[SubGeniux]

Hi,

Just wondering about what cdr/dvdr combo drives you would recommend for a pismo?
would like to swap out the dvd drive that came with it.
cheers

[horizon]

Not sure I follow, the subject refers to DVD, while the message contains DVDR........? Anyways I've recently done something like this which I'll briefly explain. From reading these message boards and the site xlr8yourmac.com I found out that the Pismo originally shipped with 1 of 2 types of DVD drive either a Matsushita unit or an LG one. Mine was a Matsushita by the way........Now the point to this is that of the available CD-RW/DVD mechanisms available from Matsushita, most will allow you to use the old faceplate from your original drive (the black plastic which pretties up the drive and makes it look in place in the laptop). Its held on by three screws and 2 of these shold match-up perfectly if you get a Matsushita UJDA 730 or a 740 drive......a little superglue can do the job of the third!

The next step is to edit the drivers.....but to find out how to do that or download working versions go to the xlr8 site I mentioned above.....I did the editing myself and I have to say that it was really easy, nothing to worry about at all..

If your not to worried about looks I believe you should check out the Combo unit in the latest iBooks, its v.fast and the drivers req'd are already in the OS, both 9 and X. I'm unsure of the make of the unit or how you'll fit the black faceplate (if its at all possible?)

The UJDA 730 drive I mentioned is a 16x unit...editing the drivers gives it the quoted performance in X, however for some reason burning through the Finder in OS 9 (and iTunes in 9) happens at 8x...Toast gives 16x in both X and 9.

In the end the decision for me was aesthetics, I much prefer having my Powerbook looking like it hasn't been touched. You honestly can't tell that its been upgraded...

Best of luck with whatever you wanna stick in her, be it CDR/DVD or a Superdrive type

Steve

[SubGeniux]

Cheers for the reply, yeah, my typing sucks and was a bit non-plussed as to what drives are out there for the pismo. I had a look around and saw a review of a toshiba drive, but like the rest of their laptop units, they're all OEM.

My drive is an LG one, so not sure about it. I might just leave it just now thoug, cause I'm flutterng about thinking of maybe getting a new machine, not sure if it'll be a PB or a desktop, but will wait till WDC is over.

thanks again

[Rev2Liv]

Hi,

Did you get my email about a Panasonic UJDA 740? shipped to Scotland?

[bstone]

For all your CD-RW/DVD-ROM (Combo) drive needs on the Pismo, check out my signature.......

[SubGeniux]

Cheers ben, good review, I had a look at Toshiba's site, some newer drives there too, but all OEM, might have a scan around ebay, see what's going on there.