Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Mac compatible external dvd burner
- Thread starter GRuizMD
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Take a look at the LaCie stuff!
It looks nice and works usually very good on both platforms, win and mac.
It looks nice and works usually very good on both platforms, win and mac.
I've always liked Plextor burners and I presently have an external unit with both FW400 and USB connections. It's a bit noisy when it spins up, but it's fast and it works well.
A while back I used to swear by the Sony Spressa line of burners. Don't know if they are as reliable nowadays.
How long have you been using this drive with success? Also, how has your luck been with the Lightscribe feature, if used at all?
I'm thinking of getting this drive to use with my Mac Mini (should arrive soon). I am also looking at the Sony externals like the DRX-820U, but the LG has some nice features for the price.
About six months, I've burned about 100 DVDs (almost exclusively Verbatim DVD+R, so using high quality media might be one reason for the success).
I haven't used the Lightscribe feature yet though.
The reason I originally got it was mostly that it provided the most features for the price range. I imagine the Sony with similar specs would perform equally as well. I think using good quality media is probably more important than the difference between burners, considering they are good quality burners.
Thanks.
Guess I may have to just pull the trigger and get one (the LG). If it works out maybe I'll get a 2nd one for the basement to use with my Macbook (only has a combo drive).
I like the look of the Sony, but the LG seems to have some better reviews and Lightscribe, which may get used occasionally. Function over form!
Guess I may have to just pull the trigger and get one (the LG). If it works out maybe I'll get a 2nd one for the basement to use with my Macbook (only has a combo drive).
I like the look of the Sony, but the LG seems to have some better reviews and Lightscribe, which may get used occasionally. Function over form!
For what it's worth, most LG dvd-writers you get from cheap PC places work INTERNALLY in Macs without special drivers. Which leads me to believe you could possibly put one of them in a cheapy external USB enclosure and make your own External DVD-Writer solution. However, this is just my theory. You can check http://www.xlr8yourmac.com for compatibility reports.
Ironically, you could go and buy almost any external DVD writer and it would work in any modern Mac...
..except the external DVD writer that Apple themselves make, which works in only 2 of the 15 standard spec Mac's currently available.
Doug
..except the external DVD writer that Apple themselves make, which works in only 2 of the 15 standard spec Mac's currently available.
Doug
FYI: R6TR06 by AGPtek is NOT compatible
The "Toshiba TS-L632" or R6TR06 by AGPtek does NOT work with the PowerBook G4 (Running Mac OS 10.4); just FYI.
The drive appears in the system profiler as a USB to IDE device, but putting any disk in the drive doesn't mount.
The "Toshiba TS-L632" or R6TR06 by AGPtek does NOT work with the PowerBook G4 (Running Mac OS 10.4); just FYI.
The drive appears in the system profiler as a USB to IDE device, but putting any disk in the drive doesn't mount.
For $69 (free s&h and no tax), this LG GP08NU10 states "Mac Compatible":
http://www.buy.com/prod/210607378.html
http://www.buy.com/prod/210607378.html
The best is to buy a GOOD external 5.25" case and the burner that you prefer. There are some rare cases of this size that also have FW800, eSATA, but those interfaces should not be worth it, given that opticals are so slow (I had one such FW800 case that stopped working).
Any drive should work. What happens it that for many you need Windows if you have to update the firmware.
If you want to spend as little as possible, anything that is not Super Multi (DVD-RAM too) with LightScribe is not worth it. This used to be LG's turf, but now several other brands offer drives with such specs.
Going up (double), one could perhaps take a look at the Super Multi, LightScribe, BD-ROM, HD DVD ROM drive from LG (at least to watch hi def movies in Windows).
Doubling up again would buy you an LG Super Multi Blu with LightScribe that can burn BD-RE.
But I wouldn't buy a ready-made external that doesn't state it's Mac-compatible. The case is the issue, not the drive. There are many flakey cases.
Any drive should work. What happens it that for many you need Windows if you have to update the firmware.
If you want to spend as little as possible, anything that is not Super Multi (DVD-RAM too) with LightScribe is not worth it. This used to be LG's turf, but now several other brands offer drives with such specs.
Going up (double), one could perhaps take a look at the Super Multi, LightScribe, BD-ROM, HD DVD ROM drive from LG (at least to watch hi def movies in Windows).
Doubling up again would buy you an LG Super Multi Blu with LightScribe that can burn BD-RE.
But I wouldn't buy a ready-made external that doesn't state it's Mac-compatible. The case is the issue, not the drive. There are many flakey cases.
Just about any firewire 5.25" enclosure will work - I popped the old ATA superdrive that shipped with my mac pro into a Que! Fire enclosure that's about 8 years old and it worked without a hitch.
Really? I have a nice Plextor DVD-RW-DL burner and I haven't yet been able to get it to play with any of my Macs. It's FW400 USB2.0, sounds like yours.
Son of a gun... I just tried yet again and still nothing. Any chance you have an original install CD with Mac drivers?
examples (are sometimes better than guidelines)
Here is an LG DVD Burner (Model GP08NU10) from Newegg.com and comes with an 8GB USB stick (ends 7/31) for $79.
Skip paying shipping and forget the 8GB stick: the LG GP08NU10 is also only $65 from buy.com:
http://www.buy.com/prod/210607378.html
Either site (or site of your choice), this one example (i.e. the LG GP08NU10) is surely Mac OS compatible, as the Mac OS logo is on the box (and comes with Toast Titanium v9, a Mac OS software bundle).
