SlotLoading Superdrives and Powerbooks

[MacRumors]

News.com (http://news.com.com/2100-1040-963630.html?tag=fd_top) discusses upcoming DVD-R enabled laptops coming from Sony and Toshiba.

Due to Apple's Titanium Powerbook using a slot-loaded drive, implementing a DVD-R in the Powerbook will take more time:

Greg Joswiak, senior director of Apple's worldwide hardware product marketing, could not estimate when DVD recording drives would be available on the PowerBook.

"We'll offer them as soon as the slot-loading drives are available," he said.


A minor revision to the Powerbooks are expected soon, with November 5th (http://www.macrumors.com/pages/2002/10/20021024213540.shtml) being the most likely date. Reports included speed bumps up to 1GHz and there has been some debate about internal vs external superdrive additions. Based on this article, it appears an internal Superdrive is not yet available.

[mister880]

If they don't have a slot loader than perhaps they could go back to the tray... It's really not that big of a deal is it? Sure a slot loader looks cooler but if someone wants or needs a superdrive then give them it! For $3000 it wouldn't hurt to stay ahead of the other guys... I really think if you were going to use the DVD burner you would more than likely be sitting down on a stable surface like a table or desk... Not trying to whip a dvd out while riding in a cab from 8th to Walnut....

Just my two cents...

[Chisholm]

Hmmm.

[Spock]

I would not mind Apple putting the trayloader back on the Powerbook's then you can burn those cool little mini cd's.

[mister880]

I would not mind Apple putting the trayloader back on the Powerbook's then you can burn those cool little mini cd's.

That's one more reason to bring back the tray! To be honest I don't see the reason for the smaller CDs but then again I don't own one of those fancy digital cameras!:)

But for anyone who has ever had a CD stuck in a slot loading drive you will know the fustration that you never would have on a tray loader!

[arn]

Originally posted by Spock
I would not mind Apple putting the trayloader back on the Powerbook's then you can burn those cool little mini cd's.

[ edit: oops... I meant tray loaders take more space ]

arn

[macomposer]

This brings to mind my biggest gripe with my TiBook: my right hand rests atop the slot-load drive when I am working, and as a result the top of the slot has bowed in slightly, making it an adventure to get discs in and out. In addition, the paint in that area is quite corroded.

These problems are a result of my usage habits and my body chemistry, as I corrode metals like crazy (I can kill a set of guitar strings in a day) ... but, I bet I am not the only person to experience these issues. Hopefully design improvements in the TiBooks will include reinforcement of the drive bay.

Other than these little annoyances I completely love my TiBook (except for the delicate electrical input and adapter, but that is for another thread!)

[djniche]

Originally posted by arn


I think the slot loaders take more space.

arn

yes i believe that's true and that would make the 1" tibook a much ticker, heavier laptop. I would rather wait for the tray dvdr and have speed bump update soon. The design/ performace of the current tibook is what takes them apart from the rest. Having the tray back would throw that design way off. I really doubt apple would ever do that.

[iShater]

Is a superdrive that important? I am guessing that the power consumption on such a drive would force you to plug the PB in instead of using the battery. If that is the case then most likely you are doing it inside some sort of building (or mobile office or something). If that is the case, wouldn't an external superdrive still work? :confused:

[eric_n_dfw]

Originally posted by iShater
Is a superdrive that important? I am guessing that the power consumption on such a drive would force you to plug the PB in instead of using the battery. If that is the case then most likely you are doing it inside some sort of building (or mobile office or something). If that is the case, wouldn't an external superdrive still work? :confused:
True, buy it's one less thing to lug arround in your laptop case. When I was consulting and flying back and forth between DFW-PDX every day, I didn't want anything I didn't absolutely need in that carry-on bag. I'd leave the floppy drive (was a Sony VAIO) at home just to save that 1/2 inch of space. (Gotta make room for that Myth collection double jewel case you know!)

[drastik]

The only thing you are missing with an external drive is iDVD, but be realistic. If you are trully the type of person that might need extensive DVD burning in a mobile set up, you would be using DVD Studio Pro or another comercial app, not an iApp.

Ah, my first posts here were on SuperDrive TiBooks....:D

[MikeH]

If that is the case, wouldn't an external superdrive still work?

