which is the best firewire cd recorder in your opinion:

COMLINE 16/10/40 (Yamaha)
LaCie 16/10/40 (Yamaha)
Formac 16/10/40 (Sanyo)

I think the best option is one with yamaha mechanics (i dont know where formac found the sanyo mechanics part)
data come from online store of mactrade.de
http://mactrade.xebec.de/view/0/1/1/61/

does anyone have also any reports on these devices (how the handle reliability etc)

thnx,
ktolis
p.s. i am looking all these in external firewire configurations because i have a pismo @500

[This message has been edited by ktolis (edited 03-11-2001).]

I've got the iomega Predator that I'm pleased with so far. (I've only had it for a week) It's been reliable and the included software has been excellent (Toast 4.1.2). I have a Pismo 400 so our configurations are probably just about the same. My drive is the USB version that costs 269 plus tax. The firewire version will be out in a few weeks, I'm told. But this one can be upgraded to Firewire for the cost of the adapter (around 80 bucks and again, out in a few weeks) On USB it runs at 4X / 4X / 6X. When the unit is upgraded to Firewire, it runs at 8X / 4X / 32X. The thing I like about it is that I can use it on my computer or switch it to one that doesn't have the Firewire port, like my secretary's iMac 350.

PeteWK

ps, the drive is made by Phillips.

[This message has been edited by PeteWK (edited 03-12-2001).]

Don't get the LaCie Yamaha, but get a Yamaha Yamaha.
Get the CRW2100.
Its the best on the market.

Cipher13

Originally posted by Cipher13:
Don't get the LaCie Yamaha, but get a Yamaha Yamaha.
Get the CRW2100.
Its the best on the market.

Cipher13

why not the LaCie?
does the CRW2100 come with FireWire too?
what about the others?
(USB is NOT an option by the way...)

ktolis

I bought the Lacie 16/10/40 firewire drive and have used it for the last few weeks, using a wallstreet with an Orangemicro firewire cardbus adapter and so far not a single coaster. Have duplicated many of my favorite cd's for the car and work without a bad recording. Also used it on my Dell 420 workstation with firewire pci card, again without a problem. I am not even sure if it is a yamaha ... but who cares its working great, even without built in firewire

highly recommended.

Originally posted by ktolis:
why not the LaCie?
does the CRW2100 come with FireWire too?
what about the others?
(USB is NOT an option by the way...)

ktolis

Dammit, my reply got deleted before

Yamaha is the best there is. 100% Yamaha is better than 70%.
Yes, the CRW is FireWire or SCSI (diff models).

Cipher13

I know Chiper is a strong advocate for the Yamaha, everything I have heard about them has been great. I would also like to suggest the Sony Spressa CRX1600L-A2 i.LINK also listed as the Sony CD-RW CRX160, it has been unbelievable especially after experiencing the QUE! Fire 12x10x32 w/ a Teac mechanism, junk. The Sony comes with Retrospect Express, its own CD burning software, I personally like the Toast Deluxe better (Thanks Chiper13), however this drive is supported by Apple latest CD Burner 1.0.1. It's super quite too.

Originally posted by slider:
I especially after experiencing the QUE! Fire 12x10x32 w/ a Teac mechanism, junk.

Hmm. I've heard good things about the Que and I thought it had a Plextor mechanism.

That was one of the many problems. When this drive first came out it had the Plexor drive then the changed it to a Samsung, an finally the Teac. MacWorld tested the Plexor and had good things to say about it, theTeac drive, however, is not supported by Dantz Retrospect, the Plexor is and forget about the Samsung. As far as I know they are still using the Teac. Worst of all there was a firmware update that needed a PC to update it. QPS offer to update this driver, but you had to pay for shipping and to and fro, although I heard some got them to pay for it. Very poor support from QPS. I found all this out after getting this drive and learned in the end that your better off with a Yamaha or a Sony.

The problem with QPS is that they different mechanisms for the same 12x10x32 configuration! Before is was Plextor, now it seems to be TEAC. Don't know about tomorrow... They bundle the drive with Retrospect and the TEAC doesn't work with it! They suck big time.

I did not take a chance. ;-) I bought a good Firewire Enclosure from ADS and a Plextor 12x10x32 (the real thing). It works flawlessly with Toast, iTunes, Disk Burner and Retrospect. And now there is a Flash updater for the Mac (ATAPI). What else can I ask for ? ;-)

Cipher 13 knows CD-RWs. On his recommendation I got the Yamaha FireWire 8824 and I must say it's a thing of beauty. Not on the outside, but in ease of use and reliability. And now it has native support in iTunes. As Keats said, "A thing of beauty is a joy forever." Excuse me now while I go make love to my Yamaha.


------------------
"Purity of Essence."
iDisk: rseijas
Homepage: homepage.mac.com/rseijas



[This message has been edited by rambo47 (edited 03-16-2001).]

i would like to focus the question once more on these specific drives. except if someone has a complete firewire test.

one thing more : if you noticed the drives are using the <b>16/10/40</b> mechanism.

As the prices for such (firewire) drives drop they get much more appealing than 12/x/x drives or even 8/x/x so stop chatting about those drives. this is of no use. they cost too much these days compared to the 16/10/xx drives.

so let me rephrase the question:

which "Firewire 16/10/40 drive" is the best?

thnx ktolis
p.s. i have asked it once more and i am asking for it again: links for official sites (e.g. for the original Yamaha FW drive) and links to dealer prices...

ktolis, you can read a lot about the new 16x drives at storagereview.com. They don't always review the Firewire models, but the mechanisms are the same.

The main complaint I hear about the 16x drives is that some of them are extremely noisy in read mode, but if you're getting a Firewire model, it probably means that you already have a CD-ROM in your Mac, which you can use for reading discs, so the noise may not be an issue for you.

Originally posted by zigzag:
ktolis, you can read a lot about the new 16x drives at storagereview.com. They don't always review the Firewire models, but the mechanisms are the same.

The main complaint I hear about the 16x drives is that some of them are extremely noisy in read mode, but if you're getting a Firewire model, it probably means that you already have a CD-ROM in your Mac, which you can use for reading discs, so the noise may not be an issue for you.

actually the mechanisms are all excellent (and the link you gave has only 1 fw device rated and that with a pc...bliah) the problem is the firewire "compilation" which means how good the packaging of the firewire controller and the atapi device is.

i suppose everey1 is in the dark on this matter...

ktolis

http://cdrevo.com

CD Revo is a thing of both physical and functional beauty. And, it's supported by the lates iTunes and Disk Burner. Uses Sanyo "Burnproof" mechanism.

sorry...
http://www.cdrevo.com

Originally posted by ktolis:
actually the mechanisms are all excellent (and the link you gave has only 1 fw device rated and that with a pc...bliah) the problem is the firewire "compilation" which means how good the packaging of the firewire controller and the atapi device is.

i suppose everey1 is in the dark on this matter...

ktolis

Here's why I thought the information would interest you:

1. Your original post expressed concern about which internal mechanism was best, and storagereview.com has reviewed the Yamaha mechanism, among others;

2. You're obviously having a hell of a time finding anyone who already owns any of the three drives you initially inquired about, much less had a chance to compare them;

3. At least one person suggested the possibility of buying the mechanism of your choice and putting it in a Firewire enclosure.

Good luck.