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Mac Forum / General / Hardware / January 2005DVD using external drive?
I believe that an iMac/iDVD can't recognise an external DVD writer, but with PatchBurn it can. I want to use a DVD writer with my G4 iMac and also with a G4 iBook, and this, apart from my terror of attempting a replacement of the iMac's combo drive, make an external drive imperative. First, am I right in thinking that the combination of iDVD, an extarnal burner and Patchburn would allow similar facilities as a Superdrive would give, or would facilities be limited? Assuming "yes": 1. would a USB ext drive be okay for video burning, or is Firewire preferable/essential? 2. Can anyone suggest best external drive (manuf/model), or drives that WON'T work? 3. Would I need other software (e.g. Toast)? TIA for any advice, Rab, a.k.a. Bewildered of Tonbridge Wells > I believe that an iMac/iDVD can't recognise an external DVD writer, but > with PatchBurn it can. You're halfway correct, and then only sorta. The use of external drives with iDVD is not supported. In fact, without an internal DVD burner, even installing it is something of an effort. It can be made to do it as something of an Easter egg, but it's still not supported. PatchBurn started life doing something else, but recently has also picked up the ability to enable that behavior. Google on "idvd external" for a whole slew of explanations of how to achieve this and answers to the follow-up questions. G  SignatureChange account to gw when responding by mail. > I believe that an iMac/iDVD can't recognise an external DVD writer, > but with PatchBurn it can. iDVD is very particular about what drives it supports. More specifically, it only likes Apple Superdrives. Other Apple apps, like iTunes are less picky, but there are still a lot of drives these apps can't burn to. PatchBurn, among other things, updates some data tables (on Panther) and drivers (on Jaguar) to convince the Apple apps that they are compatible with your drive. Because most drives really are compatible, this works, although it is not guaranteed to work with all drives. > I want to use a DVD writer with my G4 iMac and also with a G4 iBook, > and this, apart from my terror of attempting a replacement of the [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > extarnal burner and Patchburn would allow similar facilities as a > Superdrive would give, or would facilities be limited? Depending on which model drive you buy, you may have full functionality, once PatchBurn is run. > Assuming "yes": > 1. would a USB ext drive be okay for video burning, or is Firewire > preferable/essential? USB 2.0 will be fast enough. USB 1.1 will be far too slow. If your Mac is a model without USB 2.0 capability, then you will require a FireWire drive. > 2. Can anyone suggest best external drive (manuf/model), or drives > that WON'T work? Can't help here. But do some googling around. Also follow the links a few othes have posted. > 3. Would I need other software (e.g. Toast)? Not for the purpose of running iDVD. But you may find Toast useful, nevertheless. It's a very good package and does a lot of things that Apple's apps don't do. -- David Thanks for all advice received, especially David C for the detailed answers. (belated) Happy New Year! Rab |
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