New 4x DVD mobile SuperDrive already "out-dated"?
jeffh said:
The 4x is *already* an out-dated DVD burner.
By the time reselling one of these PBs will be an issue (1-3 years maybe?), dual layer burning will be all over the place - so the DVD burner will be even more outdated.
Maybe some have the need, but for me it wasn't worth it at all
(though I already have a DVD burner, so that factors into it as well).
Jeff
I'm surprised to hear that you find the
4x DVD mobile SuperDrive to be "out-dated", Jeff.
I would like to buy something more up-to-date to install in my laptop.
Would you please
share with us some URLs where we might review and purchase a faster DVD 2.5" slot loading laser drive burner for our laptops?
Frankly, your speculation that slow burning 2x (or, 1x for laptop versions)
DL SuperDrives will migrate to PowerBooks within the next few years runs against conventional wisdom.
Many experts are predicting that DL burning will have limited popularity and DL SuperDrives will be confined to the "studio" in External DVD SuperDrives mostly and are not likely to be installed internally over the next few years, if at all. Of course, professional mastering and duplicating houses will want them immediately.
Indeed, there is considerable opinion that 8.5 GB DVD-R DL won't have time to catch on if the new 25~27 GB (SONY laser version) or
50 GB Pioneer version (using an Electron-stream to burn discs instead of a Laser)
Blu-ray SuperDrives come out before September 2005.
Once Blu-ray comes out, DL will likely become irrelevant rather than just obsolete.
I've already replaced the original 2x Pioneer SuperDrive that came in my 2002 era dual G4 PowerMac with a 3.5" 8x Pioneer DVR-A07 DVD/CD±R/RW , having decided that it is probably wise to hold-off purchasing a
new Dual-Layer SuperDrive until the (DL) one-sided DVD blanks come down significantly in cost from a whopping $35 each to something far more reasonable - like below $10 each, or $8. Philips is expected to be one of the first to market a Dual-Layer DVD-9 desktop burner for $150 USD in Europe starting May 2004.
Maybe
you have a good source for DL Media and a better price that you would be willing to
share with the rest of us?
I'm still anxiously anticipating Apple's announcement concerning availability of
8x DVD-R 5-pack media for $19.99 when the new PowerMac 2+GHz duals are released with 8x SuperDrives as standard equipment.
Since Apple has already provided us with a new driver for the DVR-A07 8x SuperDrive in the 10.3.3 update, I've been dying to burn some hot DVDs at 8x. Problem is, Apple will first need to upgrade or "unlock" the 8x burn speed in iDVD, DVD Studio Pro, and it's standard DVD burner in OS X. At least Roxio's Toast 6 is already capable of an 8x burn, and will likely upgrade to 12x (for SONY & LG) and 16x for Pioneer and the rest before the end of Summer.
Only 4x DVD-R (some printable, finally, but only in cakes of 50 minimum) are available in the local Fry's.
If Apple doesn't come through with new 8x blank DVD media soon, then I'll have no choice but to order on-line in bulk. By then, I hope "printable" quality 8x DVD discs will be widely available.