As far as guidlines, you'll run into trouble, as the post before me did (i.e. not all Firewire optical drive enclosures will be seen by Mac, just like *most* enclosures and drives *should* be seen by Mac; but, in reality, it's risky business, and I believe people are looking for concrete examples, yes?).
Here is an LG DVD Burner (Model GP08NU10) from Newegg.com and comes with an 8GB USB stick (ends 7/31) for $79.
Skip paying shipping and forget the 8GB stick: the LG GP08NU10 is also only $65 from buy.com:
http://www.buy.com/prod/210607378.html
Either site (or site of your choice), this one example (i.e. the LG GP08NU10) is surely Mac OS compatible, as the Mac OS logo is on the box (and comes with Toast Titanium v9, a Mac OS software bundle).
As far as guidlines, you'll run into trouble, as the post before me did (i.e. not all Firewire optical drive enclosures will be seen by Mac, just like *most* enclosures and drives *should* be seen by Mac; but, in reality, it's risky business, and I believe people are looking for concrete examples, yes?).
mac compatible external optical drive
Buy.com comes through again (generic (by AGPtek), $20.94, includes s&h):
http://www.buy.com/prod/213658065.html
There's also a Samsung (that I personally know will work because I bought one and it does) from Newegg (my fav) for $43.99:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151198
Buy.com comes through again (generic (by AGPtek), $20.94, includes s&h):
http://www.buy.com/prod/213658065.html
There's also a Samsung (that I personally know will work because I bought one and it does) from Newegg (my fav) for $43.99:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151198
Mac Compatible DVD Burner
I'm using Leopard on my iMac G5 and I just bought a Samsung SE-S204. It's an external DVD burner that supports all formats... (+R, -R, RW, DL {Dual Layer} and Lightscribe). I got it off of eBay for a fraction of it's cost, albeit it was used, but in excellent condition with the plastic wrap still on it. In any case, I plugged it in and it was instantly recognized. I used Toast to burn my first disc with no problem and Lightscribed the other side as well. The 2nd disc I used Finder and it worked with no problems as well. I used Disc Cover 2 (which comes with Roxio Toast) to Lightscribe my own personal picture on both discs. So far, so good. I would recommend Samsungs.
I'm using Leopard on my iMac G5 and I just bought a Samsung SE-S204. It's an external DVD burner that supports all formats... (+R, -R, RW, DL {Dual Layer} and Lightscribe). I got it off of eBay for a fraction of it's cost, albeit it was used, but in excellent condition with the plastic wrap still on it. In any case, I plugged it in and it was instantly recognized. I used Toast to burn my first disc with no problem and Lightscribed the other side as well. The 2nd disc I used Finder and it worked with no problems as well. I used Disc Cover 2 (which comes with Roxio Toast) to Lightscribe my own personal picture on both discs. So far, so good. I would recommend Samsungs.
"Internal drives are just junk"
I don't know why that has to be, but it seems to be the case. I've taken my MacBook Pro into the Mac Store twice for dvd/cd drive repair, and each time the internal drive was just replaced - no inspection, no cleaning; it wasn't worth it.
Now that my Apple Care plan has expired, and my internal drive is on the blink again, I'm looking for an external drive, thanks mostly to reading that recommended here. I've found this one at the link below, and amazon is great about taking things back if they don't work as advertised, and this one has free shipping to you and back to them if you need to return it:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001P5C9S0/ref=ord_cart_shr?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER
The same item is for sale online at the Mac Store U.S.
I thought I'd try cleaning the drive first, as that was suggested to me by a salesman at the Mac Store, but the drive won't accept the cleaner disc!
I don't know why that has to be, but it seems to be the case. I've taken my MacBook Pro into the Mac Store twice for dvd/cd drive repair, and each time the internal drive was just replaced - no inspection, no cleaning; it wasn't worth it.
Now that my Apple Care plan has expired, and my internal drive is on the blink again, I'm looking for an external drive, thanks mostly to reading that recommended here. I've found this one at the link below, and amazon is great about taking things back if they don't work as advertised, and this one has free shipping to you and back to them if you need to return it:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001P5C9S0/ref=ord_cart_shr?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER
The same item is for sale online at the Mac Store U.S.
I thought I'd try cleaning the drive first, as that was suggested to me by a salesman at the Mac Store, but the drive won't accept the cleaner disc!
Last edited:
another option
slim and usb powered and cheaper (at $32)--and comes with Nero 9 (for the Windows peeps!); the Samsung SE-S084 (Mac Compatible) is up to SE-S084F (i.e. my previous post for for the SE-S084C, but as it goes with technology, prices do come down for newer stuff!):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151231
only issue would be for the older Macbook Pro that have one usb port on either side (as this needs both USB plugged in for burning power)--tight fit, but you can do it!
slim and usb powered and cheaper (at $32)--and comes with Nero 9 (for the Windows peeps!); the Samsung SE-S084 (Mac Compatible) is up to SE-S084F (i.e. my previous post for for the SE-S084C, but as it goes with technology, prices do come down for newer stuff!):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151231
only issue would be for the older Macbook Pro that have one usb port on either side (as this needs both USB plugged in for burning power)--tight fit, but you can do it!