Will a Mac Superdrive read dvd-ram discs?

[GregN]

I don't necessarily need to write to those discs, but can they read them?

I know sometimes drive specs won't officially acknowledge it, so has anyone even tried to?

thanks!

[thoughton]

They don't. The drive is supposed to be able to, but apple's firmware doesn't do it. More info at Cynikal's page http://superdrive.cynikal.net/#q14

[spiderman2k1]

This is one thing I hate about MAC how they control hardware. I know MAC has a better OS and better hardware CPU's and stuff like that. But I was thinking of buying a MAC and now I really do not know. I have a Panasonic E80 and use DVD-RAM and I bought a LG burner to read the DVD-RAM. MAC can not so weakness if they want some people to make the change from PC to MAC.

[GregN]

bummer.

Doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Thanks for the link thoughton, although even they couldn't come up with a really valid reason for the restriction.

So, I guess that's another cost I would have to add to a possible Mac switch.

[deadsierra]

This is one thing I hate about MAC

And at that point I stopped reading. Perhaps my patience is abnormally low today, or maybe its just that people never learn. Never.

[danaaprildarren]

Actually some of the drives will read them, it all depends on the model of the drive. (my pioneer 106d reads them fine) Once removed from the casing, most of them can't be rewriten to though.

[WiseWeasel]

Yes, it all depends on the drive model. Most, in fact, will read DVD-RAM just fine once removed from the case, even if they don't acknowledge them.

[GregN]

Are you guys stating that the Superdrives can be different models and depending on the specific one you have in your Mac, it may or may not be able to read a dvd-ram disc? (I'm already aware that there are external drives I could hook up that would work).

And as far as "removing from the case", you ARE talking about removing the ram disc from a case, aren't you? (None of my dvd-rams are in cases, in fact, I don't even know what a cased one looks like).

thanks. again.

[WiseWeasel]

Superdrive is Apple's generic term for DVD+/-RW drives. There are a great number of drives that Apple's used over the years, but mainly, they've been Pioneer 103 - 107 and Sony U10A for desktops and Matshita UJ-815-826 for laptops. I'm pretty sure most of these will read DVD-RAM discs ok. Have you tried playing them in yours? And yes, by removing from their case, I mean to take the DVD-RAM disc out of its protective case, though if yours are bare discs, then you won't have to worry about that step.

[GregN]

I'm not a Mac owner yet. All my posts here are merely investigatory or anticipatory.

I'm a petulant or panic-prone pre-owner, like a toddler that throws tantrums of despair and needs my parents (current Mac loving owners) to calm me down.

which you did, thanks.

[thoughton]

This is one thing I hate about MAC how they control hardware. I know MAC has a better OS and better hardware CPU's and stuff like that. But I was thinking of buying a MAC and now I really do not know. I have a Panasonic E80 and use DVD-RAM and I bought a LG burner to read the DVD-RAM. MAC can not so weakness if they want some people to make the change from PC to MAC.

I wasn't saying macs cant use dvd-ram, just that the built-in dvd burner wont do it (apparently some of the newer ones will though, although this is probably firmware). You can get 3rd party drives that read and write dvd-ram and the mac has no problem with them. I have one in my laptop.

Just like in the PC world, if you want a dvd-ram drive you gotta add one yourself.

[decay]

this guy has at least one for $27:
http://www.baucomcomputers.com/

dk

[hscottm]

I am thinking of buying a Panasonic DMR-E30 ($199 at radio shack now) - but would want the non-cartridge DVD-RAM discs it uses to read on my MDD PowerMac G4.

Is there any site listing which Mac/superdrive models will read DVD-RAM discs?

[decay]

according to the pioneer site, the dvr-107 reads DVD-RAM.

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/pna/article/0,,2076_4249_39099161,00.html

(specifications PDF named "DVrx07_GSpec.pdf"

dk

[hscottm]

decay-

I dont doubt that Pioneer model works. But will Mac OSX understand it?

[thoughton]

As state above, my drive reads DVD-RAM. With OS X 10.3.4 it worked straight out of the box. With 10.3.2 I had to modify framework files.

[hscottm]

got to work, and realize my G4 MDD only has a DVR-104, so no DVD-RAM. Now I am looking at finding replacements or additional optical drives with -RAM capability.

Been looking at the usual suspects: clubmac, owc, macresq - anyone have good leads on sources for cheap DVD-RAM drives (I only need it to read not write)?

Best I have found is $100 for a -107. But thats overkill.

[FCPguy]

This post is for Greg
Hey man, we've all been there. You wouldn't see this forum if we were'nt into our Macs. I would say with the (no arguments please) superior software and hardware and ease of use. Yep, you'll be seeing a lot more Apple users coming up.
We're the way to go for any video/ audio/ image based stuff. So join the bandwagon, or you could get left behind. So I recommend you get one, you'll love it. (start with an inexpensive Imac if you don't want to go all out. See if you like it... if you don't- ebay that bitch and keep your PC)

[miksu]

got to work, and realize my G4 MDD only has a DVR-104, so no DVD-RAM. Now I am looking at finding replacements or additional optical drives with -RAM capability.

Been looking at the usual suspects: clubmac, owc, macresq - anyone have good leads on sources for cheap DVD-RAM drives (I only need it to read not write)?

Best I have found is $100 for a -107. But thats overkill.

LG, iomega and Hitachi are known to make DVD-Ram/DVD-/+R(W) capable recorders. That is, every format supported (general, but author-format drives cost lot kilo-€€€ or $$$). Maybe they have read-onlies too. But, still, DVD-writer isn't that expensive, you get only two cd-rw units for price of one DVD-writer. Most dvd-writers tend to be also really silent in use, if compared to high speed cd-rw-drives.

[hscottm]

Sorry - I guess I should be bluntly explicit after re-reading the back and forth.

I already have a DVD writer and for as much as I use it, dont see much reason to upgrade it.

What I would ideally find is a Blue&White G3/early G4-era DVD-RAM drive (a reader) to throw in my G4 so I can read the discs coming from the standalone recorder. I had been checking those 'surplus' reseller sites - knowing I had seen some advertised there previously.

If I end up needing to pay $100+ for a DVD-RAM drive, I might as well just spend the $100 on a different standalone recorder that avoided this problem.

[thoughton]

hscott: I'm starting to think you're talking about a DVD-ROM drive? Didn't those early Mac DVD-RAMs take cartridges?

[hscottm]

I dont know since I havent been able to find one yet - however I think there were definitely DVD-RAM/ROM drives in those early models (otherwise you couldnt read a DVD only write RAM discs).

Anyone know/remember?

[hscottm]

Here is a sample drive I found thats 'old' and available to buy.

http://www.welovemacs.com/lfd111a.html

It says its a DVD-RAM drive but also plays DVD movies - so it cant have a cartridge can it? Worst case would be a caddy that I had to put a movie in. Anyone have a drive like this from a late G3/early G4?[/url]

[decay]

have you looked at the Baucom site i linked?

$27 for a used Apple DVD-RAM drive.

dk

[hscottm]

decay - I did see that, but couldnt respond since I didnt know at the time whether it was the kind of drive I needed (ie non-cartridge). $27 is fine of course for price.