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TICKET ARCHIVE -> Can Older Dvdrom's Read Dvdrw's?
charles1 - Sep 5, 2005 - 8:04 am
I need to archive a lot of files and DVDRW's are the cheapest per gb, changeable, portable storage available I've found at about $.15/gb.
My query is I'm wondering how far back in the G4 lineup can DVDRW's be read? Can any DVD-ram read them? Can any combo CD-rw/DVD-rom read them?
Can any Mac read any external drive or do I need software drivers for each? Maximum compatibility with the rest of the Mac world is crucial. Speed is not.
My query is I'm wondering how far back in the G4 lineup can DVDRW's be read? Can any DVD-ram read them? Can any combo CD-rw/DVD-rom read them?
Can any Mac read any external drive or do I need software drivers for each? Maximum compatibility with the rest of the Mac world is crucial. Speed is not.
DeltaMac - Sep 5, 2005 - 8:23 am
In my experience, there is not just one good answer with DVD-RWs. You will have to test this with the computers that you need to work with. My suggestion is: don't try this with DVD+RW disks, you should use only DVD-RW for best compatibility with older systems.
I also suggest you may get the most reliable results by using DVD-R only. You'll get permanent archiving, but won't be able to erase - plus the disks are cheaper and easier to find.
Get one or two DVD-RW to test before you buy a whole spindle. Burn some data to one, and try to mount on a variety of the systems that you asked about.
Let me know how it goes...
- Dale
I also suggest you may get the most reliable results by using DVD-R only. You'll get permanent archiving, but won't be able to erase - plus the disks are cheaper and easier to find.
Get one or two DVD-RW to test before you buy a whole spindle. Burn some data to one, and try to mount on a variety of the systems that you asked about.
Let me know how it goes...
- Dale
charles1 - Sep 5, 2005 - 10:25 am
Was that supposed to be a 72 hour turnaround or 72 second turnaround? That's got to be the fastest answer in history! Thanks.
Can you pass the question on to someone else who has more experience in this? I realized that the -r is the way to go for compatibility. DVDrw discs are down to less than a dollar each now so its getting pretty tempting. But for videos where you will never need to edit them, DVD-r's are the way to go for cost and compatibility. Finally removeable media is cheaper per gb than hard drives!
And what about the external drive questions?
Can you pass the question on to someone else who has more experience in this? I realized that the -r is the way to go for compatibility. DVDrw discs are down to less than a dollar each now so its getting pretty tempting. But for videos where you will never need to edit them, DVD-r's are the way to go for cost and compatibility. Finally removeable media is cheaper per gb than hard drives!
And what about the external drive questions?
DeltaMac - Sep 5, 2005 - 10:55 am
Generally, an external drive that will work on one Mac, will work on any Mac. Drivers are not needed, except for burning to an external burner. I would probably install Toast on any Mac that will be burning to an external (or internal) burner. It will support many burners directly.
If you just need to read DVDs, then having one that works, should work on any OS X Mac. If all your Macs have FireWire ports, get a FireWire drive.
Most Macs will read DVDs, so an external should not be needed just to read files.
If you are backing up/archiving from a lot of different Macs - here's what I would do: rather than figuring out DVD burning from each system, just have a large FireWire storage drive - external hard drives can have several TeraBytes if you need that much. All of your archiving can be to that one drive, just plug into each Mac, and copy to a relevant folder and you're done with that Mac. Then permanent archive to DVD-R, with one Mac dedicated to doing that (burning to a DVD can be quite slow) That way you don't tie up each Mac while burning to a DVD - This is just my idea.
I will pass this back to our open queue
- Dale
If you just need to read DVDs, then having one that works, should work on any OS X Mac. If all your Macs have FireWire ports, get a FireWire drive.
Most Macs will read DVDs, so an external should not be needed just to read files.
If you are backing up/archiving from a lot of different Macs - here's what I would do: rather than figuring out DVD burning from each system, just have a large FireWire storage drive - external hard drives can have several TeraBytes if you need that much. All of your archiving can be to that one drive, just plug into each Mac, and copy to a relevant folder and you're done with that Mac. Then permanent archive to DVD-R, with one Mac dedicated to doing that (burning to a DVD can be quite slow) That way you don't tie up each Mac while burning to a DVD - This is just my idea.
I will pass this back to our open queue
- Dale
charles1 - Sep 5, 2005 - 10:58 am
Dale - those are excellent ideas. Thank you.
TechSupport - Sep 8, 2005 - 11:30 am
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