Dvd Ram

[JDN]

As far as i am aware, the MBP cannot write a DVD RAM disc. I don't know anything about DVD RAM, so i was wondering, if i buy a DVD RAM disc from someone like Verbatim will it work in my MBP?

I don't know if there is a difference between a DVD being able to make a DVD RAM disc and being able to use one.

Can anyone help?

 

[kolax]

RAM discs allow you to write data to the medium while reading data off the medium (the drive must have dual lasers to do so). Also, you don't finalize RAM discs like you do with R/RW's. This makes them much more versatile than your standard DVD discs.

But to be honest, you'd never need a RAM disc for a computer anyway - having the simultaneous read/write advantage is pointless for a computer, I can't think why you'd want to write to a DVD while copying something off it at the same time - that's what USB flash drives are for.

DVD-RAM discs are a huge benifit to those who own certain DVD Recorders for TV's. That's where the read/write ability would be a huge advantage - but even now, most DVD-Recorder's come with hard drives, so you'd never really need to have to use a RAM disc.

 

[JDN]

RAM discs allow you to write data to the medium while reading data off the medium (the drive must have dual lasers to do so). Also, you don't finalize RAM discs like you do with R/RW's. This makes them much more versatile than your standard DVD discs.

But to be honest, you'd never need a RAM disc for a computer anyway - having the simultaneous read/write advantage is pointless for a computer, I can't think why you'd want to write to a DVD while copying something off it at the same time - that's what USB flash drives are for.

DVD-RAM discs are a huge benifit to those who own certain DVD Recorders for TV's. That's where the read/write ability would be a huge advantage - but even now, most DVD-Recorder's come with hard drives, so you'd never really need to have to use a RAM disc.

Is it possible then to use a USB flash drive as extra RAM?

The only reason im looking into this is because i want to see if the speed bump of extra RAM is worth it now, or whether i can wait till summer and a job.

 

[kolax]

Ohh I see what you mean. DVD-RAM discs are not the kind of RAM you put into your computer.

Vista allows you to use USB Flash drives as extra RAM, afaik OSX doesn't. Leopard doesn't have this function to my knowledge although someone could clarify that.

Best thing to do to see if you do actually need more RAM is to open up the Activity Monitor found in Utilities. Click on System Memory and look at it when you are running all the applications you normally would. If there is not much free RAM/unactive RAM available, then you'd probably want to consider a RAM upgrade.