Apple Adopts Sony Superdrive?

[MacRumors]

A Macintouch.com reader and MacBidouille notes that Apple has adopted a Sony drive for their Superdrive on the new iMac. From Macintouch:

I just purchased a new 1.0 GHz iMac from an Apple store yesterday. To my surprise the Apple System Profiler reported that the DVD drive was not a Pioneer drive, but instead is a Sony DVD RW DW-U10A. Apparently this is a DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, and DVD+RW drive. I had not been aware that Apple changed DVD drive hardware venders.

Apple has previously used a Pioneer drive in the past (for their "Superdrive"), which was limited to DVD-R and DVD-RW formats.

This MacRumors.com thread discusses the switch and confirms that the new iMacs use a Sony drive.

[Jaykay]

Well at least Apple are trying epand the abilities of the superdrive, this can only be a good thing.

Its good to see that they're not just 'OEM'ing one vendor.

[Dunepilot]

apparently the "+" formats are only accessible through Toast, it would seem (extrapolating through Macintouch)

But one guy there says he's fitted the Sony drive to an G4 tower, and can't get OS-level burning at all (i.e. he HAS to use Toast, not disc-burner). I hope someone can help him out to get the full functionality, since it seems to be possible under these new iMacs

[alex_ant]

Apple has used TONS of different optical drives, including Sonys. Look at all the drives on the list halfway down this page: http://www.wormintheapple.gr/macdvd/download.html

[arn]

Originally posted by alex_ant
Apple has used TONS of different optical drives, including Sonys. Look at all the drives on the list halfway down this page: http://www.wormintheapple.gr/macdvd/download.html

not for their Superdrive (DVD writer)

arn

[A@ron]

I KNEW there was a reason why my dual 1.25 BTO w/ Superdrive was delayed 3+ weeks. I submitted it as a possible rumor confirmation 3 days ago Arn. As soon as mine comes in I will do an ASP report to see if it is infact a Sony drive. Humm, should I post this on the apple discussion boards to the 30+ people griping about having their machines delayed. Arn I have heard from 4 supervisors that the superdrive is the component that is causing the "supply problems". Fuel for the fire!

A@ron

[vniow]

What about the other models?

Is it just the iMac or is the drive included on the Powermacs and eMacs too?

[MrBillGates]

Quite frankly I have never been impressed with Sony products. Over the past years I've owned a Sony Triniton monitor, MD player, two component CD player, a portable CD player, and a Sony CD-R. All have failed within two years. I hope the Superdrives Apple is installing in their new systems are quality and not typical sony crap.

my .02 cents

[Shrek]

What is DVD+R and DVD+RW?

[paulie]

Interesting to note that it will do the +R formats as well. I haven't tried it with that yet, but it does write to Apple 4x DVD's fairly quickly, and generic DVD-R 2.0's seem to burn just as fast (great, because you can pick them up for less than a dollar each).

I'll buy some +R media this weekend and see what happens with the OS's burn, and Toast's.

Has anyone here been able to burn to +R or +RW?

[Dunepilot]

I'm inclined to agree with you, Mr Gates. Sony seem to have a great reputation for quality products, but it's completely undeserved.

Their laptops, frequently lauded by internet pundits are total c r a p. I used to work at a major PC retailer about 3 years ago, and we had one shipment of VAIO subnotebooks that were about 75% defective. The feel and build quality of Sony products is often inconsistent with the premium they get away with charging.

(I think you should have gone with a Diamondtron)

Hopefully since these drives won't get much physical wear they may be okay... DVD+RW seems to be winning the format war at the moment, and having that option on a Mac is a great thing.

Originally posted by MrBillGates
Quite frankly I have never been impressed with Sony products. Over the past years I've owned a Sony Triniton monitor, MD player, two component CD player, a portable CD player, and a Sony CD-R. All have failed within two years. I hope the Superdrives Apple is installing in their new systems are quality and not typical sony crap.

my .02 cents

[macquariumguy]

Wow, I love Trinitron monitors. I've got a 16" Apple RGB that saw constant use for 10 years and still works. We use 4 of them (17") now on our 2 computers.

Assuming the new drive holds up, adopting a drive that does both DVD~R formats can only be a good thing.

[Dunepilot]

It's a format of DVD that Philips and Dell and Hewlett Packard and others are supporting. Previously Apple has supported only DVD-R/DVD-RW (known as DVD minus) drives.

Think back to betmax versus VHS and you get the idea.

Originally posted by Shrek
What is DVD+R and DVD+RW?

