The state of the Superdrive
I have a question to anyone in the know. From what I have been told the superdrives in desktop-machines support both CD-RW and DVD-RW assuming you use a non-Apple program such as Toast.
When do you think the DVD-RW feature will be available in the much smaller superdrives of the Powerbooks?
I assume that the reason why Apple has been crippling the desktop superdrives is because the laptop ones don't have the feature yet, and thus don't wan't to create confusion by stating that one superdrive has DVD-RW and another just has DVD-R. I hope that the next generation brings not only DVD-RW but also DVD+RW to the table. Who makes the slim superdrives that reside in the Powerbooks and why haven't said features been incorporated? Seeing as how PC-laptops have the DVD-RW and possibly even the DVD+RW function by now. I'd be grateful for some insight.
When do you think the DVD-RW feature will be available in the much smaller superdrives of the Powerbooks?
I assume that the reason why Apple has been crippling the desktop superdrives is because the laptop ones don't have the feature yet, and thus don't wan't to create confusion by stating that one superdrive has DVD-RW and another just has DVD-R. I hope that the next generation brings not only DVD-RW but also DVD+RW to the table. Who makes the slim superdrives that reside in the Powerbooks and why haven't said features been incorporated? Seeing as how PC-laptops have the DVD-RW and possibly even the DVD+RW function by now. I'd be grateful for some insight.
Comments
My SuperDrive on my PowerMac Does write to DVD-RW. So I have no idea what you mean by crippling???
There is a DVD-RW/DVD+RW capable drive made by someone other than Pioneer, but from what I've read about it - it sucks.
I think the pioneer drives are a good choice, and I even had some problems with one, but I do think that for the most part they are the most reliable of the available DVD writing drives.
As for Future Apple Hardware in form of DVD writable drives I think Apple will stay with what they have.
Why would you need to write to more than one DVD format anyways?
The SuperDrive reads both, and that is what is important.
And I thin I would wait for at LEAST 2X speeds on a mobile drive, but more likely 4x before I paid extra for a crippled drive. If only Apple didn't hobble iDVD, then everyone ccould by a fast Combo drive and extrenal (FAST) DVD drive the way god intended instead of those white devils at the MPEG group, and that great satan, jobs.
Originally posted by Matsu
At the minimum they ought to use DVD-multi in all their products (that is DVD-r, -rw, and DVD-ram). The DVD forum was supposed to have settled on that spec a few months ago, and all the minus drives were supposed to be comming out in that format towards the end of the year. I have a DVD-RAM (type2, 4.7GB) data disc that I made on a PC and it won't read in my PB12, but DVD-r data discs made on the same drive read just fine.
And I thin I would wait for at LEAST 2X speeds on a mobile drive, but more likely 4x before I paid extra for a crippled drive. If only Apple didn't hobble iDVD, then everyone ccould by a fast Combo drive and extrenal (FAST) DVD drive the way god intended instead of those white devils at the MPEG group, and that great satan, jobs.
Matsu Is DVD-RAM going to be around to go the distance? I have not heard of anyone using that format in forever it seems. What makes it particularly valuable over the other 2 seemingly more popular formats, and/or is more of an issue you have with an older Mac setup not being compatible with newer systems?
First of all the 'Superdrive' could be more of a marketing name for Apple than a commitment to a specific (pioneer) drive. A direct evidence would be the drive in the PowerBook and some Sony drive Apple has been using at least in some iMac configurations. The sony is actually an ultimate hybrid drive (DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW) but Apple of course only 'supports' DVD-R. However people have been able to burn DVD+R with that drive using toast. Its evident however that if Apple is simply using more than one supplier (pioneer/sony/etc.) that for marketing reasons they cant tout these 'Sony-Superdrive' advantages because not all machines in the product line support it.
What is even more intresting is the fact, that evidently Pioneer plans to add (if they havent yet - not sure) DVD+R/RW to their 'current' drives ie. DVR-106 (?) and make a competitor to that Sony drive. Of course that doesnt mean Apple will use the new drive, and it should be slightly more expensive than the current Pioneer.
I will get back with some links and more specific information as soon as possible.
-Snowster
Originally posted by Aquatic
[B there is no manual eject button/hole on a PowerBook 12" anyway (very stupid.) [/B]
I was not aware that they didn't include the paperclip ejection for stuck media. Not a smart thing. I think I've had to manually eject a disc for some reason or another, on every Mac I ever owned. Not a good move at all.
Stoo must have been mistaken, I don't think Matshita does DVD-RW in the PBG4 12". Wouldn't that be a pleasant surprise!
What I want to know is why do SuperDrives write CD-Rs so slowly? I've been stuck at 8x for yearssss...
A 2 or 4x SupaDrive with 24x or 48x CD-R burning would kick ass even if only in desktops.
Originally posted by Aquatic
I haven't had a stuck disc yet but yeah it's not good.
Stoo must have been mistaken, I don't think Matshita does DVD-RW in the PBG4 12". Wouldn't that be a pleasant surprise!
What I want to know is why do SuperDrives write CD-Rs so slowly? I've been stuck at 8x for yearssss...
A 2 or 4x SupaDrive with 24x or 48x CD-R burning would kick ass even if only in desktops.
amen to that! i'd love a desktop Superdrive with 32X or higher burns (CD-R and CD-RW)
Originally posted by Aquatic
What I want to know is why do SuperDrives write CD-Rs so slowly? I've been stuck at 8x for yearssss...
They are not stuck at 8x as far I know. Mine write CD-R at 16x. It's fast enough. AAMOF My superdrive A05 is I think at least 2X, as fast all around than my original A03.
when will the spec move to 6x or 8x?
I burn CDs (backup, transfers, iTunes mixes, etc.) ALL THE TIME, and I'm here to say: 8x sucks like Miss Lewinsky in a lollipop factory.
and slower for that matter(thus having it most likely never used)
I just haven't much up to now, that's all.
And this PowerBook will be my sole computer...I'm not one to keep a tricked-out desktop AND a more-scaled-back laptop for travel or whatever. I don't want multiple systems. I want ONE laptop with EVERYTHING (as tricked out, full-featured and "useful" as it can be.
I currently have enough friends and family members with digital cameras and camcorders that I could very easily see working with them, doing things for fun or gifts (working with my Mom to put together a DVD of the events surrounding the birth of my sister's first baby two months ago...stuff like that).
But if I have to choose between a snappy CD-R and a faster SuperDrive, I'd choose the CD-R because that IS a drive I use all the time. I might only do 3-6 iDVD projects a year. But I like knowing it's there.
I would want a faster Super-drive, cause I could always get a 52x external.
One PowerBook. One mouse.
In any case, I'm betting any SuperDrive in the new 15" (970 or G4-based) will be a 2x model. And it'll probably have 16x CD-R, so I'll be happy...twice the CD-burning speed, and the same DVD-burning speed, of what I'm used to. Can't complain.
at anyrate, the next 15" will be good, that's for sure.
I hope apple isn't afraid to make it comparable, on par, or even surpassing the 17" in terms of specs, because I strongly believe that the 15 inch will be the most popular.
Originally posted by onlooker
DVD-RW and DVD+RW are totally different formats, but you can read DVD+RW on a superdrive.
The next Pioneer DVD-R drive will also write DVD+R. Whether Apple (or Toast) will support it in OSX is another question, however.