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Paco Loco · Aug 12, 2001, 08:50 AM

I am looking for an external USB CD-RW drive for use with both my new iBook and my PII desktop PC. Can anyone reccomend one that they have had success with on both Mac and PC platforms?

dfbennett · Aug 12, 2001, 02:40 PM

Does you iBook have firewire? If so, you may want to get a firewire card for your PC. USB CD-RW drives aren't very good. Many can't even burn at 4x reliably. With burn proof becoming more common, I think you'd be less likely to get a coaster with a USB drive but for the same money you could get a firewire one that will write at 12x or 16x. If possible, I think a firewire drive is a better choice.

Paul S · Aug 12, 2001, 02:52 PM

LaCie is good for both platforms and now ships all of their drives with USB and FireWire. If you ever upgrade to a machine with FW, you are ready. FW is much better than USB for burning so you'd eventually want to get to that point as you get newer computers.

Chimpmaster · Aug 12, 2001, 11:31 PM

I dont think you guys really addressed the question. Paco Loco said quite clearly that he owns both a dekstop pentium machine and a new ibook and he wants to use his cdrw drive on both.

Yes, indeed firewire is better than usb for external drives.

Usb is not as bad as everyone says for burners. It used to be terrible, but the support for the mac os is far better now a days.

3 usb drives id recommend are

que 4x4x6 usb
lacie 4x4x24 usb
iomega predator 4x4x24 usb.

The iomega one actually has a firewire adaptor available separately. That would be good for you because you could use it as a usb drive on your pc and as a firewire on your mac (giving you faster and more stable connection).

Price wise, the que is a very good buy now a days.

I myself am in the makret for a good external cdrw drive and havent decided which way to go yet.

Ideally Id get firewire (probably the que 12x10x32) drive or similar, but I dont have the cash. Ill probably get the que usb drive I guess.

Disgruntled Head of C-3PO · Aug 13, 2001, 12:21 AM

Just a word of warning. The LaCie desktop Burners have very loud fans and the pocket drives cost a arm and a leg with no Buffer underun.

QPS Firewire, and ForMac drives are great.

Mac users are having countless problems with the iomega burner and it is expensive if you get the fireWire adapter.

The QPS drives come with handy carrying cases.

If you can get a ForMac firewire burner as it looks great and is bus powered.

If you need USB and have lots of money get the LaCie PocketDrive.

If you don't have a ton of money get the QPS USB burner as it is good for portability.

Paco Loco · Aug 15, 2001, 07:17 AM

Thanks for the advice guys.
I know what you are saying about firewire - my iBook does have firewire so that would be ideal, but I'm not keen on getting it for the PC as I have heard lots of stories of PC users having nightmares trying to get firewire burners to work...
Anyone know of any other CD-RW drives that have USB and Firewire?

dfbennett · Aug 15, 2001, 12:13 PM

Originally posted by Paco Loco:
<STRONG>Thanks for the advice guys.
I know what you are saying about firewire - my iBook does have firewire so that would be ideal, but I'm not keen on getting it for the PC as I have heard lots of stories of PC users having nightmares trying to get firewire burners to work...
Anyone know of any other CD-RW drives that have USB and Firewire?</STRONG>

Yes as Paul S noted above, all Lacie drives currently shipping have USB and Firewire.

Paco Loco · Aug 15, 2001, 06:19 PM

Anyone had any experience with the LaCie PocketDrive CDRW (24x4x4)?
It looks great, but pretty expensive...