[Luca Rescigno]

I'm getting a dual processor G4/500 soon and it has a DVD-RAM drive built in. I don't have much use for it, because DVD-RAM is so slow to write. I'd probably rather have a Combo or DVD-ROM drive (there are plenty of external CD-RW drives available so I could always get one later). Anyway, I talked to a friend who is quite knowledgeable about computers, and he seemed interested in a trade - his fast (16x/40x) DVD-ROM drive for my DVD-RAM drive. I'm wondering what the read speeds are on Apple DVD-RAM drives, and I also need to know if a third party DVD-ROM drive will work in my Mac. Will it play DVDs, and will it be able to boot up from a CD? I've checked the Apple specifications but they don't say how fast the DVD-RAM drives were, they just mention that it was included with the dual processor 500s.

[G4ME]

my Dual G4 500 has a 6X Hitachi DVD drive.

[tr]

the DVD-RAM drives apple shipped with weren't that fast. i mean, they work and all, but they're not speedy. i think they were putting in OEM Panasonic LF-D211 in the G4's at that time, or something really similar. here's a datasheet for the LF-D211:

http://www.panasonic.com/industrial/...pecs/d291n.htm

the one thing i liked about the DVD-RAM was the storage. i loved being able to stick in a disc, drop files, and eject. i got rid of my DVD-RAM and put in a superdrive. i figure, i burn CD's more than i store data, and now i can burn DVD-R's. now, if only someone would release packet writing software for X, or if Mt. Rainer ever gets off the ground, then i'd be happy.

oh, and what make/model DVD-ROM will you get in the trade?


tr

[OmniX]

dude, if you're going to trade DVD-RAM for DVD-ROM, don't do it. DVD-RAM can do everything DVD-ROM can do (read DVD data and video discs), so in essence you'd be down-grading by sacrificing the special RAM capabilities that DVD-RAM has.
Granted DVD-RAM discs aren't used all that much anymore, but there's no sense in trading for a drive unless you will be obtaining some capability you didn't have before.
I'd spring for an internal Combo drive, or if you have the dineros, go for the SuperDrive (pioneer).
G'luck!

[Eug]

Keep the DVD-RAM. It's a heluvalot more useful than a plain DVD-ROM.

Plus it does everything that a DVD-ROM does (although in DVD-ROM mode it isn't as fast as a 16X DVD-ROM).

the one thing i liked about the DVD-RAM was the storage. i loved being able to stick in a disc, drop files, and eject. i got rid of my DVD-RAM and put in a superdrive. i figure, i burn CD's more than i store data, and now i can burn DVD-R's. now, if only someone would release packet writing software for X, or if Mt. Rainer ever gets off the ground, then i'd be happy.

Yep, that's one of the greatest features of DVD-RAM. You can format to either HFS+ or FAT32 and use the drive as a removable hard drive. No packetwriting software required, and it's all drag and drop.

Mt. Rainier might be useful for CD-RW, but currently there are no plans to support it with DVD-RW. Mt. Rainier will still not be as reliable as DVD-RAM though, and you're going to be waiting for a long time for it. Furthermore, you'll likely have to buy a new drive anyway.

By the way, the current Panasonic LF-D321 drive does both DVD-RAM and DVD-R, and the upcoming LF-D521 writes DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, DVD-R, CD-RW, and CD-R.

If I were you and wanted CD-RW support, I'd probably just a $60 Firewire enclosure and a cheap CD-RW drive.

{BTW, I have a CD-RW/DVD-ROM in my iBook, a Firewire DVD-RAM/-R, and a Firewire 24X CD-RW.)

[Luca Rescigno]

Thanks for the suggestions. I don't think I will get rid of the DVD-RAM, even if I would get a little money back in exchange. My friend converts DVDs to VCDs, and that requires a fast DVD-ROM drive, so I have a feeling he'd be unhappy with the DVD-RAM.

Maybe I'll get a single smallish DVD-RAM disk just so I can back up very important things. For the most part, I'll be using it to just play DVD movies and read CDs.