Superdrive or Combo?

[CryptoMac]

I ordered my Duel G5 with the Superdrive. Should I have ordered the Combo and bought the Superdrive aftermarket? I could then use the combo drive in a firewire case? Thanks.

[LethalWolfe]

Why don't you just buy a CD burner and put that in a FW case?


Lethal

[CryptoMac]

Thanks Lethal. I just ordered the system and am second guessing myself. That is a good idea. I think the $$ I would save getting the Combo might not be worth the trouble. Thanks again.

[CryptoMac]

Originally posted by LethalWolfe
Why don't you just buy a CD burner and put that in a FW case?


Lethal


Ok, more thinking and reading since this post. Why does it appear from the reading on forums that it is difficult to get a fully supported combo drive. Although, it appears that getting a fully supported Superdrive is easy? Thanks.

[bennetsaysargh]

well, i think the superdrive is better because it can still burn cds. if it were a money issue, i would defiantly vote for combo.

[totally_fly]

SuperDrive can burn cds alright, and read them! But it's very slow!

That's why I am not tossing out money on a SuperDrive unless it's read, seek, burn, and erase speeds are fast!

When I get my G5, it will have a combo drive. It is much faster and I never burn dvds.. I don't need a SuperDrive.. Having one just makes my life more painful ;)

[bousozoku]

I've made several CDs with my SuperDrive and it's fine, but the real reason I wanted one was to make backups. 4.7GB of data on one disk is pretty nice compared to my old 4GB tapes that took an hour to fill and were only good for backup and restore. Using the SuperDrive for video is just a great extra for me.

[FuzzyBallz]

If you like your money, go for the combo, then buy an ext. USB 2.0 or FW DVD writer (internal DVD writer + enclosure). It's cheaper and faster. Given the chance, how often do people buy DVDs on the go? 4.38GB of data? Not that many people I'd say.

[revenuee]

Look at your workflow needs, your purpose, and your out put

do you need to be able to back up 4.7 GIGs of information

if your work is in video, i personally like to have a copy on optical storage, after i slice all my fottage and have all clips arranged and different files, i like to have that as a back up just in case the hard drive crashes, or i do something stupid

again if your working in video, out putting to DVD as a final copy is great, lots of clients jumb on that option now

but if you never plan on doing any video work, and you can't see your self needing to back up 4.7 gigs of information at one time

then a combo drive is more then adiquette

[notjustjay]

I would have bought my 12" with a Combo Drive and used my existing 4x external Firewire DVD burner, except that I would then (a) not get iDVD and (b) even if I were to purchase or "acquire" iDVD, it would not support external DVD burners or non-SuperDrive burners.

D'oh.

[tomf87]

Originally posted by bousozoku
I've made several CDs with my SuperDrive and it's fine, but the real reason I wanted one was to make backups. 4.7GB of data on one disk is pretty nice compared to my old 4GB tapes that took an hour to fill and were only good for backup and restore. Using the SuperDrive for video is just a great extra for me.

Just buy an Ultrium tape drive and use those! They are only several grand... ;)

At any rate, that's the only thing I use my SuperDrive for: backing up data. I just don't make that many movies, so I feel kinda bummed that I bought something I rarely use.

[CryptoMac]

Originally posted by notjustjay
I would have bought my 12" with a Combo Drive and used my existing 4x external Firewire DVD burner, except that I would then (a) not get iDVD and (b) even if I were to purchase or "acquire" iDVD, it would not support external DVD burners or non-SuperDrive burners.

D'oh.

But could I get the Superdrive (which is a Pioneer DVR-106 from what I've read) from a third party and put it internal? Is there anything that would keep me from doing that? iDVD would work then I would think. Thanks.

[Genie]

http://www.geniesongs.com/genie/endorsements/apple/Genie-G5Computer50pix.jpg (http://www.geniesongs.com/genie/endorsements/apple/g5opening/index.htm)
I just got the DVR-106D and installed it in my new G5. it didn't work- big problems.

But I got a driver from xlr8yourmac.com that made it work like magic- VERY COOL!