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Mac User #001 · May 2, 2007, 02:49 PM

I noticed the iMac has the same scary slot drive as the iBook G4. Does the Mac Pro have the same thing?
I'm only asking because I hate the noise, and I just don't feel right shoving a disc in a hole. I'd prefer one where a button is pushed to bring out a slot you set the disc on.

Big Mac · May 2, 2007, 02:53 PM

No, Apple's towers use regular DVD drives.

Mac User #001 · May 2, 2007, 03:25 PM

Thanks a bunch, that was all.

CIA · May 2, 2007, 04:22 PM

Just liike the iMac you use the eject key on the keyboard to eject optical media. But the drive in the MacPro itself is a standard (easy to replace) 5.25" model. On the MacPro when you eject the disc it pushes down a little door as the drive opens for you to place the disc in. The drive itself is concealed.

Mac User #001 · May 2, 2007, 06:35 PM

Oh alright, thats why I couldn't see it in the gallery. Thanks.
I know about the eject key, I use that enough on my iBook.

Leonard · May 4, 2007, 03:56 PM

A picture is worth a thousand words:

The second drive is a Blu-Ray drive.

Mac User #001 · May 4, 2007, 04:32 PM

So true. Thanks for that picture Leonard.

voo · May 4, 2007, 06:52 PM

I assume when the time comes and these blu-ray drives have gone mainstream for a while. Right now and for the next year they'll be too godly expensive. It'll be possible to put one of these in G5 towers? Yes I know G5's only have one slot, but surely once Apple has the drivers bundled and such it must be possible?

peeb · May 4, 2007, 06:53 PM

So, when you press the eject key, which drive does it eject? Both? Only one? Which one? How do you set that?
Just curious....

peeb · May 4, 2007, 06:53 PM

Originally Posted by voo

I assume when the time comes and these blu-ray drives have gone mainstream for a while. Right now and for the next year they'll be too godly expensive. It'll be possible to put one of these in G5 towers? Yes I know G5's only have one slot, but surely once Apple has the drivers bundled and such it must be possible?

You can always mount it as an external.

mduell · May 4, 2007, 07:09 PM

Originally Posted by peeb

So, when you press the eject key, which drive does it eject? Both? Only one? Which one? How do you set that?
Just curious....

Eject key for the first drive, shift+eject for the second.

I'm not sure how they're enumerated.

SierraDragon · May 4, 2007, 09:27 PM

Originally Posted by voo

It'll be possible to put one of these in G5 towers? Yes I know G5's only have one slot, but surely once Apple has the drivers bundled and such it must be possible?

There is no reason for Apple to spend even a dime of engineering resources to make the very latest hardware concept fit backwards to legacy, passed-generation computers more than a year old. Apple logically would rather sell you a new computer. Third party folks will no doubt quickly provide solutions, however.

Note that Apple did conveniently provide a second optical drive slot in Mac Pros even though Blu-Ray was not available when Mac Pros started shipping.

-Allen Wicks

voo · May 5, 2007, 09:00 AM

Originally Posted by SierraDragon

There is no reason for Apple to spend even a dime of engineering resources to make the very latest hardware concept fit backwards to legacy, passed-generation computers more than a year old. Apple logically would rather sell you a new computer. Third party folks will no doubt quickly provide solutions, however.

Note that Apple did conveniently provide a second optical drive slot in Mac Pros even though Blu-Ray was not available when Mac Pros started shipping.

-Allen Wicks

What has engineering resources got to do with it. Its hardly old, the drives in the Mac Pro are already the same in the Power Mac G5's. Except faster writing speeds.
All drives are more or less the same, some are a little longer. Pop the original out, pop the new one in.

1: It should work, it uses the IDE cable and 4 pin power connector. No different to a PC.
2: Apple will probably supply its drivers with Leopard, which comes back to 1 and you can fit it yourself and replace the normal DVD drive.

mr. burns · May 5, 2007, 04:49 PM

Originally Posted by mduell

Eject key for the first drive, shift+eject for the second.

I'm not sure how they're enumerated.

interesting. i've been pressing option+eject this whole time. works the same :].

mduell · May 5, 2007, 07:17 PM

Originally Posted by mr. burns

interesting. i've been pressing option+eject this whole time. works the same :].

Hey what do you know, you're right. I knew it was one of those modifier keys.