[tonygoodchild]

A couple of days after I got my Mini I was nosing round an Apple store and saw the very nice looking MacBook Air SuperDrive. Thinking it was a standard USB DVD drive (system requirements? who needs to read those?) I bought it and later found out that no it isn't a standard USB drive but in fact will only work on the MacBook Air. Maybe the clue was in the name. MacBook Air SuperDrive.

Anyway after looking around for a bit I found the details for a mod that will let you use this drive on any machine, I just tried it on my Mini and it now works great. You can find the guide over here tnkgrls blog http://tnkgrl.wordpress.com/2008/06/...drive-for-all/.

It requires you to order a $9 replacement USB-IDE bridge than open up the drive, remove the old PCB replace it with the new one, solder 5 connections and jobs done. It's a great drive, doesn't need external power (unlike my sucky old Sony one) and c'mon, who doesn't love a slot loading drive? Works great on my Mini in both Windows and Mac OS X.

One thing worthy of mention - if you do try it and you try plugging it in before finally reassembling the whole thing, make sure you hold the drive the right way up. If you happen to have it upside down it will start to make whirring and chugging noises while it tries to read the label of your CD. In my experience this then ends up with you spending the next hour taking it apart and putting it all back together again checking for short circuits before you finally realise that in fact the disc is in upside down and you start kicking yourself and throwing your soldering iron around the room!

[somms]

Damn that drive overpriced!

Nice mod BTW!

[jeffburg]

Originally Posted by somms

Damn that drive overpriced!

Nice mod BTW!

I challenge you to find a slot-loading external usb dual layer dvd burner that does not need separate power or 2 usb port connections for $99.

if you do find it, link it.

[somms]

Originally Posted by jeffburg

I challenge you to find a slot-loading external usb dual layer dvd burner that does not need separate power or 2 usb port connections for $99.

if you do find it, link it.

With those kind of requirements!? :shock: Don't think I could but was shocked by price...just comparing to regular run of the mill external burners wasn't fair i guess though...

[holmes4]

I don't like slot load drives - have had them mangle discs and they can't read mini-discs.

[jeffburg]

Originally Posted by holmes4

I don't like slot load drives - have had them mangle discs and they can't read mini-discs.

i wouldn't say that mangling discs is the typical experience... all 4 computers that I have had with slot loaders have never ruined a disc... except maybe a coaster from a bad burn.

[zeroprime]

Originally Posted by jeffburg

I challenge you to find a slot-loading external usb dual layer dvd burner that does not need separate power or 2 usb port connections for $99.

if you do find it, link it.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6827242001

It may need the kind of USB cable with two plugs, I couldn't tell. Then again, you don't have to take it apart and use a soldering iron to get it to work (one reviewer was using it on an Acer Aspire One).

It's too bad the superdrive doesn't work without modification, because I'd trust Apple to make a solid and long lasting drive over most of the other companies.

[Tohsh]

Originally Posted by zeroprime

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6827242001

It may need the kind of USB cable with two plugs, I couldn't tell. Then again, you don't have to take it apart and use a soldering iron to get it to work (one reviewer was using it on an Acer Aspire One).

It's too bad the superdrive doesn't work without modification, because I'd trust Apple to make a solid and long lasting drive over most of the other companies.

That's not slot loaded.

[zeroprime]

uff, don't mind me, I'm an idiot

[jeffburg]

Originally Posted by zeroprime

uff, don't mind me, I'm an idiot

thats actually the best offering i have seen yet.
I too wish the apple superdrive worked with everything.