Great superdrive alternative

[breakfast]

Does this LG drive work with the MBA?

Can anyone comment on the LG GP08NU20?

They have a black and a white version and the comments on Amazon are somewhat ambiguous.

What matters to me is

-does it work with the current MBA? ...it apparently does the job for the mini...
-can you boot from it?
-does it run on one USB connection only (i.e. power+data)?
-does it "deliver sound"?

 

[stoconnell]

Can anyone comment on the LG GP08NU20?

They have a black and a white version and the comments on Amazon are somewhat ambiguous.

What matters to me is

-does it work with the current MBA? ...it apparently does the job for the mini...
-can you boot from it?
-does it run on one USB connection only (i.e. power+data)?
-does it "deliver sound"?

Newegg.com does a nice thing and usually tells you what's in the box and often tend to have more photos. In this case, there's a photo showing a typical USB Y-cable, so it likely won't work with just a single USB connection for data and power. I know the Plextor PX610U will send audio over USB interface (tested with a CD when I bought it).

 

[breakfast]

Thanks!

Too bad I can't get the Plextor PX-610U in Europe. Seems to be the ideal drive.
BTW, there seems to be two Plextor PX-610U versions. PX-610U and PX-610U for Mac. Yours is the Mac-version, correct?

edit: Just read the specs, so what's the deal with the built-in battery? Never heard of anything like that. Is that the reason why this particular model doesn't need external power... because it sucks juice from a battery...?!

 

[stoconnell]

Thanks!

Too bad I can't get the Plextor PX-610U in Europe. Seems to be the ideal drive.
BTW, there seems to be two Plextor PX-610U versions. PX-610U and PX-610U for Mac. Yours is the Mac-version, correct?

edit: Just read the specs, so what's the deal with the built-in battery? Never heard of anything like that. Is that the reason why this particular model doesn't need external power... because it sucks juice from a battery...?!

I didn't bother with the Mac-version as the only difference seemed to bundled software (I think they relicensed something Mac-specific). I have Disk Utility. I don't actually burn discs all that often, so it was not terribly appealing to me. The U might be for US (DVD region-specific *****), maybe there's a different model PX-610 or a follow on that you can get there.

 

[stoconnell]

I didn't bother with the Mac-version as the only difference seemed to bundled software (I think they relicensed something Mac-specific). I have Disk Utility. I don't actually burn discs all that often, so it was not terribly appealing to me. The U might be for US (DVD region-specific *****), maybe there's a different model PX-610 or a follow on that you can get there.

Of course, the U is probably USB

Poking around there is also a

http://www.plextor-digital.com/index.php/en/Portable-DVD+/-RW/px-608cu.html

which may be available across the pond, etc. This model is listed as "In stock" on amazon.co.uk

 

[breakfast]

Oh good, thanks.

And what's the deal with the battery? Any ideas?

 

[breakfast]

Hello,
I'm still wondering about the built-in battery. Is this battery the reason why this drive doesn't need external power? Thanks.

Thanks!

Too bad I can't get the Plextor PX-610U in Europe. Seems to be the ideal drive.
BTW, there seems to be two Plextor PX-610U versions. PX-610U and PX-610U for Mac. Yours is the Mac-version, correct?

edit: Just read the specs, so what's the deal with the built-in battery? Never heard of anything like that. Is that the reason why this particular model doesn't need external power... because it sucks juice from a battery...?!

 

[drummerlondonw3]

Yes, as some of us were discussing, why not buy an external Blu Ray reader which is DVD/CD backwards compatible. <snip>

this has to be the sanest option. Especially with an Air where the lack of HD/SSD space could be offset by BR discs (if needed)

 

[godslabrat]

I'm almost positive I'm getting the MBA when the next revision hits. As such, I'm going to need *some* optical drive solution, and I agree with the posters that say a non-Apple external BluRay drive would be best. Although I wouldn't use the drive much, I would most certainly use it for BluRay, and the option to plug it into another computer that lacks a Blu drive seals the deal.

I am thankful for this thread, because although I know what type of drive to get, I have not yet decided on a specific model.

 

[stoconnell]

Oh good, thanks.

And what's the deal with the battery? Any ideas?

Not sure really. I can tell you that I was able to install Snow Leopard from the unit (PX-610U) only plugged into the USB port on the Air -- in fact, there isn't even a port to plug a wall wart into it. I have to say it did what I wanted it to do, and I have the ability to use it on another type of machine should the need arise.

 

[breakfast]

Bought this drive (Transcend) and am disappointed.

While it is a neat product, small but not flimsy at all, no issues with power, one USB connection perfectly ok for both data and power, it has one major flaw that makes it unusable for me:

Whenever you eject a CD/DVD and put a new one in, Finder doesn't refresh.
No chance to to access the contents of the new disc.
No matter if you press the eject button on the actual drive or if you click on the small triangle next to the drive entry in the left pane of the Finder window. It simply doesn't show you the new content. Fat chance.
(Btw. clicking on the triangle makes the drive go away completely and you're left with unplugging it and plugging it in again.)

Has anyone else ever experienced something like this with a 3rd party device?

Thanks.

 

[i7QuadCoreMania]

I did the superdrive hack for my 10v originally, but use it for my ultimate 13" mba now here are some pics

http://s296.photobucket.com/albums/mm184/r32-1163/SuperDrive%20Hack/

 

[thinkdesign]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows CE; IEMobile 8.12; MSIEMobile6.0) Sprint T7380)

The $100. price the OP cites, was the price of the SuperDrive for the previous three generations of the Air.

The new Air's model of SuperDrive is $80.

(And, it can be covered under the AppleCare warranty extension, if you get the SupeDrive on the same receipt as the Air. Which was a struggle for me earlier this week, as the store's computer didn't want to recognise a 3rd item on the receipt. Had to call the manager over..... There's an apple.com or store.apple.com policy page on what all can be included under the coverage of an AppleCare policy at no extra cost, if bought at same time as the computer.)

 

[i7QuadCoreMania]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows CE; IEMobile 8.12; MSIEMobile6.0) Sprint T7380)

The $100. price the OP cites, was the price of the SuperDrive for the previous three generations of the Air.

The new Air's model of SuperDrive is $80.

I also noticed the price change when I ordered my BTO 13" air, but ignored it as thought it was some discount for buying it together with the Air, although I was surpised to see the new price reflect in the store buying separately as well.

Is there any hardware changes with the old air drive and the new? model # change?

 

[breakfast]

...
Is there any hardware changes with the old air drive and the new? model # change?

Different topic. Look here, where btw you can see that they cost the same.

 

[breakfast]

Issue with 3rd party product - SuperDrive alternative

Anyone with this issue?

Bought this drive (Transcend) and am disappointed.

While it is a neat product, small but not flimsy at all, no issues with power, one USB connection perfectly ok for both data and power, it has one major flaw that makes it unusable for me:

Whenever you eject a CD/DVD and put a new one in, Finder doesn't refresh.
No chance to to access the contents of the new disc.
No matter if you press the eject button on the actual drive or if you click on the small triangle next to the drive entry in the left pane of the Finder window. It simply doesn't show you the new content. Fat chance.
(Btw. clicking on the triangle makes the drive go away completely and you're left with unplugging it and plugging it in again.)

Has anyone else ever experienced something like this with a 3rd party device?

Thanks.