This might be a bit of a noob question, but if an existing system has a
dvd-rom drive, it is possible to upgrade such system to a Superdrive? As
I understand it, this 'superdrive' is like the Pioneer 106, 110 models,
or you could use other brands/models if you patch the system using
Patchburn, but can you simply swap out one for the other?
--
/los "I was a teenage net-random"
------------------------------------------------------------------------

The statements and opinions expressed here are my own
and do not necessarily represent those of my employer

In article <xuhYf.73$ma4.70[at]fe09.lga>, slashlos
<slashlos[at]optonline.net> wrote:

> This might be a bit of a noob question, but if an existing system has a
> dvd-rom drive, it is possible to upgrade such system to a Superdrive? As
> I understand it, this 'superdrive' is like the Pioneer 106, 110 models,
> or you could use other brands/models if you patch the system using
> Patchburn, but can you simply swap out one for the other?

Absolutely it's possible. I replaced the dying internal drive in my
iMac G4 with an off-the-shelf Pioneer 110D. Everything works,
including iDVD 6 and iTunes. No Patchburn was necessary, and it'll
even boot off this generic drive.

I got it here, where it's currently $41:
http://www.meritline.com/dvddrives.html

I would assume the newer DVR-111D will work just as well; the price is
the same. I ordered mine when the 110D was still the newest version.
I've been very happy with the Pioneer DVR-104 that originally shipped
in my iMac -- it simply wore out. Just as well -- this one is
*dramatically* faster, and runs cooler, than the original drive. (4
years of improvements, I guess.)

--
Garner R. Miller
Clifton Park, NY =USA=
http://www.garnermiller.com/

Garner Miller wrote:
> In article <xuhYf.73$ma4.70[at]fe09.lga>, slashlos
> <slashlos[at]optonline.net> wrote:
>
>> This might be a bit of a noob question, but if an existing system has a
>> dvd-rom drive, it is possible to upgrade such system to a Superdrive? As
>> I understand it, this 'superdrive' is like the Pioneer 106, 110 models,
>> or you could use other brands/models if you patch the system using
>> Patchburn, but can you simply swap out one for the other?
>
> Absolutely it's possible. I replaced the dying internal drive in my
> iMac G4 with an off-the-shelf Pioneer 110D. Everything works,
> including iDVD 6 and iTunes. No Patchburn was necessary, and it'll
> even boot off this generic drive.
>
> I got it here, where it's currently $41:
> http://www.meritline.com/dvddrives.html

Would an external version look like a superdrive as well?
(iBook G3 800 MHz)
<http://www.meritline.com/pioneer-dvr-110-dual-layer-16-x-dvd-burner-drive-with-software-usb-2-0-firewire-enclosure.html>

--
Clem
"If you push something hard enough, it will fall over."
- Fudd's first law of opposition

In article <44326eff$0$1071$9a6e19ea[at]news.newshosting.com>, Mr. Uh Clem
<uhclem[at]DutchElmSt.invalid> wrote:

> > I got it here, where it's currently $41:
> > http://www.meritline.com/dvddrives.html
>
> Would an external version look like a superdrive as well?
> (iBook G3 800 MHz)

Not exactly, because the older iApps required an internal drive for
burning. But the latest versions of them will now use an external
drive, so it shouldn't be an issue at all. If you're using iLife 06,
the external will work fine. (I *think* that's the case with 05 as
well, but someone else will have to confirm.) With older versions, I
believe PatchBurn will help: http://www.patchburn.de/

The only issue is portability, of course, but I've never been one to
frequently burn discs on the road, so that wouldn't be an issue for me.
If you'd prefer something internal, MCE makes a slot-loading
replacement Superdrive for the iBooks:

http://www.mcetech.com/ibg3dvdr8dl.html

Obviously it's a lot more money ($129, plus $50-100 to install), but
it's an option. Me, I'd probably just go for the external and use that
money toward a new computer in a couple years. But that's me.

--
Garner R. Miller
Clifton Park, NY =USA=
http://www.garnermiller.com/

Garner Miller wrote:
> In article <44326eff$0$1071$9a6e19ea[at]news.newshosting.com>, Mr. Uh Clem
> <uhclem[at]DutchElmSt.invalid> wrote:
>
>>> I got it here, where it's currently $41:
>>> http://www.meritline.com/dvddrives.html
>> Would an external version look like a superdrive as well?
>> (iBook G3 800 MHz)
>
> Not exactly, because the older iApps required an internal drive for
> burning. But the latest versions of them will now use an external
> drive, so it shouldn't be an issue at all.

