[Dragonos]

Do mini dvds fit and operate in the macbookpro super drive.

[gooser]

no no no!

[xmattingly]

Originally Posted by Dragonos 

Do mini dvds fit and operate in the macbookpro super drive.

Just the MBP's that come equipped with a coffee cup tray.

But that brings up a good question: as far as mini CD's go, is the only way to load one with an external drive?

[wilsonng]

yes. I bought an external DVD burner with the tray loader so that i can accept mini DVDs.

Do not use the mini DVDs in a slot loader unless you enjoy visiting the local Apple Genius Bar and turning in your MBP to take it out.

[ghporter]

To be VERY CLEAR here, NEVER EVER PUT ANYTHING BUT A FULL-SIZED DISC IN A SLOT-LOADING DRIVE!!!@!!!!@@@!@@@#!!!!! Is that emphatic enough? Slot-loading drives cannot handle smaller discs and WILL jam if you put a smaller disc in them. DO NOT DO THIS!

As wilsonng says, you CAN use any size disc in an EXTERNAL, TRAY-LOADING drive.

[xmattingly]

Originally Posted by ghporter 

To be VERY CLEAR here, NEVER EVER PUT ANYTHING BUT A FULL-SIZED DISC IN A SLOT-LOADING DRIVE!!!@!!!!@@@!@@@#!!!!! Is that emphatic enough? Slot-loading drives cannot handle smaller discs and WILL jam if you put a smaller disc in them. DO NOT DO THIS!

Jesus dude, lay off the caffeine; it's a legitimate question. The Nintendo Wii can take different sized media (Gamecube & Wii discs) - it's not completely unreasonable to believe that other devices can do the same. Thanks for the answer, though.

[ghporter]

Originally Posted by xmattingly 

Jesus dude, lay off the caffeine; it's a legitimate question. The Nintendo Wii can take different sized media (Gamecube & Wii discs) - it's not completely unreasonable to believe that other devices can do the same. Thanks for the answer, though.

Mac slot-loading drives have a long history of choking on anything but standard-sized discs, and they are often devilishly difficult to get out once they're put in. Tight tolerances make for cool and stylish machines, but they don't allow for errors like putting unsupported discs in slot-loading drives. The Wii's drive is specifically designed to use both 8cm and 12cm discs, an exception to the basic "no small discs in slot-loading drives" rule.

And I was emphatic because you would probably not believe the number of posts we see here on "how do I get this small disc out of my computer?" or worse, "how do I fix my computer since I had to use a variety of tools to drag a small disc out of the drive?" It gets ugly, it is often scary for the user, and it can be expensive to remedy, so I get LOUD and emphatic when this comes up. Sorry it sounded like I'd had more coffee than I actually had (at that point).

[mduell]

Originally Posted by ghporter 

To be VERY CLEAR here, NEVER EVER PUT ANYTHING BUT A FULL-SIZED DISC IN A SLOT-LOADING DRIVE!!!@!!!!@@@!@@@#!!!!! Is that emphatic enough? Slot-loading drives cannot handle smaller discs and WILL jam if you put a smaller disc in them. DO NOT DO THIS!

Actually, many slot loading drives can accept different sized disks.

But not the ones found in Macs from Apple.

[ghporter]

I should have been more specific I guess, but it seemed like adding a caveat would weaken the overall message to NOT put anything but a 12cm disc in an Apple slot-loading drive.

This does bring up a philosophical question, though. Why has Apple not adopted multi-size capable slot-loading drives? Hmmmmm.

[wilsonng]

The tray-loader external DVD burner is also more helpful when you have disks that have labels on them. The slot-loaders sometimes have trouble accepting or ejecting them.

Whenever I see a disk that has a label, I always opt to use it in my tray loader external.

I only use the slot-loader only when I'm on the road and have no access to an external....

[ibook_steve]

Originally Posted by ghporter 

I should have been more specific I guess, but it seemed like adding a caveat would weaken the overall message to NOT put anything but a 12cm disc in an Apple slot-loading drive.

This does bring up a philosophical question, though. Why has Apple not adopted multi-size capable slot-loading drives? Hmmmmm.

Cost and thickness, I'm sure. A multi-size drive would need more mechanical components to detect the disk size and center it over the spindle correctly. I'm sure that this would add thickness that Apple just can't afford in order to remain "less than 1 inch thick."

Steve

[neyoung]

I remember when the first iMac's came out I read a bunch of stories of people getting those mini cd's (or business card cd's) stuck in the drives. Since the iMac had one of the first few slot loading drives people had to do a bit of learning the hard way

[xmattingly]

Originally Posted by ghporter 

I was emphatic because you would probably not believe the number of posts we see here on "how do I get this small disc out of my computer?" or worse, "how do I fix my computer since I had to use a variety of tools to drag a small disc out of the drive?" It gets ugly, it is often scary for the user, and it can be expensive to remedy, so I get LOUD and emphatic when this comes up. Sorry it sounded like I'd had more coffee than I actually had (at that point).