[Shrek]

Originally posted by Dunepilot
It's a format of DVD that Philips and Dell and Hewlett Packard and others are supporting. Previously Apple has supported only DVD-R/DVD-RW (known as DVD minus) drives.

Think back to betmax versus VHS and you get the idea.

Does it have more capacity or what?

BTW, you should the post you're replying to above your reply and not below it, just like I'm doing.

[bentmywookie]

Originally posted by MrBillGates
Quite frankly I have never been impressed with Sony products. Over the past years I've owned a Sony Triniton monitor, MD player, two component CD player, a portable CD player, and a Sony CD-R. All have failed within two years. I hope the Superdrives Apple is installing in their new systems are quality and not typical sony crap.

my .02 cents

That's interesting. My family and I have a lot of sony products and I feel like they last pretty well. I'm not saying you're wrong or anything, it's just interesting that we have totally contrasting experiences.

I guess this post is slight OT - sorry. I think it's great that these new drives have more functionality than the Pioneers.

[Dunepilot]

Originally posted by Shrek
Does it have more capacity or what?

BTW, you should the post you're replying to above your reply and not below it, just like I'm doing.

yeah yeah

i'm answering you questions, what more do you want?

i don't know about the capacity difference. I assume it's about the same (4.7 Gig) though I may be wrong. I have a standalone Philips DVD+RW recorder, and that records an hour on one DVD, fully uncompressed (which is supposed to be higher quality that commercial DVD movies). You can also chose to record at the same quality as prerecorded films (2hrs) and various longer-play settings also.

What is interesting, and important, is that the combo drives in both my Mac and my dad's won't read the + media, so getting a sony superdrive might be a good idea for my household, for transferring the media.

[Mr. MacPhisto]

Originally posted by MrBillGates
Quite frankly I have never been impressed with Sony products. Over the past years I've owned a Sony Triniton monitor, MD player, two component CD player, a portable CD player, and a Sony CD-R. All have failed within two years. I hope the Superdrives Apple is installing in their new systems are quality and not typical sony crap.

my .02 cents

Funny what different experiences we have. I swear by Sony. Have had DVD Players, CDs, TVs, Monitors, CD-Rs, etc and have never once had a failure. Sony's quality is actually better than most the competition out there, especially Panasonic, Magnavox, Mitsubishi, and, yes, Pioneer. Most people I know have never had any problem with a Sony product. Hardly crap, maybe you've just got some bad luck with them.

[ChicagoMac]

I just bought the new 1ghz imac and it has a pioneer dvd-rw dvr-105. No Sony in mine!

[Shrek]

Originally posted by ChicagoMac
I just bought the new 1ghz imac and it has a pioneer dvd-rw dvr-105. No Sony in mine!

Call Apple and tell them and perhaps they'll send out a technician to replace the drive.

[Maclicious]

Ok, I doubt this is even possible with the slot loading drive, but am I wrong? Could the new 17 inch AluBooks come with this sony drive?

[Dunepilot]

"I just bought the new 1ghz imac and it has a pioneer dvd-rw dvr-105. No Sony in mine!"

sorry to hear that. it's amazing how much of the componentry in modern computers varies. Obviously Apple are generally better in this respect than most wintel manufacturers, since they want to deliver maximum hardware/software integration, but it surprises me all the time nonetheless.

[RonyD]

But one guy there says he's fitted the Sony drive to an G4 tower, and can't get OS-level burning at all (i.e. he HAS to use Toast, not disc-burner). I hope someone can help him out to get the full functionality, since it seems to be possible under these new iMacs

Did he report anything about being able to load iDVD 2 or 3 with the Sony drive in his tower? It would stand to reason that iDVD3 must work on these new iMacs with the Sony drive.

Ron
---
PMAC Dual 1Ghz MDD

[richlen]

So why then is mine a Pioneer? I was at the Apple store tonight, went thru the whole store and they were all pioneers? Whats up...why would ONE have a sony? Besides, iLife products dont record to DVD+R/RW. I'd like to get further confirmation on this.

[ChicagoMac]

Hey, no need to feel sorry for me. I could care less who made the drive as long as it's in a Mac and it works. I would like more confirmation on this too. Anyone else have the new 17" and want to check their superdrive specs?

[Dunepilot]

Originally posted by RonyD
Did he report anything about being able to load iDVD 2 or 3 with the Sony drive in his tower? It would stand to reason that iDVD3 must work on these new iMacs with the Sony drive.

Ron
---
PMAC Dual 1Ghz MDD

I would suggest you head over to www.macintouch.com and watch the saga unfold.

Along with this site, it's probably my favourite mac site