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You are here: MacNN Forums > Hardware - Troubleshooting and Discussion > Mac Notebooks > Superdrive issue revisited

Superdrive issue revisited
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Fresh-Faced Recruit
Join Date: Jun 2004
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Jul 24, 2004, 07:14 PM
 
Hi,
I have gone through all the posts on the superdrive debate - whether or not to get it?
Here is what I have found
Pros
----
Great for making movies
Great source for backups - even better than and external harddrive as you can keep on taking backups

Cons
----
Claims that the superdrive doesnt do a good job writing as the DVDs are not readable at times
The CDR/W facility is way too slow (I think this was for older powerbooks and is no longer true for the latest rev C versions)

My question is how do these arguments hold for the PBG4 rev C versions?

Thanks
Al
     
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Jul 24, 2004, 08:10 PM
 
Originally posted by apb15:
Hi,
I have gone through all the posts on the superdrive debate - whether or not to get it?
Here is what I have found
Pros
----
Great for making movies
Great source for backups - even better than and external harddrive as you can keep on taking backups

Cons
----
Claims that the superdrive doesnt do a good job writing as the DVDs are not readable at times
The CDR/W facility is way too slow (I think this was for older powerbooks and is no longer true for the latest rev C versions)

My question is how do these arguments hold for the PBG4 rev C versions?

Thanks
Al

I got it for the Pros you listed above. I only occasionally make a DVD or even a CD. So it does the job I need it to do. If someone is going to make a lot of DVDs then an external one that is faster would be the best thing to get.

I have only made about 20 DVDs (video and file backups) with no bad disks made. I suppose whenver I get to 100 made, there might be a bad one or two in there. Bad disks are mostly a function of disk quality, and not this drive. IMHO.
     
Mac Enthusiast
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Jul 24, 2004, 09:29 PM
 
I'm interested in whether or not I should go for a superdrive or a combo drive myself. The combo would save me $160...

g
     
Mac Elite
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Jul 24, 2004, 10:06 PM
 
Unless you really need to save the money, go for the Superdrive. With file sizes getting larger and larger, it's much easier to back up important files. And if you ever get into iMovie, the things you can make with it and the superdrive are amazing!
     
Mac Elite
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Jul 24, 2004, 10:20 PM
 
not to mention you get iDVD
iamwhor3hay
     
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Jul 24, 2004, 11:37 PM
 
i guess you guys are right - I just wish that it burned cd's as fast as the combo drive did.

you can't have everything i guess...

g
     
Mac Elite
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Jul 25, 2004, 12:22 AM
 
Originally posted by shatten22:
i guess you guys are right - I just wish that it burned cd's as fast as the combo drive did.

you can't have everything i guess...

g
well, some people have gotten the superdrive, and not used it. so the next computer they got was a combo drive. it depends on your needs. I'm probably going to get a Combo drive just because it saves me 200 dollars (i don't really use it) and I can do a lot with the 200 dollars. (RAM, keyboard+mouse).
iamwhor3hay
     
Grizzled Veteran
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: San Francisco
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Aug 17, 2004, 01:27 PM
 
It's been about a year since I added the SuperDrive to my TiPB.

It's just amazing. Backups to DVD and using iMovie/iDVD are *so* worth it.

Go for it. It just makes a PowerBook better.
Since EBCDIC
Using Macs since they were Lisas.
     
Professional Poster
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Los Angeles of the East
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Aug 17, 2004, 05:07 PM
 
not to mention you get iDVD
Non superdrive users are able to use iDVD as well, they just can't burn em without a superdrive installed, but I think there are some workarounds.
NOW YOU SEE ME! 2.4 MBP and 2.0 MBP (running ubuntu)
     
Junior Member
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Aug 17, 2004, 05:32 PM
 
I opted not to get the Superdrive on my powerbook, and I am glad I didn't. I have a DVD burner on my PC and I NEVER use it, I figured the same would be true for my PB. I was right

Anyway, there is nothing wrong with having an external DVD burner. I don't regret my decision, I will buy an external burner later on if I desperately need it. Right now, I am having fun burning VCD's with the combo drive via Toast
15" 1.33ghz Al Powerbook w/1GB RAM, 64mb ATI VRAM
60GB 7200rpm Hitachi Travelstar 7K60 HD
20GB 4G iPod w/click wheel
     
   
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