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sandman · Mar 19, 2003, 07:26 PM

Does anyone know when it will be possible to use CD-RWs or DVD-RWs just like floppy disks? Put the disc in, burn some files on it, take it out, use it, put it back in, burn some more files to it.... all with simple drag and drop. Anyone?

Macola · Mar 19, 2003, 07:52 PM

That would be convenient. You can get an approximation if you have Toast and burn in ISO 9660 format, but it's not quite the same thing.

bradoesch · Mar 19, 2003, 07:55 PM

There are programs like this in the PC world, like InCD (Ahead) and DirectCD (Roxio), but none that I know of for the Mac. I believe this is called packet writing. The discs need to be formatted first though. I've attempted to use this feature with InCD with no success, but I didn't try too hard. I think Macs can do this with DVD-RAM though, anyone?

Athens · Mar 19, 2003, 08:14 PM

Called Packet Writing and I was able to do it on my mac 3 years ago but I dont remmeber the program I was using. Prob is the CDRW will only work in the computer that formated it or has special software. If I remmeber what I used I'll post it, im sure it was the early betas of aHeads mac version of burning software.

bradoesch · Mar 20, 2003, 10:22 AM

Here's something from Roxio concerning DirectCD for Macintosh. The article is from 2000, and I don't believe they offer this product anymore. It does explain packet writing and compatibility issues though.

BobW · Mar 20, 2003, 11:16 AM

With Toast in OS X, you can do multi session CD-R's. Keep adding files until the CD-R is full.

Eug · Mar 20, 2003, 07:46 PM

Originally posted by bradoesch:
There are programs like this in the PC world, like InCD (Ahead) and DirectCD (Roxio), but none that I know of for the Mac. I believe this is called packet writing. The discs need to be formatted first though. I've attempted to use this feature with InCD with no success, but I didn't try too hard. I think Macs can do this with DVD-RAM though, anyone?

I do this all the time with DVD-RAM. OS X has built in HFS+ support for DVD-RAM.

Works pretty much like a removable hard drive (although slower obviously), and much better than DirectCD on the PC.

Check my sig for more info.

bradoesch · Mar 20, 2003, 09:26 PM

Originally posted by Eug:
I do this all the time with DVD-RAM. OS X has built in HFS+ support for DVD-RAM.

Works pretty much like a removable hard drive (although slower obviously), and much better than DirectCD on the PC.

Check my sig for more info.

How long does it take to format a DVD-RAM disc?

Eug · Mar 20, 2003, 10:23 PM

Originally posted by bradoesch:
How long does it take to format a DVD-RAM disc?

About 30 seconds.

The discs have info pre-printed on them making full formats unnecessary, even when changing disk formats. Check out a pic mrtew took:

bradoesch · Mar 23, 2003, 10:35 PM

Originally posted by Eug:
About 30 seconds.

The discs have info pre-printed on them making full formats unnecessary, even when changing disk formats. Check out a pic mrtew took:

:big pic removed:

Would this be similar to the CD-RWs labelled "ready for DirectCD" or something like that?
I remember formatting a 'regular' CD-RW, and it took a LONG time. It was a 10x disc with a high speed writer.