[zigzag]

I've been considering a CD-RW (either internal or Firewire). I'm wondering if any CD-RW can be used in a Mac, or if it has to be identified as Mac-ready. For instance, storagereview.com likes the new Teac, but the Teac documentation only refers to Windows. Can you buy any CD-RW and put it in a Mac with the right software?

Dumb question, probably. Thanks.

[BMWDrum]

I don't think it's a dumb question. I have wondered why some drives work for the Mac, and some drives don't. I have seen some that said Windows-only, but still worked in the Mac (and vise versa)


hmmm.....anybody know?.....

drum

[zigzag]

Yeah, I don't know if it's like IDE hard drives, which can all be formatted for Mac, or whether a given CD-RW has to have special drivers for the Mac. I suspect it's the latter but am not sure. Maybe it depends on whether it's internal or Firewire? Showing my ignorance.

[Paul S]

Drivers for a specific drive don't matter. It's the CD burning software that makes the difference. I have in internal SCSI HP CD-RW that is a Windows only bruner working in my beige G3 tower. At first, it had problems with the version of Toast I had. I upgraded to 4.1.2 and the burner works perfectly. If you're thinking about getting a Windows burner, buy Toast. Toast was recently sold to a company called Roxio. They have a compatibility chart of drives that work with Toast (http://www.roxio.com/en/jhtml/cdrdatabase/compatibility.jhtml). If you see the Windows burner on that list, get it and Toast. No matter what you get, you'll want Toast anyway. There is no better CD burning software for the Mac.