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bighead · Dec 16, 2004, 12:18 PM

MCE has announced their 8x DL DVD�RW drive that works in PowerBooks and Cubes. I was wondering if anyone knew what mechanism it was. I would like to install it in my 15" when I do the 100 GB HD upgrade, too.

Thanks.

Crusoe · Dec 16, 2004, 01:56 PM

This is good news, maybe this'll be the next "Superdrive" for all new slot loads from Apple. Or following their past behavior, cripple it in the pro Macs to half speed, then double the speed and offer it in the consumer Macs. Sorry don't know what model or mechanism it is.

Luca Rescigno · Dec 16, 2004, 02:38 PM

I think it's the Panasonic UJ-835. MCE generally charges quite a bit more than the going price of the drive mechanism. So assuming you can find a UJ-835 somewhere else, make sure you compare prices.

bighead · Dec 16, 2004, 04:47 PM

A Google search doesn't turn up much for the 835, though it wouldn't surprise me if that is what it ended up being. I will probably wait for it to show up on NewEgg before buying it. NewEgg had the 825 for around $140 or so. Hopefully the 835 will be around that.

bmhome1 · Dec 21, 2004, 11:53 PM

Esbuy.com has the Pioneer 14K 8X DVD - 2.4X DL tray loading module for $210.00. Its the only laptop drive that burns (not just reads) DL disks so far.

bgotori · Dec 22, 2004, 08:00 AM

Hey bighead

Pana UJ-835 is being sold by FastMac.com (http://www.fastmac.com/). but it doesn't say anything about dual layer anything... Price isn't too Bad...

Forgot what Forum I read it was a Pana UJ-835

Have Great Holiday's!!!

Brad

tooki · Dec 22, 2004, 05:17 PM

Originally posted by bmhome1:
Esbuy.com has the Pioneer 14K 8X DVD - 2.4X DL tray loading module for $210.00. Its the only laptop drive that burns (not just reads) DL disks so far.

Well that's obviously not true because MCE is already selling a slot-loading dual-layer writer for laptops.

(ALL DVD drives can read dual-layer discs, so that's nothing to get excited about.)

tooki

tooki · Dec 22, 2004, 05:19 PM

Originally posted by Luca Rescigno:
I think it's the Panasonic UJ-835.

Nah, the UJ-835 doesn't do dual-layer.

tooki

joe · Dec 27, 2004, 07:25 AM

Originally posted by tooki:
(ALL DVD drives can read dual-layer discs, so that's nothing to get excited about.)

Probably true for pressed dual-layer discs. But my new G5 iMac can't read burned dual-layer discs while my older dual G4 Tower can - go figure

Both have Apple OEM DVD burners. Even more strange, a friend's Cube with original slot load DVD-ROM drive can read the same +DL discs without any problem. I'm not sure what mechanism is being used in the new G5 iMacs. But it's dual-layer compatibility could use some improvement.

It's possible this is by design. ISTR reading about Apple deliberately disabling some features in their DVD burners like +R write capability. I'm not sure why they'd want to disable +RL read capability tho - unless the drive mechanism lacked that feature to begin with.

tooki · Dec 27, 2004, 11:00 AM

I doubt it's by design, and I doubt it's even as clear-cut as you think. More likely, the drive just doesn't like +R media, or even just some brands of +R media. Recordable DVD media just doesn't have 100% read compatibility, period, be it -R, +R, single or dual layer. It's altogether possible that a different brand of dual-layer burned disc would read fine, or that the same disc burned in a different drive would read fine.

tooki

joe · Dec 28, 2004, 12:08 AM

Originally posted by tooki:
I doubt it's by design, and I doubt it's even as clear-cut as you think.

The only clear-cut statement was my G5 iMac doesn't read +DL discs that 2 other Macs do.