Best DVD Burner for Mac?

[urbanlife]

I was just wondering what's the best DVD burner out now for Mac's. I've read on the Pioneer 109, is that the top of the line or is something out there even better. I'm using a NEC 4X burner and wanted to upgrade it to something faster but also better. Anyone with any info please feel free to help me out. And if there is a site I can visit so I can buy such a burner please tell me. (Internal)

[Faustus]

Pioneer should always be supported

[JoachimS]

Get the Pioneer 109, update to Firmware 1.40 (use a PC for that), install Patchburn, and be happy.

Here the links:

Firmware:
http://wwwbsc.pioneer.co.jp/product-e/ibs/device_e/file/DVR109_FW140EU.EXE

Patchburn:
http://www.patchburn.de/


Cheers,

Joachim

[urbanlife]

Sorry for these stupid question, but the firmware you said to us a PC for that. How do I go about doing that and why do I need to us a PC. So I'll download the firmware on a PC and take a file off that or what? Can you go into detail about doing this cause I'm a lil lost. Thanks.

[macuser25]

http://www.macworld.com/2005/02/reviews/duallayerburners/index.php

[Frobozz]

The Pioneer is fine. But there are some of us who prefer Plextor. They issue firmware updates that work with Macs. I agree with the MacWorld article linked above that Plextor and LaCie are top notch.

[JoachimS]

@urbanlife:

There are Mac updaters for all Pioneer DVR up to the 108 model. The 109 is simply not finished because it is not issued by Pioneer and it is freeware. We must just be a little patient.

The Mac software is called DVR Flash:
http://forum.rpc1.org/viewtopic.php?t=25930

The PC is required because the original flasher from Pioneer is a PC program. Connect the drive as master to the PC controller (no further slave drive on the same bus please), run the Pioneer software and within 5 minutes you're done. Make sure to follow their instructions.

Cheers,

Joachim

[willrob]

Consulting the Firmware Page, it looks like it's not going to be soon. A physical drive in the possession of the programer is required and he doesn't have one yet. Perhaps the French site will come up with one....

The current shipping firmware is 1.17—at leasts that's what the $62 NewEgg units are arriveing with. The 1.40 firmware (from Pioneer) adds usability with more media, but is not region free, as the third party updates tend to be.

>>There are Mac updaters for all Pioneer DVR up to the 108 model. The 109 is simply not finished because it is not issued by Pioneer and it is freeware. We must just be a little patient. <<

[urbanlife]

Good info, thanks guys. By the way I was planning on take out the NEC burner in the extrenal case and replacing it with the Pioneer if thats what I get. Is it easy to set it up to use the Firewire that the NEC already has set up. I kinda wanted to do a swap of the drive, if it was possible.