Can iDVD be used with external DVD burners?

[James Steele]

Can you use iDVD from Apple with a non-Apple DVD burner? If so, what brands will work? I have an older G4 upgraded to 1.5Ghz that does not have a SuperDrive and I'd like to see if I can add this capability without buying a new machine just yet.

James

[buddhabelly]

Originally posted by James Steele:
Can you use iDVD from Apple with a non-Apple DVD burner? If so, what brands will work? I have an older G4 upgraded to 1.5Ghz that does not have a SuperDrive and I'd like to see if I can add this capability without buying a new machine just yet.

James

Yes. Pioneer models are your best bet as that is what often ships in macs. Some had sonys, but I can say that my G5 has a pioneer. I think the first superdrives were pioneer 103 something or other.

Be aware that a cheap DVD burner at say, office depot, often have the same guts as higher priced models. I once found one no-name brand that was actually a pioneer drive, and was $150 cheaper.

As for external drive, I don't 'think' they are supported. If they are, I'm sure that the sellers would say so, at least if they were mac oriented like Lacie, or OWC. I know that Lacie or maybe Formac originally made a little app. that worked around external drive compatibily, but Apple kabashed that quickly.

You could peruse forums at macnn.com or xceler8yourmac.com

<small>[ January 27, 2005, 08:53 PM: Message edited by: buddhabelly ]</small>