Originally Posted by ghporter 

This does bring up a philosophical question, though. Why has Apple not adopted multi-size capable slot-loading drives? Hmmmmm.

I understand; it must get frustrating having to answer the same dumb questions over and over again. I'd definitely be interested to know why the 'books don't include a multi-size disc drive. I'd care to guess that it comes down to cost or form factor; something that might be worth researching a little. It definitely wouldn't be the first time Apple chose style of function. They can sometimes be chintzy with their hardware specs... Mac Pro, for instance: one of their priciest machines, yet the only one in the lineup that does NOT include Airport & Bluetooth in a default config.

[ghporter]

Originally Posted by xmattingly 

I understand; it must get frustrating having to answer the same dumb questions over and over again. I'd definitely be interested to know why the 'books don't include a multi-size disc drive. I'd care to guess that it comes down to cost or form factor; something that might be worth researching a little. It definitely wouldn't be the first time Apple chose style of function. They can sometimes be chintzy with their hardware specs... Mac Pro, for instance: one of their priciest machines, yet the only one in the lineup that does NOT include Airport & Bluetooth in a default config.

I think ibook_steve hit the nail on the head with the thickness issue being a primary reason to use full-sized-only drives. As for the Mac Pro, it's supposed to be a business machine, and it's a "desktop" (actually a "fixed location") computer, so it makes more sense to use it as a wired computer-it does come with a gigabit ethernet card, and you still can't beat that for networking speed. As for not having Bluetooth, I think that's more of an issue with how they have the wireless products bundled than a "going cheap" thing.

[xmattingly]

Originally Posted by ghporter 

I think ibook_steve hit the nail on the head with the thickness issue being a primary reason to use full-sized-only drives. As for the Mac Pro, it's supposed to be a business machine, and it's a "desktop" (actually a "fixed location") computer, so it makes more sense to use it as a wired computer-it does come with a gigabit ethernet card, and you still can't beat that for networking speed. As for not having Bluetooth, I think that's more of an issue with how they have the wireless products bundled than a "going cheap" thing.

Yeah, I kind of figured it must be an aesthetic thing. For some reason I thought MBP's and other Macs had Gigabit ethernet as well; not that it really matters for a home office, but I guess I better double check those specs.

Anyway, I know the Pro towers are largely intended to be fixed location work stations, but Airport & Bluetooth inclusion can't even be a $30 add-on out of Apple's pocket, whereas you have to pony up $80 extra to have it. Since it's supposed to be a be-all, do anything you need piece of hardware, I think something as simple as wireless networking (which is extremely common these days) should be part of the equation. Just my opinion.

[faeriah]

Well. First off; yes, I was stupid enough to jam one in there. I'm sorry, oh macGod.
Second. It happened on a friday, and wasn't I mental enough to plan my little trippydipp down to the Apple store the following monday (no, I didn't consider the fact that it's just as open on weekends as on weekdays).
I was stressed about doing it, cause OMG, would I have to live without the only thing that keeps me sane? The thing that keeps me breathing? (My very own macBook Pro, of course)..

The day after this tragic event, and waiting for the coming destruction of my well-being I was so frustrated and angry that I (crazy as I was) jammed a normal sized disc in. It went almost all the way in, and I heard the little mini-bastard struggling inside. But lo and behold! The computer sensed the normalsized disc, spat it out and out (about 1/4 of an inch) came the little devil!.. Just enough so I could pull it out.

Try that the next time, mates.


Love, Helena

[Simon]

Oh. My. God.

[brokenjago]

Nice

[ghporter]

Helena, I think you got VERY lucky. the MacGod has obviously smiled down on you.

[faeriah]

Yeah, now i'm a skipping and jumping, happy little bunny.

I think the macGod's nice to me because I realized how much better Mac is than PC..
Once you go Mac, you never go back.

Thanks, boys. Thanks for not telling me about Mac earlier.
Men can be so selfish. And women too for that matter. Damn the humanity! Long live the computer (especially mine).

And yes, I will crave money for copyright if you use my method to get those little mini-****-things out.

- Helena

[Artanin]

Close the machine, wait about 30 seconds for it to suspend correctly. Grab it with both hands and with the cd slot facing the ground, forcefully jerk it towards the ground. Do that a few times and the tiny cd will come out. Just dont have a flying macbook.

[olePigeon]

Unless you have an original Titanium PowerBook. The slot load on those had 2 plastic spring guides that let you stick mini CDs and DVDs in. I always wondered why they stopped doing that with slot loads. It made sense.

