External DVD/CD drive compatability

adouble11 · adouble11 #1 (**permalink**)

03-04-2011, 10:17 AM

My optical drive doesn't work and I'm looking to get an external drive instead of replacing the internal drive. I've been searching websites for different drives, reading reviews and it seems as though Mac is really particular in which drives are compatable or not. I obviously want to make the right choice, so hopefully someone can assist.

I really don't care about DVD burning, but the option would be nice. It will mainly be used for installing different softwares, transfering data, music, watching DVDs and allowing my 6 yr old daughter to play games.

I'm not hurting for money, but I don't want to spend a God awful amount of money either....I just want something thats reliable and will work with my laptop. Best bang for the buck so to speak.

Also, I've noticed a lot of drives require 2 usb cables to be plugged in for it to power on. I don't really like that too much considering my laptop only has 2 USB plug ins and they are on opposite sides of the lap top.

I have an Aluminum Power Book G4 15" 1.67 Ghz. Running Leopard 10.5.8.

THANKS!!!

AA

adouble11 · adouble11 #2 (**permalink**)

03-04-2011, 01:51 PM

Please disregard. I noticed I posted this in the wrong forum. I'll repost in the Other Hardware forum. Sorry...

adouble11 · adouble11 #3 (**permalink**)

03-04-2011, 01:54 PM

My optical drive doesn't work and I'm looking to get an external drive instead of replacing the internal drive. I've been searching websites for different drives, reading reviews and it seems as though Mac is really particular in which drives are compatable or not. I obviously want to make the right choice, so hopefully someone can assist.

I really don't care about DVD burning, but the option would be nice. It will mainly be used for installing different softwares, transfering data, music, watching DVDs and allowing my 6 yr old daughter to play games.

I'm not hurting for money, but I don't want to spend a God awful amount of money either....I just want something thats reliable and will work with my laptop. Best bang for the buck so to speak.

Also, I've noticed a lot of drives require 2 usb cables to be plugged in for it to power on. I don't really like that too much considering my laptop only has 2 USB plug ins and they are on opposite sides of the lap top.

I have an Aluminum Power Book G4 15" 1.67 Ghz. Running Leopard 10.5.8.

THANKS!!!

AA

Aptmunich · Aptmunich #4 (**permalink**)

03-04-2011, 02:07 PM

In my experience nearly any external optical drive will work - mine has a separate power supply (which is a pain itself), which means it works with just a normal single USB cable.

Any of the major brands should just work.

chscag · chscag #5 (**permalink**)

03-04-2011, 02:15 PM

@adouble11

Please do not cross post. If you feel that you posted in the wrong forum, ask a moderator to move it for you.

adouble11 · adouble11 #6 (**permalink**)

03-04-2011, 02:22 PM

Too late chief...Sorry.

harryb2448 · harryb2448 #7 (**permalink**)

03-04-2011, 03:43 PM

And for the external to be bootable with your G4 you will need a Firewire optical drive. G4's will not boot from USB.

Aptmunich #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Mar 09, 2004 Location: Munich Posts: 9,075 Mac Specs: Aluminium Macbook 2.4 Ghz 4GB RAM, SSD 24" Samsung Display, iPhone 4, iPad 2	03-04-2011, 02:07 PM In my experience nearly any external optical drive will work - mine has a separate power supply (which is a pain itself), which means it works with just a normal single USB cable. Any of the major brands should just work. Mac-Forums Twitter \| Mac-Forums Blog My Twitter \| Jetplane Journal
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chscag #5 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 23, 2008 Location: Fort Worth, Texas Posts: 32,378 Mac Specs: 21.5" iMac 2.5 GHz i5, iPad 3rd Gen., 3 iPods	03-04-2011, 02:15 PM @adouble11 Please do not cross post. If you feel that you posted in the wrong forum, ask a moderator to move it for you. Community Guidelines
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harryb2448 #7 (permalink)
Member Since: Nov 28, 2007 Location: Nambucca Heads Australia Posts: 14,264 Mac Specs: iMac i5 2.7GHz OS X.8.3	03-04-2011, 03:43 PM And for the external to be bootable with your G4 you will need a Firewire optical drive. G4's will not boot from USB. *Hang on to those original install discs like grim death! Using OS X.7 or later make a bootable USB thumb drive before running Installer!*
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adouble11 #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Feb 24, 2010 Posts: 34	03-04-2011, 10:17 AM My optical drive doesn't work and I'm looking to get an external drive instead of replacing the internal drive. I've been searching websites for different drives, reading reviews and it seems as though Mac is really particular in which drives are compatable or not. I obviously want to make the right choice, so hopefully someone can assist. I really don't care about DVD burning, but the option would be nice. It will mainly be used for installing different softwares, transfering data, music, watching DVDs and allowing my 6 yr old daughter to play games. I'm not hurting for money, but I don't want to spend a God awful amount of money either....I just want something thats reliable and will work with my laptop. Best bang for the buck so to speak. Also, I've noticed a lot of drives require 2 usb cables to be plugged in for it to power on. I don't really like that too much considering my laptop only has 2 USB plug ins and they are on opposite sides of the lap top. I have an Aluminum Power Book G4 15" 1.67 Ghz. Running Leopard 10.5.8. THANKS!!! AA
	QUOTE Thanks

adouble11 #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Feb 24, 2010 Posts: 34	03-04-2011, 01:51 PM Please disregard. I noticed I posted this in the wrong forum. I'll repost in the Other Hardware forum. Sorry...
	QUOTE Thanks

adouble11 #6 (permalink)
Member Since: Feb 24, 2010 Posts: 34	03-04-2011, 02:22 PM Too late chief...Sorry.
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