I don't think iDVD works with external DVD writers, so you won't get all the functionality of an internal drive.

[medea]

Originally posted by iShater
Is a superdrive that important? I am guessing that the power consumption on such a drive would force you to plug the PB in instead of using the battery. If that is the case then most likely you are doing it inside some sort of building (or mobile office or something). If that is the case, wouldn't an external superdrive still work? :confused:
For the most part I agree with you, and don't dvd burners put ff more heat than cd burners? With the heat you probably wouldn't want to use your powerbook while it's burning so an external drive sounds like a better solution. And the battery consumption is a big factor too. But this is a highly sought after feature and I'm sure it would move a lot of units so I'm sure Apple is working hard on getting this out, and we knew it was going to take some time because when Toshiba first announced they had made a dvd-r for laptops we knew that because of the size it wouldnt fit in the Tibook. Perhaps Apple will wait until a new powerbook model is released before they put out the dvd-r for it, a new model that is created around the issues at hand.

[steveh]

Originally posted by mister880
If they don't have a slot loader than perhaps they could go back to the tray... It's really not that big of a deal is it?

Other than the minor problem that it wouldn't fit the TiBook case, no problem.

[Stelliform]

It would be definitely cool to have a DVD-R, but would more than a small percentage of people use it? I use CD-R's like crazy because they are cheap. The only Point I see to a DVD-R is video. And the users who NEED DVD-R are very few. I would rather see the size of the powerbook remain intact more than I would rather see a DVD-R.

Of course, to satify us all, could apple (who would probably sell more DVD-R's than anyone else) have struck a deal to keep the exsistance of a slot loading version secret until Nov 5th?

[Rajj]

I wonder what happened to the Pioneer slot loading DVD-RW ??:confused: :confused:

[Nebrie]

You guys are reading too much into this. We have already seen Pioneer show off it's slot load, laptop sized dvd writer in public. It's obvious who it's for. Of course Jozwiak would say such a thing. If he said otherwise, he would be spilling company secrets and Steve would have fired his ass by now.

[AngusB]

I have to agree that there is no way Apple would let the cat out of the bag about a slotloading DVD-R until it was in the machine being demo'd.

Also, I don't neccesarily think that a DVD-R would take that much more power than a CD-R. Other than the time it takes to master a DVD compared to a CD, the actual tasks involved are the same. Laser burns disc...


Angus

[MacUser1]

Originally posted by MikeH


I don't think iDVD works with external DVD writers, so you won't get all the functionality of an internal drive.

I'm sure that if it comes to a external SuperDrive, Apple would release some software/patch that allows iDVD to work with external SuperDrives.
I forget which company, but a company did release a external SuperDrive that had software which allowed it to work with iDVD, however, Apple asked them to stop selling it.

[Mirage_]

Originally posted by MacUser1


I'm sure that if it comes to a external SuperDrive, Apple would release some software/patch that allows iDVD to work with external SuperDrives.
I forget which company, but a company did release a external SuperDrive that had software which allowed it to work with iDVD, however, Apple asked them to stop selling it. OWC? eshop.macsales.com I think thats who it was...

[eric_n_dfw]

Originally posted by MacUser1


I'm sure that if it comes to a external SuperDrive, Apple would release some software/patch that allows iDVD to work with external SuperDrives.
I forget which company, but a company did release a external SuperDrive that had software which allowed it to work with iDVD, however, Apple asked them to stop selling it.
Only if that external drive has an Apple logo on it I'd bet.

[Titanium.X]

News.com needs to get its head out of the sand. This is old news. The drive has already been announced by Panasonic. Here is the thread from AppleInsider...

-------

PowerBook Superdrive Information...


ZDNet Japan Article (Japanese) (http://www.zdnet.co.jp/news/0210/03/nj00_pdvd.html)

Babelfish does a decent translating job on this one. Specifications for both slim tray and slot-loading versions appear to be the same. Write speeds are DVD-R 2x, DVD-RW 1x, DVD-RAM 2x, CD-R 16x and CD-RW 4x. Read speeds are DVD 8x and CD 24x. Availability is said to be toward years' end so November may be a possiblility but it could mean we will have to wait until January. The slim-tray is marked with a production date of July. No indications of a production date on the slot-loading version, probably is just going into production. This could very well be the holdup on new PowerBooks. These will be sold OEM only at first.

