[muglo] Re: cd

on 10/9/02 18:54, Tee Cashmore at tee.cashmore@xxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:

> Jim Taylor wrote:
> 
>> Is a CD burner something you buy like a printer or whatever? And if you
>> do buy one are they difficult to set up and use? At lest for a non-techie
>> like me. Just curious.

Yes, you can buy your CD burner like you buy a printer :) They are easy to
set-up and use, even for non-techies.

>> Oh, and I have a G4, 9.0.4 OS and 129 megs.
>> jim

I would suggest two things to you before you get a CD-burner:

1. upgrade your RAM (256 MB chip ~ $60-80, 128 MB $30-50)! It's a shame to
run a G4 at 128 MB.

2. unless you absolutely must run OS 9.0.4 for compatibility reasons
(unlikely now since all software should have updates available), upgrade
(for free... from www.apple.com) to 9.1 or 9.2.2. 9.1 & 9.2.2 provide many
bug-fixes over 9.0.4.

The advantage to doing #2 is that you can then install Apple's disk burning
software (free download from Apple). It requires at least OS 9.1 and
supports a wide array of CD burners (including my Sony 24/10/32).

> Hi Jim,
> Yes, CD Burners are a periphery, just like a printer, zip drive etc. With
> your G4 it is probably possible to install an internal IDE; depends on the
> model etc.; or you can go with an external. Prices vary, but start at about
> $100 internal, up to $600+ external. Quite easy to set up, but you need a
> programme like "Toast". HTH.

a long shot... fire up Apple System Profiler and see what kind of CD-ROM you
have (maybe you got a CD-RW installed by accident (can always keep your
fingers crossed)).

Your G4 tower can *definitely* accept an internal IDE CD-RW. I recently
picked up a Sony 24/10/40 for $75 CDN and it works flawlessly, both with
Toast, and with Apple's software. The replacement procedure is painless &
can be done even by novices. If you are truly petrified of touching your
computer you could always get Terry to replace the CD-ROM for you!

Your choice in CD-burners is:
(1) Firewire (costly ($200+), but you can move it around between computers
(not an advantage unless you have multiple firewire computers NOW and need
back-up for them NOW (since all future computers will come with CD-burners
the added cost of FW is unnecessary));
(2) USB (cheaper ($150+) than FW, but much more expensive than MUCH MUCH
faster IDE burners) but are ultra-slow -- max 4 x burn & rather unstable
(due to USB's instability);
(3) IDE (cheap->expensive) ranging from $70 CDN for a 20/8/32 (or something
along those lines) -> $300 for a DVD-burner with all the bells & whistles;
(4) SCSI (most expensive, but highly reliable (not useful for 98% of users))
+ a SCSI PCI card.

If all you expect to do is back-up your G4 replace your CD-ROM with a
CD-burner. You can get a DVD-ROM/CD-RW (reads DVDs, reads & burns CDs) for
around $120-150, or you can get a CD-RW 32/10/40 for $80-100 CDN. To get a
FireWire version tack on an extra $100-150.

Two considerations:

1. you want the burner to be Mac-bootable. It's easy to check this in the
www.xlr8yourmac.com database
(<http://forums.xlr8yourmac.com/drivedb/search.drivedb.lasso>punch in your
interface: IDE, brand of CD-ROM (if applicable) and OS and the site will
tell you what other people's experiences have been with a particular model)

XLR8YourMac also has step-by-step installation instructions
<http://www.xlr8yourmac.com/G3-ZONE/hival52x/install.html> on replacing the
CD-ROM. It took me *far* longer to find a screwdriver in this place & to
read the instructions than it did to actually replace the CD-ROM.

PS When buying the CD-RW I asked the fellow at the computer store to fire up
the xlr8yourmac.com web site and check for the CD-RW I was buying.

2. What software do you need? If you need to do back-up, chances are all
you'll need is Apple's built-in software (requires OS 9.1). If you want to
do more fancy stuff you'll need Roxio Titanium's Toast. DO NOT get version
4.x. Version 5.1 is a far more advanced piece of software, and much more
user-friendly (plus, when you burn in 5 (under OS 9) you retain the use of
your computer). A "Lite" version of Titanium 5 is a good piece of software.
If it's version 4, run for the hills.

If you're leery of doing it yourself, I'm sure Terry Steeper (519-294-0648)
could help you (both with selecting & purchasing the CD-RW and installing
it). The surgery takes less than 5 minutes, and if you have OS 9.1 + Apple's
Disk Burner installed you're up-and-running.

PS If you're wondering about the numbering scheme: a 24/10/32 means that it
burns CD-Rs (write-once) at 24x (so 650 MB (aka 74 mins of audio) is written
in 3 mins), burns CD-RWs (re-write up to ~50 x) at max 10x speed (74 mins
(650 MB) in 7.4 mins), and reads CDs (CD-Rs, CD-RWs, CD-ROMs) at 32 x (PS
1x~150 K/sec).

If you decide to splurge and get a DVD-ROM/CD-RW capable of reading DVDs as
well as burning CDs they're rated in a slightly different manner (8X DVD is
roughly the max speed right now IIRC) (5X may seem slow but it is actually
much faster than a 32 X CD (it's because 1X DVD moves a *lot* more (10X?)
data in 1 sec than a CD... video vs. audio ;)).

PSS Most of Apple's CD-ROMs read CDs at 24 X (sometimes Apple installed 32 X
depending on availability... for e.g. my B&W G3 came with a 32X even though
Apple says it's a 24X). Most Apple CD-burners burn at 8-12 X (yes, Apple
uses cheap CD-burners (& CD-ROMs) by-and-large).

More questions: ask away!

Eric.



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