[PJ G4]

I just recently purchased a G4 and need advice on a CD recorder. I will use the drive mainly for recording music and data backup. I have read the posts and am really confused with all the different opinions. My questions are the following:
1) What is the importance of the speed rating 2x, 4x, 8x Does this just mean that a faster unit will record in less time. Will you loose fidelity at a faster speed or have more coasters. Is speed a really big deal
2)There seems to be a lot of complaints about the USB units. It seems like the problem is only when recording at 4x speed. If I record at 2x will I have less problems. As in question 1 is 4x vs 2x a big deal
3) The cost factor. Sure the firewire is the newest and fastest but also the most expensive. What is the least expensive firewire unit
4) Add ons needed. With SCSI do you need to buy additional devices and what are the costs involved
5) From the viewpoint of cost and performance what is my best option naming some of the better brands and models
Sorry for the lengthy post but I feel that this information will really answer some common questions. Thanks

[Don Foy]

With a G4 and SCSI drive, you will need a PCI SCSI card as well as the CDR. But there are advantages. SCSI and CDR have been working together for years and work well.

Don't forget when browsing the forums that very few folks whose equipment works post to say so. The forums are always going to be a place where those who have trouble meet. That's the nature of the beast. We all try to help each other through the trouble. So the horror stories about USB are just that, horror stories. Yes, those folks had trouble, but most folks don't. If you do decide to go USB, search the archives here, and at MacFixIt to see how to avoid most of the problems.

FireWire is still new, although they say with the latest version of Toast, most of the problems went away. While it is new, it is also more expensive.

If you have the PCI slot just sitting there, SCSI is the way I would go.

If you are short on cash, I'd go with the USB, just make sure you buy a unit with a 30-day money-back guarantee so that if it doesn't work for you and you can't get it fixed, you can give it back.

I'd avoid FireWire for a little while longer.

Some folks will probably disagree with this analysis. That's fine. I'm not burning on my G3, just an old SCSI machine (WGS 9150). I don't make coasters anymore. Ever.

In fact, probably the best way to go is to find an old SCSI machine with plenty of RAM and use it to burn.

Hope this helps.

[Misha]

I would stay away from USB... SCSI is also a bit of a pain since it will require a card that will occupy one of your slots. I'd go with FireWire if you can afford it... I've put several through their paces (look for a review soon) and haven't had any problems with any of them.

As far as speed goes, that all has to do with how patient you are... a 2x drive will burn a full CD in 37 minutes... a 4x will do it in 18.5 minutes, 8x will do it in 9.25 minutes... there's no difference in quality nor in the frequency of coaster creation (assuming you're not using USB).

I'd recommend a FireWire CD-RW... any 8x drive (I don't think there are slower ones for FireWire) will do. I like Fantom Drives, although the case is nothing special... QPS also makes a nice one in a more attractive, but more bulky, case.

[mac freak]

I really don't understand why everyone complains about USB burners... I have a Sony Spressa USB CRX 100E, and I have burned well over 50 CD's, with only 2 coasters to date (both being disks with rather strange formats... a CD-I, and a UNIX disc).

I can burn a full 74-minute, 650 MB CD in about 18:26, just as was previously said was possible with a 4x write, 2- or 6x rewrite (I forget), and 24x read.

And the best part? This drive cost me a mere $239. The cheapest FireWire drive I've seen costs a whopping $439, two-hundred dollars more! And for what? Oh, yay, I could burn a disk in 10 minutes... whoopy...

If I were you, I'd go with USB. It's cheap and effective, it's proven technology, and you won't have to go out and buy any PCI cards.

[iBorg]

mac freak:

Actually, firewire CD-RW's ae much less costly than you state. My Que! 8x4x32 Firewire drive is currently offered at Outpost.com for under $350 - the $30 rebate expired on 7/31/00, but since I bought it in July, I paid only about $320 for it.

Firewire IS a little more expensive, but if you already have the firewire ports, use 'em, and forget about buying a SCSI card, etc. If you only have SCSI, then get a scsi drive.

Either way you'll be happy. (I would avoid USB, though!)



iBorg

[Cipher13]

I agree with Don Foy totally - SCSI is tried and trusted.
Its fast, reliable, and inexpensive.
I have a Yamaha 8424 SX-VK (SCSI external), and its awesome. No coasters that haven't been my own fault. I could have gotten a firewire model, but I don't trust firewire. Its still too new, and unstable.
SCSI is the way to go. I got an Adaptec 2906 with it. In all, it cost me $810 for the burner, and either $175 or $75 for the SCSI card. Australia dollars, that is.
Go SCSI. Definately.

Cipher13