-------

Titanium.X

[esome]

no new superdrives but is there any consensus on what will be new in the rumored laptops (besides a possible speedbump)?

[nicely]

Faster processor, more ram standard, faster video card with 64MB of VRAM, a slightly redesigned case? I think there will be a slot loading superdrive. That's what I'm holding out for. Otherwise, I'll probably get the 12", maybe 13", iBook when the new ones come out.

[Blackcat]

Originally posted by Nebrie
You guys are reading too much into this. We have already seen Pioneer show off it's slot load, laptop sized dvd writer in public. It's obvious who it's for. Of course Jozwiak would say such a thing. If he said otherwise, he would be spilling company secrets and Steve would have fired his ass by now.

Apple wheel out Jozwiak when sales are poor because we're waiting. He's saying buy a Powerbook now, it's not getting a Superdrive this revision. He did the same when no new PowerMacs were due.

[BenderBot1138]

The great thing about all this is that I'm sure - like upgrading from a 20 to a 40 or 60 GB Harddrive - the Magnificent Oz will ensure the new DVD RW will be available to those who by today. For anyone who is at all familiar with Apple Computer Inc. protocol, the place to find out about new stuff is MacRumors, the unofficial-official source for hardware updates and the latest news.

Don't worry Dorothy, the Titanium man will get a new heart! ;)

[Spock]

Won't the heat from a Superdrive Burn DVD'S and the Logicboard??

[Titanium.X]

Originally posted by Blackcat


Apple wheels out Jozwiak when sales are poor because we're waiting. He's saying buy a Powerbook now, it's not getting a Superdrive this revision. He did the same when no new PowerMacs were due.

Joswiak said "We'll offer them as soon as the slot-loading drives are available" and nothing more. He never said the next revision would lack a Superdrive. Apple does not comment on future products. As you can see (http://www.zdnet.co.jp/news/0210/03/nj00_pdvd.html) they are indeed available so this is a moot point anyway. They are in production. They are coming.

[Blackcat]

Originally posted by Titanium.X


Joswiak said "We'll offer them as soon as the slot-loading drives are available" and nothing more. He never said the next revision would lack a Superdrive. Apple does not comment on future products. As you can see (http://www.zdnet.co.jp/news/0210/03/nj00_pdvd.html) they are indeed available so this is a moot point anyway. They are in production. They are coming.

That's what makes it weird. We've all known slot loaders were out, and not just recently either, so for Apple to comment on them as if they weren't is odd.

I'm with everybody regarding tray loading too, it would look fine.

[Titanium.X]

Originally posted by Blackcat


That's what makes it weird. We've all known slot loaders were out, and not just recently either, so for Apple to comment on them as if they weren't is odd.


We don't know when he said that though. It could have been a month ago, maybe even longer. He said they would be using them as soon as they are available. They are in production now and should be "available" sometime in Novemeber. So if they announce them Novemeber 5th they could easily be shipping in time for Christmas. I'm sure the Superdrive will only be offered on the top model, maybe even as a BTO-only option if supplies are really limited. That way they can start shipping the low-end PowerBook immediately for those who don't need it.

[Blackcat]

Originally posted by Titanium.X


We don't know when he said that though. It could have been a month ago, maybe even longer. He said they would be using them as soon as they are available. They are in production now and should be "available" sometime in Novemeber. So if they announce them Novemeber 5th they could easily be shipping in time for Christmas. I'm sure the Superdrive will only be offered on the top model, maybe even as a BTO-only option if supplies are really limited. That way they can start shipping the low-end PowerBook immediately for those who don't need it.

That makes sense, especially as News.com has a reputation for old news.

I hope Apple offer an upgrade like they did for the combo drive - I bought a Ti800 3 weeks ago!

[AngusB]

I know this is a smidg off topic, but I recently bought a used Tibook 667 with a DVD Rom drive...how do I get it upgraded to a Combo Drive...

I didn't see anything on the Apple web site?


Angus

[Blackcat]

Originally posted by AngusB
I know this is a smidg off topic, but I recently bought a used Tibook 667 with a DVD Rom drive...how do I get it upgraded to a Combo Drive...

