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.
Memorex LightScribe dvd burner
- Thread starter NewMackie
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
I have this memorex lightscribe external burner. before I open it i want to make sure it is MAC compatible. I want to burn CD and eventually dvdsDoes not mention Mac anywhere on the box. I have a 24" mac desktop
thanks
I have the Samsung Internal Lightscribe. Works fine. Is that external firewire or USB?
Actually, Memorex doesn't make DVD drives. What you have is a Lite-On 20A1H.
http://club.cdfreaks.com/f44/new-20x-memorex-writer-liteon-221268
Sure it will work, as long as you don't try to install it in a 2008 MacPro. I had a 20A1H in a FW800 Powermac. It lasted less than a year before it began acting up. I mainly used it for Lightscribe. I used an external NEC 3550 for burning. It seems the software 'Disc Cover' doesn't like being in an external case. Whenever I would connect another firewire device while using Disc Cover, it would freak and abort writing. That's why I made the Lite-On internal.
When I got the MacPro, I found that the Lite-On wouldn't clear the Drive door. I put the Lite-On in another machine and got a Samsung 202N for the MacPro. Then I found that the Lite-On had gotten much worse about recognizing discs. I trashed it on it's 1 year birthday. It has the record! Pioneer 105 - 14 months, Pioneer 107 - 18 months, Lite-On 20A1H - 12 months, NEC 3550 - Still Working Great! Samsung 182M - Still Working Great, Samsung 202N - Just getting broken in
http://club.cdfreaks.com/f44/new-20x-memorex-writer-liteon-221268
Sure it will work, as long as you don't try to install it in a 2008 MacPro. I had a 20A1H in a FW800 Powermac. It lasted less than a year before it began acting up. I mainly used it for Lightscribe. I used an external NEC 3550 for burning. It seems the software 'Disc Cover' doesn't like being in an external case. Whenever I would connect another firewire device while using Disc Cover, it would freak and abort writing. That's why I made the Lite-On internal.
When I got the MacPro, I found that the Lite-On wouldn't clear the Drive door. I put the Lite-On in another machine and got a Samsung 202N for the MacPro. Then I found that the Lite-On had gotten much worse about recognizing discs. I trashed it on it's 1 year birthday. It has the record! Pioneer 105 - 14 months, Pioneer 107 - 18 months, Lite-On 20A1H - 12 months, NEC 3550 - Still Working Great! Samsung 182M - Still Working Great, Samsung 202N - Just getting broken in
Actually, Memorex doesn't make DVD drives. What you have is a Lite-On 20A1H.
http://club.cdfreaks.com/f44/new-20x-memorex-writer-liteon-221268
okay
this box says memorex dvd recorder MRX-530LE cd/dvd and yes i have a 2008 pwer mac - aarrgh i opened the box i hope i dont have to take this thing back
it's external usb mrx 530LE i think i have to purchase software from apple or smileonmymac.com to make it work
Not good. I would think it would work out of the box. It may have something to do with it being USB2 instead of Firewire. Anyway, Memorex is like Lacie and OWC, they make enclosures and then stick someone else's drive inside. Another source confirms that the Memorex enclosure has a Lite-On inside;
http://www.videohelp.com/dvdwriters/memorex-20x-mrx-530l-v1-external/2155
I don't like Lite-Ons. Mine worked for less than a year before giving problems.
Looking at Lacie, they offer an external USB2 only drive, but indications are that they are meant for PCs. They don't have Mac software included and don't mention Macs. The same drive, in a USB2/Firewire enclosure, includes Mac software and instructions. They are both Samsung drives in a Lacie enclosure. The Firewire version is much more expensive.
http://www.lacie.com/us/products/range.htm?id=10014
OWC doesn't offer an external drive that is USB2 only. Their drives are about the same price as Lacie's. I would choose a Lacie or OWC drive over the Memorex.
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other World Computing/MRFWU2S202LS/
If it were me, I went with a PYRO 1394 Drive Kit, and installed an OEM drive from NewEgg. Much cheaper than the OWC or Lacie offerings. It's not that difficult, and you can use the Firmware Updates straight from the OEM manufacturer instead of being tied to updates from Memorex.
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/ADS Technologies Inc./API800REV2/
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151155
So, good luck on your decisions.
LightScribe and Macs
Although the LightScribe is compatible with Macs the question should be is LightScribe compatible with your disc labeling needs? The LightScribe takes a very long time to make labels, often it takes almost 25 minutes. It also only makes monochrome labels that often look like various shades of gray. IMHO if one takes the time to choose a Mac because of its superior performance why not choose peripherals with the same utility? I only use a DiscPainter for my disc labeling because it just works better. The DiscPainter prints in full color and is much faster than the LightScribe.
Although the LightScribe is compatible with Macs the question should be is LightScribe compatible with your disc labeling needs? The LightScribe takes a very long time to make labels, often it takes almost 25 minutes. It also only makes monochrome labels that often look like various shades of gray. IMHO if one takes the time to choose a Mac because of its superior performance why not choose peripherals with the same utility? I only use a DiscPainter for my disc labeling because it just works better. The DiscPainter prints in full color and is much faster than the LightScribe.
THANK YOU for this information. You are CORRECT. I took that thing back to the store. It took 20 minutes to create one disk and the quality was ..... not acceptable!!!
. I will look into te diskpainter as that is what I need a full color painter.
THANK YOU for this information. You are CORRECT. I took that thing back to the store. It took 20 minutes to create one disk and the quality was ..... not acceptable!!!
Pretty steep at an MSRP of $280!
Beware the LaCie Lightscribe with OS 10.5.3
I've tried two of these puppies on 2 different Macs, both with 10.5.3. Both burn discs fine, but the Labeler program cannot find the drive using their latest software, on either computer. Apparently there is a compatibility problem with the latest OS update. Several calls to LaCie went nowhere and they suggested I take the unit back, which is my intention.
RPW
I've tried two of these puppies on 2 different Macs, both with 10.5.3. Both burn discs fine, but the Labeler program cannot find the drive using their latest software, on either computer. Apparently there is a compatibility problem with the latest OS update. Several calls to LaCie went nowhere and they suggested I take the unit back, which is my intention.
RPW
Disc labeling
That is the DiscPainter's recommended retail price. Nobody pays retail anymore thanks to them internets.
They are for sale on amazon for 249 and I seem to remember it even cheaper elsewhere. (buy.com???)
That is the DiscPainter's recommended retail price. Nobody pays retail anymore thanks to them internets.
They are for sale on amazon for 249 and I seem to remember it even cheaper elsewhere. (buy.com???)