In an effort to further convince my wife to let me get a new Powerbook, I've thought about not choosing the Superdrive option and just getting a combo drive. I did some checking and if I want a dvd recorder later, it's much cheaper to get an external recorder than a superdrive. What I want to know is, is the thing really necessary if I don't do movie editing and that sort of fancy stuff?
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.
Is Superdrive really necessary?
- Thread starter Super20
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
It's totally not warranted. An external will give you speed and compatibility (8x, +/-RW) over portability. Externals can also be used with iDVD using some hack (have a search around, it's very prolific).Super20 said:
Super20 said:
iDVD doesn't work with DVD writing devices.
I wouldn't count on that hack for externals to survive another iDVD update.
If you plan on using iMovie/iDVD, you'd better get the SuperDrive.
You might not think that you'll ever do movie editing, but eventually the techie bug will bite and you'll end up with a DVcam, and you'll shoot some birthday party where little Jimmy turns 4, and want to put together a DVD for some family member or other, and you'll see how easy iMovie and iDVD are to use and put together a decent looking film and make everyone who sees it look at you with new appreciation because after all, they can barely use a computer, so anyone that can do this must be a genius, even though Apple makes it really easy to use, and then the next thing you know you're filming bar mitzvahs and weddings and your kid parallel parking her first car without denting a fender and.... pant, pant, pant.
That's the longest run on I've ever written!
if you're going to be serious about video editing, you'd be better off to get an external firewire dvd burner, like a lacie or something. i believe that final cut pro hd comes with a dvd burning program that'd support an external drive (correct me if i'm wrong). however, if you're just going to mess around with it, the superdrive and imovie/idvd is probably a better choice. you can still do some pretty neat stuff with that.
however, if you have no inclination to do that sort of thing, then jsut go for the combo drive. if in the future you feel like making movies, you can either spring for an external drive or you can just render it back out to tape and then connect your camera to a vcr and put it on vhs tape.
however, if you have no inclination to do that sort of thing, then jsut go for the combo drive. if in the future you feel like making movies, you can either spring for an external drive or you can just render it back out to tape and then connect your camera to a vcr and put it on vhs tape.
Hi Super 20,
I agree with Yellow, if you don't get it now then you can't add it later, unless you buy an eternal one, which may not work with iDVD. If you don't have a DV Camcorder and are not planning to get one in the next couple of years, then don't bother with the superdrive. If you do have one, then you don't know what you are missing if you don't use iDVD. It was one of the Apps that made me switch from a Windows PC a couple of years ago.
If you have a 5+MP digital camera, a superdrive is useful for backing up your photo library, and your purchased music. (iPod could be another option)
Just my viewpoint
I agree with Yellow, if you don't get it now then you can't add it later, unless you buy an eternal one, which may not work with iDVD. If you don't have a DV Camcorder and are not planning to get one in the next couple of years, then don't bother with the superdrive. If you do have one, then you don't know what you are missing if you don't use iDVD. It was one of the Apps that made me switch from a Windows PC a couple of years ago.
If you have a 5+MP digital camera, a superdrive is useful for backing up your photo library, and your purchased music. (iPod could be another option)
Just my viewpoint
Chaszmyr said:
I don't do much movie editing, but do use it to back up my pictures instead of using several cd's I can use one dvd and it is done. As an add on device it was only $200 for an ibook I bought my wife. If you really want the superdrive just add the powerbook with the specs you want with the cdrw drive then add the superdrive for $200 more. I can't imagine you could buy an external drive for much cheaper than that. Yes, it might be a bit faster, but having an internal one that you have with you at all times would be nice I would think. Also, an external drive...do they come with firewire cables already or are they separate which is an extra cost?!?!
However, if you dont' have many pictures, or do movies, and don't plan on getting into them in the next three+ years then I would not worry about getting the superdrive.
I am very glad I got my superdrive in my current iMac. I didn't intend on doing movies, but I borrowed a digital video camera and fell in love with doing them. Now I am working on geting a camera of my own.
i know some people use theirs a whole lot, but i have never used mine once and ive had it for about 9 months now.
The Superdrive is 2x slower than the Combodrive. and thats just reading. Writing wise its only 4x which takes around 20-35 minutes. Not to mention the 45minute it would take for a DVD-rw.
If I was you, even if I was intent on backing up, I would just get an external HDD. Otherwise you could wait untill apple updates speed it up (but then we're talking anything up to a year).
Ari_0
If I was you, even if I was intent on backing up, I would just get an external HDD. Otherwise you could wait untill apple updates speed it up (but then we're talking anything up to a year).
Ari_0
Super20 said:
When I bought my G4 (Quicksilver 867Mhz) a couple of years ago I opted for a CD-RW drive instead of the combo, because I had no need to view DVDs on my Mac (until recently). I successfully installed a Pioneer DVR-107 OEM internal burner without ANY hitches at all (it opens the flap door on my g4 better in fact than the original), and once I'd upgraded to 10.3.4 (I was running 10.2.8) it is 100% compatible with all iApps and Finder burning etc.. (You will need 10.3.4 for the iApps to recognise the drive as a useable one, although it'll work fine with Toast)
This is what appears in my System Profiler:
PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-107D:
Capacity: 2.03 MB
Manufacturer: PIONEER
Model: PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-107D
Revision: 1.15
Drive Type: CD-RW/DVD-RW
Disc Burning: Apple Supported/Shipped
Removable Media: Yes
Detachable Drive: No
BSD Name: disk2
Protocol: ATAPI
I got the drive for £48 (I'm in the UK obviously) and am extremely happy with it, its undoubtedly the cheapest way of getting a DVD burning capability. (Avoid the DVR-A07 as it has a different face plate which may interfere with your Mac).
I'm also looking to buy a powerbook and am wondering about the necessity of a superdrive. At first, I thought I wanted a DVD burner so I could download movies, burn them on DVD, and then erase the evidence; but now I'm not so sure I'd have the patience to download entire movies.
answer348 said:
Basically, the Superdrive is great for film hobbyists. It's convenient, portable, and works well with Apple's bundled software.
But as the others have mentioned, professionals will need scratch disks and faster, Dual-Layer burners.
If you're not interested in film or movies, opt for the Combo drive. If you are (and it can be quite fun), go for it.