Will MBA external superdrive work with MacMini?

[184550]

I am considering testing the Mac waters as a switcher. I am thinking about buying a used Mac Mini at the $500 price point. Of course this model comes with a combo drive. The ram and hard drive amounts don't really concern me. However, should I want to fully use iDvd and iMovie, could I buy a MBA superdrive at a later point and have it work with the mini?
Thanks,
Jake

 

[cherry su]

i heard that it won't work because the superdrive needs a "speshul" USB port that has high amperage, wattage, or something like that

if you want to use iMovie and iDVD you should have at least 1GB for a decent user experience

 

[184550]

Thanks, I suspected that due to people saying that the external drive wouldn't work through USB hubs, but I thought I'd check.

 

[umgolfer]

It definitely does not work. I tried it with my iMac and it doesn't work. I would imagine the Mac Mini is not any different (if I still had mine I would check it, but it is with a family member now that isn't here)

 

[184550]

Thanks, it looks like I might have to spring for the $679 refurb then for the superdrive.

 

[scaredpoet]

In theory though, you can pick up any non-spehsul external DVD burner and it should work, right?

 

[184550]

True, true...

 

[tsice19]

They might make "speshul" ones just for the mini here.