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6 Replies Last post: Mar 11, 2006 8:49 AM by Philbert  
Click to view MW Forums's profile New Member
MW Forums
12,220 posts since
Aug 2, 2004
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Mar 10, 2006 11:00 AM

FastMac offers 8x 'Driverless SuperDrive' upgrades

FastMac is offering internal 8x dual-layer DVD drives for laptops, the iMac and the Mac mini. more
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Click to view windowschmindows's profile New Member
windowschmindows
75 posts since
Nov 1, 2004
1. Mar 10, 2006 12:29 PM in response to: MW Forums
Re: FastMac offers 8x 'Driverless SuperDrive' upgrades
What brand is it? Or should we care these days?
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Click to view Luke_Macwalker's profile New Member
Luke_Macwalker
150 posts since
Sep 1, 2004
2. Mar 10, 2006 1:04 PM in response to: MW Forums
Re: FastMac offers 8x 'Driverless SuperDrive' upgrades
They claim that no driver is required but on the product page for SuperDrive 8x Dual-Layer for PowerBook G4 667 MHz or Higher we can read:
In reply to:<hr />
Compatible w Mac OS 9, Mac OS X, 10.2, 10.3, & Mac OS X 10.4 (Requires Drivers)

<hr />

So, where is the truth?
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Click to view Philbert's profile Old Hand
Philbert
2,358 posts since
Jun 11, 2001
3. Mar 10, 2006 1:58 PM in response to: MW Forums
Re: FastMac offers 8x 'Driverless SuperDrive' upgrades
150 bucks? Uhm ....

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=171021
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Click to view HumanJHawkins's profile Member
HumanJHawkins
538 posts since
Jan 22, 2003
4. Mar 10, 2006 3:42 PM in response to: Philbert
Re: FastMac offers 8x 'Driverless SuperDrive' upgrades
In reply to:<hr />
150 bucks? Uhm ....

<hr />

Does that one work with a Mac laptop? If not, then the price difference is understandable. When you have 1/15th the customer base and have to design and manufacture parts to make the thing fit, it is going to cost a lot more than a more standard device with a much larger customer base.
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Click to view Philbert's profile Old Hand
Philbert
2,358 posts since
Jun 11, 2001
5. Mar 10, 2006 10:15 PM in response to: HumanJHawkins
Re: FastMac offers 8x 'Driverless SuperDrive' upgrades
Yes, that will work for the same systems that FastMac is advertising. (It's probably the same drive - depending on which Mac or laptop) I would have posted a link to OWC that sells the drive I posted earlier specifically for Macs, but even that is more expensive. MANY of the parts in today's Macs are "standard" and that's even beginning to include the CPU!

There has never been anything special or proprietary about Apple's "Superdrives". They are off the shelf units.

FYI - here's a great site to check the compatibility of drives in Macs:
http://forums.xlr8yourmac.com/drivedb/search.drivedb.lasso
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Click to view Philbert's profile Old Hand
Philbert
2,358 posts since
Jun 11, 2001
6. Mar 11, 2006 8:49 AM in response to: HumanJHawkins
Re: FastMac offers 8x 'Driverless SuperDrive' upgrades
Here's another example -

FastMac offers a 16x Superdrive (Pioneer DVR-110) for Powermacs at $89.
http://store.fastmac.com/product_info.php?products_id=103

The very same drive can be bought at ZipZoomFly for $47.
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=171025

My point isn't really to endorse ZZF, but to suggest FastMac is too expensive.

Actually, I don't even understand why this is "news". As long as you install a drive that Apple has supported, "drivers" haven't been needed in the last 6-7 years. I purchased a Pioneer DVR-107 a few years ago to upgrade my DP 1GHz Quicksilver G4. Installed the drive and System Profiler lists it as "Apple Supported/Shipped." without installing a hint of a driver. Heck, even the LiteOn CD burner I bought 5 years ago works great in the external case I stuck it in - it even boots the system!

Don't need no stinkin' drivers!
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