving stuff to a disk won't work.
Linux would be running off of the disk & you couldn't remove it to burn a disk & Linux + the burning program still work.