I didn't see anything on the Apple web site?


Angus

They offered it briefly to people who bought 'books just before the release.

MCE do it now though, if you want one.

[axehat]

I bought a new 800mhz TiBook Ultimate Monday. I would have held out for Nov. 5th, but I reckoned that the updated TiBooks wouldn't ship until January probably, and I don't think that 200mhz justifies that wait. I don't really want a SuperDrive that much, so even this addition wouldn't cause me to wait. A SuperDrive would be a good seller, however. I hope I don't eat my words about not holding out though :D.

[wHo_tHe]

Originally posted by Blackcat
Apple wheel out Jozwiak when sales are poor because we're waiting. He's saying buy a Powerbook now, it's not getting a Superdrive this revision. He did the same when no new PowerMacs were due. Actually, all Jowziak said is that as soon as slot-loading DVD writers are available, that Apple will offer them. He didn't say anything about when they'd be available, which, based on previous information cited earlier in this thread, could be right about now.

His remarks also seem to confirm an internal drive as opposed to an external one.

[Titanium.X]

The Japanese ZDNet article I linked to shows a picture of the drive. Note the picture (file) name indicates it will be distributed by their OEM division Matsushıta. Guess where all of Apple's slot-loading drives have come from in the past? There is no doubt this is the drive they will use just whether or not it will be ready in time. It is supposed to be avaialble towards the end of the year. The article was dated October 3rd so it has already been a month. I think there is a very good chance we will see it with this next revision.

[Titanium.X]

Why does this messageboad keep censoring the name of this company? I am talking about a manufacturer not a bodily function. Sheesh.

[scem0]

I think a lot of people are waiting just to get the super-drive. I think it will hurt sales a good amount if there is no superdrive. But hey, the computer world is anything but predictable.;)

[bousozoku]

It seems to me that a month or so ago, we were looking at a Kodawarisan article concerning a slot-loading DVD drive inside a poly-mosquito (polycarbonate) casing. :D

Matsusita was the drive manufacturer, you may remember, as the profanity filter was going off when it was spelled with the Hepburn transliteration. :)

[Titanium.X]

Originally posted by bousozoku

Matsusita was the drive manufacturer, you may remember, as the profanity filter was going off when it was spelled with the Hepburn transliteration. :)

Eh? Hepburn transliteration? I spelled it correctly. Well, I went back and substituted another character for the letter i. Strange that the filter censors it even as part of a larger word.

[pantagruel]

If the superdrive comes out soon for the powerbook, how long do you think it would be before it comes out on the iBook?
Oh and this is my first real post here, the forum already seems to be very well put together so I'm glad to be here.

[moo083]

I am sorry, but I guarantee you it will take quite a while before the superdrive makes it to the iBook. Think of how long normal superdrives were available to the powermac before they made it to the imac. If the superdrive comes to the powerbook on the 5th, I think you will need to wait until a second version of a superdrive comes out before they put them on iBooks.

On another note, all I know is that I have been browsing rumor sites for a good 3-4 months waiting for new powerbooks and now they may be right around the corner and I am very excited (though not too excited so as to not be too let down if the pb rev doesnt come out).

[shadowfax]

i'll second that one, moo83. actually i need them to ship by November 20 (my Bday) and that is probably not happening, even if they do announce them on the 5th. oh well. i can always wait till january too, i just don't want to at all.

[moo083]

My birthday is the 22nd. Cool, I guess we have similar tastes in presents!
Has anyone heard more about the graphix card? Is it going to be a mobility 9000?

[Titanium.X]

Pioneer makes a tray-loading DVD-R drive that will fit the PowerBook. It burns DVD-R and DVD-RW discs at 2x speed. Panasonic (Matsushıta) makes both a tray-loading and slot-loading DVD-R drive that will fit the PowerBook. It burns DVD-R discs at 2x and DVD-RW discs at 1x so not as fast as the Pioneer. It is also slower at burning CD-RW discs. Apple has used Matsushıta in the past for their slot-loading drives so they will going with them here, at least initially. It was announced October 3rd and was said to be available towards the end of the year. If the 3-5 day wait at the Apple Store is any indication, they may not have gotten them in time. It's 50/50 really. They could also offer it as a BTO-only option initially with delayed delivery.