[Brian Jewett]

Hi,

I've seen only sporadic comments on this topic after having done a search.
My powerbook G4 800mhz CDRW/DVD-reader is slowly failing. I need an external DVD burner anyway.

I'll post a software question elsewhere. For hardware: any suggestions? I saw one person had trouble with his G4 and the LaCie d2 multi-format dvd burner, which is what I was considering. Any other suggestions? Any problems with OSX in general or Panther in particular?

Thanks for any comments.

[Apfhex]

I have the same machine as you and my drive also started failing (what the hell did they do to screw up those combo drives anyway?!).

I bought a Pioneer DVR-106 and put it in a Coolmax Firewire case, and it works flawlessly (since it's the same Superdrive that Apples uses, it's fully supported under OS X). And if you have software that supports it (like Toast) you can burn DVD+RW's with it, unlike the ones you get from Apple.

xlr8yourmac has some good coverage on this in their drive compatibility database.

[CRASH HARDDRIVE]

I just got the Pioneer 107D to use as an external burner for my Powerbook G4 550 as well as a few other portables. I put it in a generic Firewire case, and it works beautifully.

OSX doesn't recognize it natively, (still using Jaguar on my PB) but Toast 6 works perfectly with it. I burn DVDs created with DVDSP in Toast, so the fact that DVDSP doesn't work with the drive natively doesn't matter to me.

I wanted an external DVD-R that was fast for on the fly DVD creation that I need to do lately, and the 107D is the right tool for the job. I needed 8x speed DVD burning in a cost-effective external solution, and this setup delivers.

I haven't tried it yet on a Panther system, it might support an external 107D natively, but if you have Toast 6 (5 works also, but only allows a max 4x DVD speed burning) I'd recommend this setup for a fast and reliable external.

[Eug Wanker]

Originally posted by CRASH HARDDRIVE:
I just got the Pioneer 107D to use as an external burner for my Powerbook G4 550 as well as a few other portables. I put it in a generic Firewire case, and it works beautifully.

OSX doesn't recognize it natively, (still using Jaguar on my PB) but Toast 6 works perfectly with it. I burn DVDs created with DVDSP in Toast, so the fact that DVDSP doesn't work with the drive natively doesn't matter to me.

I wanted an external DVD-R that was fast for on the fly DVD creation that I need to do lately, and the 107D is the right tool for the job. I needed 8x speed DVD burning in a cost-effective external solution, and this setup delivers.

I haven't tried it yet on a Panther system, it might support an external 107D natively, but if you have Toast 6 (5 works also, but only allows a max 4x DVD speed burning) I'd recommend this setup for a fast and reliable external.

OS X.3.3 apparently recognizes the 107D natively according to some reports out there in internetland.

[sandsl]

Well seemly this is the "CDRW/DVD-reader is slowly failing" club so I should rightly join. My powerbook G4 800mhz CDRW/DVD-reader is also slowly failing, can still read DVDs fine but won't read or write CDs anymore.

Thanks to the recent addition to iDVD which allows it to work with external burners, i'm also in the market for an external firewire dvd burner.

I'm looking for a cheap option, available in the UK, so if anyone has any specific recommendations of where to get a Pioneer 107D and external firewire case, I'd appreciate it.

[bells0]

I'm in the same boat, can get a Pioneer 107 for just over £80, it's a decent enclosure that i'm finding harder to find!

Any Brits out there who have recently bought one/know where to get [5.25 firewire ide] would be appreciated

Chris