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Reggie Fowler · Jan 8, 2008, 05:43 PM

Since Apple didn't include a Blu-Ray burner with the new MacPro's, i'm forced to purchase an external one. Which is the best one to buy?

mduell · Jan 8, 2008, 06:56 PM

Why not add an internal one?

$400 Lite-on if you're only going to burn single layer BluRay disks (25GB), $600 Sony if you want to burn dual layer BluRay disks.

Bwa · Jan 8, 2008, 07:42 PM

Will the doors on these line up properly with the Mac Pro doors?

mduell · Jan 8, 2008, 08:54 PM

They should all be in the same place.

Reggie Fowler · Jan 8, 2008, 09:18 PM

i was just told that you cannot burn high definition movies from your computer onto a blu-ray disk and then play it in your blu-ray plater. I'm told that you can only burn 'data' files to the blu-ray disc. Is this true? If so, how am i suppose to get my high definition movies off my computer?

Smokerz · Jan 8, 2008, 09:59 PM

why would you buy a blue ray or HD DVD player for the Mac currently; nothing supports it; what are you going to do with it; post messages on this forum. Wait for the proper time and be patient.

The Godfather · Jan 8, 2008, 10:06 PM

H264 I guess, and play them back in your computer.

mduell · Jan 8, 2008, 10:23 PM

Originally Posted by Reggie Fowler

i was just told that you cannot burn high definition movies from your computer onto a blu-ray disk and then play it in your blu-ray plater. I'm told that you can only burn 'data' files to the blu-ray disc. Is this true? If so, how am i suppose to get my high definition movies off my computer?

Who told you that? There are plenty of software packages for authoring BluRay video disks from Sonic, Ulead, Cyberlink, etc.

PaperNotes · Jan 9, 2008, 08:15 AM

Toast supports Blu-ray packet writing so you can write to it like a HDD.

Reggie Fowler · Jan 9, 2008, 10:12 AM

So you can burn movies to an external blu-ray disc and then play it back on your HD tv?

mduell · Jan 9, 2008, 06:35 PM

Originally Posted by Reggie Fowler

So you can burn movies to an external blu-ray disc and then play it back on your HD tv?

Sure... what else would people do with all those home movies from HD camcorders?

Reggie Fowler · Jan 10, 2008, 10:45 AM

Well, read above and you will see that some people say 'nobody supports it'.

and since not enough people have a blu-ray burner (not even you), how do i know for sure if it works for burning movies. nobody has tried it and it's all speculation.

darn apple for not supporting it in the latest MacPro and squashing my questions.

mduell · Jan 10, 2008, 07:35 PM

What? There's plenty of software out there for burning video BluRay disks.

Helmling · Jan 13, 2008, 06:31 PM

So Toast for Mac? I'm reading its description and it will burn BD's, but I don't see that it can burn BD videos. Is anyone 100% sure?

AppleGirl1990 · Jan 13, 2008, 07:32 PM

I've done some research on the topic for Macs. It seems that you can burn 'data files' to the blu-ray disc. This is not in dispute. However, you cannot burn encoded movies that will play in a blu-ray player. Therefore, you can only use a blu-ray disc for storage purposes at the moment.

iMovie and iDVD don't support movie encoding & burning to blu-ray.
If you purchase Toast 8, you can only burn 'data files'.

So, to further clarify....if you shoot high definition footage on your HD Video Camera and then edit it in iMovie, you will only be able to save the movie 'data file' to a blu-ray disk. You won't be able to insert that disk into a blu-ray player and have it play your movie.

mduell · Jan 13, 2008, 08:45 PM

I guess there's no software in OS X, but plenty in Windows (which should work fine in Parallels). Sonic, Sony, Ulead, Adobe, etc all have BluRay video authoring packages.

AppleGirl1990 · Jan 14, 2008, 08:25 AM

Yes, Windows currently can write blu-ray movies. This was why many were surprised Apple didn't support blu-ray in its new MacPros.

Chongo · Jan 14, 2008, 11:47 AM

A 55 gallon drum filled with petrol

AppleGirl1990 · Mar 7, 2008, 07:53 AM

Just read this online. Looks like Mac users may get blu-ray after all. I just hope that existing Mac users can use an external blu-ray burner. I remember when Apple required you to have an internal dvd-burner.

"Sony is currently discussing the possibility of offering a Blu-ray drive for Macs, claims Sony Electronics chief Stan Glasgow. The senior official partly confirms past leaks and says that Sony hopes to see the HD disc format as an option for Apple's computers."

mdrutldg · May 21, 2008, 04:26 PM

Note the imbedded clip from Roxio's Website:

Toast® 9 HD/BD Plug-in

Affordable high-def DVD and Blu-ray video authoring comes to the Mac!

The new HD/BD plug-in for Toast 9 gives users the ability to author high definition video content on to Blu-ray, or even standard DVD discs! Take high-def video footage from AVCHD camcorders, TiVo and EyeTV and create Blu-ray discs that can be played on any standard Blu-ray set top box or Playstation3 game console. Did you invest in HD DVD? The HD/BD Plug-in even supports HD DVD formats and disc players.

So now those of us with Mac's can edit, then import the file into Toast to burn and play on our BD players.

Mike R

ApeInTheShell · May 25, 2008, 03:52 PM

I apologize that the world does not revolve around you. I will send Apple Inc. an email to let them know of this change and I am sure they will get right back to you. As for your question, Toast offers HD Blue-ray burning on the Mac. I did not look at the burners but all the information about them is on Blue-ray's website.