Apple 5.2G DVD-RAM $99.99 (Refurb)

[zeroidea]

saw this at dealmac:

Apple Internal IDE DVD-RAM Drive, for PowerMac G3, G4

It's IDE and would probably work on a PC, but I'm not sure about it.

I think this is an OEM Panasonic, such as this.

 

[Kanalua]

Can anyone confirm if this will work in a PC?

 

[unclebud]

i'm interested in one of these drives for storage and such. be good if i could find a cheap macintosh it would work in

 

[wjsulliv]

It appears to be the same as the panasonic, at least the same model number and picture...

 

[murphy55d]

bump. Anyone know if this really would work for a PC?

 

[may]

If I am right, then that's DVD-RAM and not currently compatible with existing DVD players.
Apple has had them for years and if you check ebay, there are a lot of them for around $100

 

[aphex]

Wouldnt there be driver issues with this though? Since it was meant for a mac...

 

[Braxus]

IDE's IDE... The drives don't know the difference so long as they get to talk to an IDE controller

 

[may]

but you'll need some burning software for dvd ram. Any PC software supports it?

 

[Braxus]

I believe Nero does.

 

[murphy55d]

This claims to:

Softarch

 

[Braxus]

Just an FYI, quite a few DVD-ROM drives won't be able to read DVD-RAM media... Even some new models being produced today.

And if you're using the 5.2GB discs, those most likely won't be removable from the caddy, making them useless in normal DVD-ROM drives that can read them.

Probably best to wait until they make those 17.2GB DVD writers and things become "more standardized" so to speak (DVD-R/RW/RAM).

 

[Pretty Cool]

If this is a Panasonic LF-D111, here is the device driver listing from the MATSUSHITA website. I believe these are complete, not just updates to the drivers that are normally bundled with this drive.

LF-D111 Drivers

 

[mikeford]

Americal has media prices and a bit more info on this drive which they sell for $399.
http://americal.com/cgi-bin/smart_cart.cgi?page=gt_dvd.html <sorry no like the javascript in the dialog box kept hanging.>

Looks like a good deal IF YOU NEED a DVD drive, but I think with CDR's practically free and my24x writer vs this 1x, I can wait.

 

[nev4]

Linkified

 

[nev4]

More Direct Linkification

Panasonic's Maunal For the Drive (pdf) -Edit: New Link
Panasonic's Whitesheets/spages (Technical Specs) for the Drive (also PDF)- Edited Again: 3rd Link

 

[GermyBoy]

This drive was pulled from a working G4 Macintosh and fully tested on a Windows 98 PC. It will work equally well in a PC or IDE-equipped Macintosh

 

[JameyF]

<< Americal has media prices and a bit more info on this drive which they sell for $399.
http://americal.com/cgi-bin/smart_cart.cgi?page=gt_dvd.html <sorry no like the javascript in the dialog box kept hanging.>

Looks like a good deal IF YOU NEED a DVD drive, but I think with CDR's practically free and my24x writer vs this 1x, I can wait. >>




I'm with you. This would be nice if you have data that has to be backed up. 700MB isn't what it used to be. CDR isn't practical to backup my files or most other users files out there now. I purchased a spare HD to keep a copy of stuff on, so I guess I'll pass until something is cheaper and/or is more of a standard.

 

[rickforrest]

<<

Looks like a good deal IF YOU NEED a DVD drive, but I think with CDR's practically free and my24x writer vs this 1x, I can wait. >>



Just so you know - 1x in dvd speed is hella faster than 1x in CD speed. They are not the same "units"

 

[vladgur]

<< This drive was pulled from a working G4 Macintosh and fully tested on a Windows 98 PC. It will work equally well in a PC or IDE-equipped Macintosh >>



How do you know this? Did you buy this drive or are you affiliated with the reseller?

 

[JoeRicard]

<< bump. Anyone know if this really would work for a PC? >>



No it won't.

I called and asked and the service tech said its MAC Platform and thats it.


/me cries!!!


-Joe

 

[markgm]

Sooooo tempting...if only it wrote cd's too.

 

[ingenue007]

Many times (not all the time) PC components can be used in Macs. If you had a PC geforce card, you can run it in a mac simply by flashing the ROM with a Mac version. If you look at xlr8yourmac.com archives, you will see that things like DVD drives that are PC run on macs simply with a ROM flash. I wouldn't be surprised if this DVD-R worked on PCs. I remember reading Mac users buying the PC version of DVD-R drives (maybe this one) and using them in macs.

BTW, OS X rocks. Too bad no x86 version...

 

[focusdchaos]

This WILL work in a PC, I have the exact same drive in my system, I bought it last week.

You don't need any burner software, just get the drivers from Panasonic.
When you insert a disc, right click on the drive, and click on formatt. You will be formatting it FAT32, and you can do a quick formatt, which will only take 3 seconds or so.

You now have a giant floppy, drag and drop to your hearts content.

It took about 15 minutes or so to transfter a 700mb video file.

 

[esoteric0]

<< If you had a PC geforce card, you can run it in a mac simply by flashing the ROM with a Mac version. >>



this isn't quite true... macs use the video card to provide power to the monitor too. i've got a geforce 2 mx in my mac, and there's no way it would work in my pc (not even counting the fact that it has a dvi connector).

on the other hand tho, i have a 4.7 GB dvd-ram from apple in my pc. i've never actually tried to burn a dvd with it, but supposedly win xp supports it. i've just never gotten around to finding some media to try it out.