Not if you have a G3. :(

> If you're using iLife 06,
> the external will work fine. (I *think* that's the case with 05 as
> well, but someone else will have to confirm.) With older versions, I
> believe PatchBurn will help: http://www.patchburn.de/
>
> The only issue is portability, of course, but I've never been one to
> frequently burn discs on the road, so that wouldn't be an issue for me.
> If you'd prefer something internal, MCE makes a slot-loading
> replacement Superdrive for the iBooks:
>
> http://www.mcetech.com/ibg3dvdr8dl.html
>
> Obviously it's a lot more money ($129, plus $50-100 to install), but
> it's an option. Me, I'd probably just go for the external and use that
> money toward a new computer in a couple years. But that's me.
>

Pretty slick. I might keep that in mind if I don't buy an Intel
iBook right away.

--
Clem
"If you push something hard enough, it will fall over."
- Fudd's first law of opposition

slashlos <slashlos[at]optonline.net> writes:
>
> This might be a bit of a noob question, but if an existing system has
> a dvd-rom drive, it is possible to upgrade such system to a
> Superdrive?

As long as you can get one that fits, yes, it will work great. There
shouldn't be any problem with a PowerMac. Slot-loading systems (like
many iMacs and laptops) will require a drive that's of the right size to
fit the mountings.

> As I understand it, this 'superdrive' is like the Pioneer 106, 110
> models, or you could use other brands/models if you patch the system
> using Patchburn, but can you simply swap out one for the other?

Apple has shipped many different models as "SuperDrives" over the
years. PowerMacs usually come with a Pioneer DVR-1xx series drive.

Many drives (including third-party drives) will just work. For
instance, I put a Plextor PX-716A in my PowerMac G4. In the system
profiler, it is shows up with all features:

PLEXTOR DVDR PX-716A:

Firmware Revision: 1.09
Interconnect: ATAPI
Burn Support: Yes (Unsupported)
Profile Path: None
Cache: 8192 KB
Reads DVD: Yes
CD-Write: -R, -RW
DVD-Write: -R, -RW, +R, +RW, +R DL
Burn Underrun Protection CD: Yes
Burn Underrun Protection DVD: Yes
Write Strategies: CD-TAO, CD-SAO, CD-Raw, DVD-DAO
Media: No

If your drive doesn't have all of its features listed, then Patchburn
can usually be used to fix that. It doesn't make the drive compatible,
but it will change some tables in Mac OS so the system will think it's
compatible. (Of course, if the drive really isn't compatible, it won't
work, but most drives sold these days are compatible.)

-- David

slashlos <slashlos[at]optonline.net> wrote:
> This might be a bit of a noob question, but if an existing system has a
> dvd-rom drive, it is possible to upgrade such system to a Superdrive? As
> I understand it, this 'superdrive' is like the Pioneer 106, 110 models,
> or you could use other brands/models if you patch the system using
> Patchburn, but can you simply swap out one for the other?

Just one more thing to add on top of what the others have said: If you
have an eMac, forget it. It's possible, but it practically needs a
degree in engineering to accomplish. You'll have to take the whole thing
completely apart, including removing the analog board, logic board and
hard drive to get to the optical drive. You'll also need a CRT discharge
tool, an anti-static mat, and grounding wrist strap. Waaaay too involved
for most tinkerers.

I got a generic USB2 external DVD burner for my eMac. It needed
PatchBurn but it has worked a charm ever since.

--
K.

thanks to all. I had gotten a Pioneer 110D and simply swapped it. I have
a dual G4. Reads CD, DVD just fine. Now off to purchase dvd writable media!

I had wanted to move the original into what appears to be another bay
normally assigned for the zip drive, which I don't have. Do anyone know
if this is possible? While one can always use a backup failing that
perhaps I can install into a, perish the thought, PC which has a cdrom?

Again many thanks to all!:-)

--
/los "I was a teenage net-random"
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Opinions expressed here are mine and not necessarily those of my employer!
------------------------------------------------------------------------