New MacPro Questions?

[brand]

I just sold one of my MacBook Pros and plan on ordering a MacPro to replace it.

The specs for it are:
Two 2.8GHz Quad-Core Xeons
2GB Memory
320GB Hard Drive
8800GT Graphics Card
AirPort Extreme
Apple Wireless Keyboard

Thing I will add to it:
Either 2x2GB or 4x2GB of RAM from OWC or Transintl
A couple of 750GB hard drives setup in a software RAID1 until the Caldigit RAID Card comes out.
AppleCare will be purchased from Ebay or Amazon.

If I order it with a single optical drive will most new IDE optical drives work or do they have to be flashed with special firmware? One reason for this is so that I can install a LightScribe drive. Another reason is to save $90 and use what I already have.

 

[darthraige]

If I order it with a single optical drive will most new IDE optical drives work or do they have to be flashed with special firmware? One reason for this is so that I can install a LightScribe drive. Another reason is to save $90 and use what I already have.

I'm using a LightScribe drive in mine. Having no issues with it, and it's quite old too. Before the MacPro's ever came out.

 

[GotPro]

Ditto...

I'm using a very old DVD/CDRW Combo Drive 56x16C from Mad Dog Multimedia (3-4 years old?) with zero problems... Eject keys and everything else works perfectly.

(BTW I'm using this drive as it was one of the few drives that ever shipped without riplock enabled)

 

[brand]

Well I ordered it last yesterday and was very happy with myself. Now today I am doubting myself and wondering if I should have waited until the Nehalem comes out. 😕

Would it be recommended, when adding another optical drive, to use SATA instead of IDE?

 

[GotPro]

Don't be silly. Nahalem is still a year away... and in the mean time you could be using this incredible machine.

Software can't even take advantage of the Mac Pro 2.8 for the most part...

As soon as you buy Nahalem... you'll want to wait for whatever is coming in that NEXT year.

Don't... you CAN'T buy technology that way. It is what it is. If you have a need / desire now... it's a GREAT time to buy... the JUST updated them... so... at least you are a BIT ahead of the curve!

Enjoy!