[analogika]

Originally Posted by mduell 

Actually, many slot loading drives can accept different sized disks.

But not the ones found in Macs from Apple.

Originally Posted by neyoung 

I remember when the first iMac's came out I read a bunch of stories of people getting those mini cd's (or business card cd's) stuck in the drives. Since the iMac had one of the first few slot loading drives people had to do a bit of learning the hard way

Actually, the original slot-loading iMacs handled mini-CDs just fine (I had one and used it for all mini-CDs that were included with various devices), as did the titanium PowerBooks.

They did NOT, however, accept "shape" (non-circular) CDs - or rather, they did, but wouldn't spit them out again.

[quattrokid73]

Wiis take large and small format CDs, so it can be done for slot loading.

hopefulyl the new MBPs will deal with both.

[chacha]

Originally Posted by faeriah 

Well. First off; yes, I was stupid enough to jam one in there. I'm sorry, oh macGod.
Second. It happened on a friday, and wasn't I mental enough to plan my little trippydipp down to the Apple store the following monday (no, I didn't consider the fact that it's just as open on weekends as on weekdays).
I was stressed about doing it, cause OMG, would I have to live without the only thing that keeps me sane? The thing that keeps me breathing? (My very own macBook Pro, of course)..

The day after this tragic event, and waiting for the coming destruction of my well-being I was so frustrated and angry that I (crazy as I was) jammed a normal sized disc in. It went almost all the way in, and I heard the little mini-bastard struggling inside. But lo and behold! The computer sensed the normalsized disc, spat it out and out (about 1/4 of an inch) came the little devil!.. Just enough so I could pull it out.

Try that the next time, mates.


Love, Helena

OMG THANK YOU SOOO MUCH!!! I recently got my baby ( 15 inch macbook pro with 2gb ram, 160gb HD and 2.16 ghz) and I have been in love with mac ever since. I was stupid enough to stick a mini disc into the slot and of course it was stuck. I paniced because I would have to send my baby away to apple to get it repaired since there isnt a place near where I live that repairs macs. In one last attempt I searched good old google and found this site with this lovely thread and your GREAT idea. IT WORKED PERFECTLY!!!!!

[chacha]

Originally Posted by faeriah 

Well. First off; yes, I was stupid enough to jam one in there. I'm sorry, oh macGod.
Second. It happened on a friday, and wasn't I mental enough to plan my little trippydipp down to the Apple store the following monday (no, I didn't consider the fact that it's just as open on weekends as on weekdays).
I was stressed about doing it, cause OMG, would I have to live without the only thing that keeps me sane? The thing that keeps me breathing? (My very own macBook Pro, of course)..

The day after this tragic event, and waiting for the coming destruction of my well-being I was so frustrated and angry that I (crazy as I was) jammed a normal sized disc in. It went almost all the way in, and I heard the little mini-bastard struggling inside. But lo and behold! The computer sensed the normalsized disc, spat it out and out (about 1/4 of an inch) came the little devil!.. Just enough so I could pull it out.

Try that the next time, mates.


Love, Helena

OMG THANK YOU SOOO MUCH!!! I recently got my baby ( 15 inch macbook pro with 2gb ram, 160gb HD and 2.16 ghz) and I have been in love with mac ever since. I was stupid enough to stick a mini disc into the slot and of course it was stuck. I paniced because I would have to send my baby away to apple to get it repaired since there isnt a place near where I live that repairs macs. In one last attempt I searched good old google and found this site with this lovely thread and your GREAT idea. IT WORKED PERFECTLY!!!!!

[dn15]

Originally Posted by xmattingly 

For some reason I thought MBP's and other Macs had Gigabit ethernet as well; not that it really matters for a home office, but I guess I better double check those specs.

You are right, actually. All Intel-based Macs have Gigabit.

[ghporter]

Originally Posted by chacha 

OMG THANK YOU SOOO MUCH!!! I recently got my baby ( 15 inch macbook pro with 2gb ram, 160gb HD and 2.16 ghz) and I have been in love with mac ever since. I was stupid enough to stick a mini disc into the slot and of course it was stuck. I paniced because I would have to send my baby away to apple to get it repaired since there isnt a place near where I live that repairs macs. In one last attempt I searched good old google and found this site with this lovely thread and your GREAT idea. IT WORKED PERFECTLY!!!!!

I think you (and the poster you responded to) were extremely lucky. The slot loading drives in MBPs are NOT built to handle mini discs, and trying to put another disc in is just asking for the drive to chew itself up. This is NOT a safe procedure, and NOT something I, the MacNN Forums, or anyone with experience in what happens when it goes wrong (think "replace the drive completely" for starters) would recommend.

Again, this is risky and not something to be recommended!