[vmpaul]

Just a quick question to save me a headache:

I have a old Blue & White G3 that I'd like to turn into a burning machine. I found a great deal on the Pioneer DVR-A05 (here).

Can I install this internally in my G3 and use it with the iLife apps? Or is there some inherent problem with the G3 and DVD recorders?

[rezzi]

Gee, I hope not. I plan on doing the same to my b&w....

[tr]

i think you can put it in fine. but i don't think iDVD will work with a G3. you need a G4 for that; one option is to get an upgrade like this one . a stock BW G3 and A05 should work fine for burning stuff from finder, toast, itunes, etc.

tr

[vmpaul]

Thanks tr.

Upgrading would kind of defeat the purpose of the low cost DVD upgrade. Now we're talking $300+ as opposed to $175.

I'm REALLY close to buying one of the new 970 systems (if the rumors are true) anyway. Maybe I should wait.

But if I did buy the A05 for this G3...I guess my only option for burning is Toast & DVD Studio Pro, correct? And for editing, my options would be DVD Studio Pro and Final Cut (Express or Pro)?

[tr]

the whole thing blocking your from DVD authoring is the G3. you need the G4 to do the mpeg-2 encoding. look at the requirements for DVDSP 1.5

Power Mac G4 computer with Apple-supplied AGP graphics card and DVD drive (configuration must support Apple DVD Player 2.0 or later)

your G3 doesn't have an AGP, or the processing power. your best bet is the processor upgrade. i'm running a sawtooth 450, and it works fine with FCP3, DVDSP, iMovie, and iDVD. okay, it's slow, but it works.

sure, $300 is a lot, but it's a lot less than a new mac, and it should still get you some utility out of that G3. although, i'd still wait to see what comes out next week.

tr

[vmpaul]

Good advice. Thanks.