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tkmd · Aug 25, 2006, 10:57 AM

I need to purchase an external DVD burner for my 1.5 GHz PB- but I would like to use firewire because of it ability to power the device without power cables. I also need this enclose to be able to take out the DVD drive and swap in a HD (for storage) - also being powered by fw. My PB has both FW 800 and 400 - is such an enclosure a reality ? If so please point me in the right direction.

Weezer · Aug 25, 2006, 01:52 PM

You can do that, but its not gonna be a fast an easy "swap" to switch out the DVD drive and the HD...

tkmd · Aug 25, 2006, 01:59 PM

Any place I could purchase one of these described enclosures? A name?

I'm only going to use the HD a couple time every two months - so swapping is not a big deal for me.

Weezer · Aug 25, 2006, 02:09 PM

FireWire Enclosure Kits at OtherWorldComputing.com

Weezer · Aug 25, 2006, 02:10 PM

Newegg.com - Search Results for firewire enclosure

Weezer · Aug 25, 2006, 02:12 PM

Also, back when I was researching/buying one of these, Oxford 911 was the chipset to look for, not sure if that is still the case

tkmd · Aug 25, 2006, 02:18 PM

Thanks for the links but as far as I can tell all of these require a cord.

chefpastry · Aug 25, 2006, 05:39 PM

Originally Posted by tkmd

Thanks for the links but as far as I can tell all of these require a cord.

I HIGHLY doubt that you will ever be able to find a bus powered enclosure that can supply enough power to an optical drive.

TFunkadelic · Aug 25, 2006, 05:48 PM

Trust me, swapping the hard dr ive and optical drive even once a month will get old, FAST. I have an external FW case and I've swapped the hard drives a few times, and it's never something that I look forward to. Not because it's difficult, but because removing screws/cables/putting everything back together isn't fun.

Cadaver · Aug 26, 2006, 12:49 PM

Originally Posted by chefpastry

I HIGHLY doubt that you will ever be able to find a bus powered enclosure that can supply enough power to an optical drive.

Actually, an optical drive isn't the problem (if its a notebook-style slim drive). But powering a 3.5" hard drive mechanism is really going to suck your battery dry, if its even possible.

I think you could find a bus-powered slim optical and a bus-powered 2.5" notebook-sized hard drive that you like. Just use the same firewire cable, and its like swapping mechanisms (since the cases won't really be any larger than the mechanism itself).

mduell · Aug 26, 2006, 02:54 PM

With 3.5" hard drives drawing up to 35W on startup and 13W operating, I don't think you even want to try going bus powered with a PowerBook. While the FW spec allows for up to 45W (9A @ 5V IIRC), the PowerBook is only designed to deliver less than 10W.

I think you'd run into a similar power problem trying to burn disks.

Weezer · Aug 26, 2006, 03:27 PM

Misinterpreted part of the original question and just focused on the switching part

Getting power just off the firewire doesnt sound likely

Tuoder · Aug 27, 2006, 04:30 PM

A bus-powered 2.5" HDD enclosure is not out of the question. I use one my self with my old PBG3. It is USB.

Cadaver · Aug 28, 2006, 10:06 PM

Originally Posted by Tuoder

A bus-powered 2.5" HDD enclosure is not out of the question. I use one my self with my old PBG3. It is USB.

Yes, there are lots of bus-powered firewire and USB 2.5" drives. No 3.5" HDDs however.

Tuoder · Aug 29, 2006, 09:31 AM

Originally Posted by Cadaver

Yes, there are lots of bus-powered firewire and USB 2.5" drives. No 3.5" HDDs however.

I know, I didn't suggest that there were.