Good CD-RW or DVD-RW Drives

norm · January 18, 2003 7:39PM

Anyone have an opinion on who makes a good internal CD-RW or DVD-R drive for the mac. I have a SCSI LaCie drive that I need to replace immediately. I've read several posts on this Pioneer DVR-105 drive, seems pretty good but just wondering what everyone is using.

g3joel · January 18, 2003 7:42PM

I'm using an internal Sony CD-RW in my B&W G3, works seemlessly with OS X and OS 9 without the need for any hacks.

eugene · January 18, 2003 8:16PM

Yamaha finally released an internal Mac version of their CRW-F1. Previously if you bought the PC version of the drive, you couldn't do Disc T@2...the software wasn't bundled. I really don't understand why they don't just sell one retail kit that includes software for both...

It's a great drive for several reasons. It has Audio Master mode, Disc T@2, and a pretty blue LED...

tigerwoods99 · January 19, 2003 1:19AM

Get a Lite-On 52x24x52x CD-RW. Not only are they the fastest drives on the market, but also the cheapest. Yes. it sounds ironic but Lite-On drives work great, and they will work fine in any Mac. I have a 24x12x40x in my beige G3 at home, and it has been great since the day I got it. Just had to plug it in and everything worked. I think the 52x runs around $65 now. Check <a href="http://www.pricewatch.com."; target="_blank">www.pricewatch.com.</a>

ast3r3x · January 19, 2003 4:57PM

are there any drives that can handle more then 4.7 or write to dual layer discs?

i dont think so but i am not as smart as some so i like to ask

eugene · January 19, 2003 5:56PM

[quote]Originally posted by ast3r3x:

are there any drives that can handle more then 4.7 or write to dual layer discs?

i dont think so but i am not as smart as some so i like to ask<hr></blockquote>

There aren't any drives capable of writing dual-layer discs. There are double-sided discs though, but I don't realy see the point...You have to flip the disc anyway...

matsu · January 19, 2003 5:59PM

How do the studios press them? Devices must exist, and media, though it's not for consumer hands. Is the process entirely different? I'd like to know how a major label "records" a disc?

eugene · January 19, 2003 7:40PM

[quote]Originally posted by Matsu:

How do the studios press them? Devices must exist, and media, though it's not for consumer hands. Is the process entirely different? I'd like to know how a major label "records" a disc?<hr></blockquote>

A golden master is created. They etch a metal stamp from that master. CDs are created using that stamp and injection molding.

matsu · January 19, 2003 7:45PM

Hence "press" and not "record"...

eugene · January 19, 2003 7:49PM

Sure, the Lite-On is 52x, but compared to 44x that's a difference of what...maybe 10 seconds in real life? This is why the Yamaha burner rocks:

<a href="http://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~ceugene/disctattoo1.jpg"; target="_blank">http://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~ceugene/disctattoo1.jpg</a>;

[ 01-19-2003: Message edited by: Eugene ]

matsu · January 19, 2003 9:08PM

To which side of the disc is that done? If it's the recording surface, don't you loose a lot of data capacity?

eugene · January 19, 2003 9:38PM

It's done on the burnable side of course. You can only burn tattoo where there's no data, but it's still pretty useful for labeling the outside rim of a music CD or adding a graphic to a software back-up that only uses a fraction of the disc.

matsu · January 19, 2003 9:52PM

Seems special discT@2 discs would be neat. Something with two recordable surfaces. A primary (within CD spec) side for your data, and a burnable (if not data grade) surface on the "label" side. You have to insert the disc twice of course, but then it would be really cool and you could make some very professional looking discs. iDunno, just a thought.

Good CD-RW or DVD-RW Drives

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