Hardware :: Looking For CD / DVD Burner / Player For IMac G5?

I am looking for some advice re the purchasing of an external cd/dvd burner/player for my iMac as the optical superdrive on my iMac G5 has started to spit out my blank dvd`s when I insert them. I have tried several types of cd`s/dvd`s in the drive and even got myself a head cleaning kit to try that but it is still spitting them out.It will however play already previously recorded cd`s and dvd`s o.k. but just spits out the blank ones after a few minutes.

What brought all this to a head now was because I just recently received an HD camcorder and wanted to be able to take the video clips from it and process them, and burn them to a dvd so that I could play them on my dvd player and let my daughter have a copy. I would like to be able to burn them as HD files if that is possible as my camcorder records in HD and I have an HD ready TV.

Could anyone give me some good sound advice as to what software to purchase for processing the video clips - as HD if possible - and what would you recommend as an external dvd drive/player to purchase so as to be able to burn the processed clips to and play them back on my computer as well as my T.V. I`ve done a search on the internet for drives and software etc. but to be honest all the different types and variety and all the technical jargon etc. has just left me totally confused.

For your information I`m an old aged pensioner trying to keep up as best I can and I am not loaded with money so whatever I get now that will be it for a long time. Truth be told that is why I came on here to seek advice from people who understand about these things and have experience with them.