[Ti] Reasons to NOT buy 15" 867 MHz or 1Ghz Titanium?

[Rod Duncan]

Chris,

Since you asked.

Warning:  <RANT> My original foray into buying an external DVD burner 
was a bad experience with Formac and their Devideon product. 
Sub-standard customer service, poor tech support and crummy business 
practises coupled with a less-than-ideal case design and poor 
Devideon software (version 2) had me return and get stung with a 
surprise 20% restocking fee. I dealt with them directly on purchase 
and had NOT been informed of their 20% restocking fee at time of 
order. Obviously, I don't believe anyone should use this company or 
their products! <RANT OFF>

On to happier purchases and personal suggestions.

There is good news and even better prices since I purchased my 
external DVD setup only 6 months ago.

I ended up buying a bare Pioneer DVD-105 drive from ESBuy 
http://www.esbuy.com/piondv4xdvdr.html  (looks like they are 
currently $157 with free shipping. Way less than I paid just a couple 
of months ago. Assorted curses.) And an excellent external case from 
FW Depot. 
http://fwdepot.com/thestore/product_info.php?products_id=307 They 
currently have them on special for $104.95 + shipping.

Whereas Formac is still charging $399 for their poorly designed 
External Pioneer drive and wannabe Devideon software. 
http://www.formac.com/p_bin/?cid=solutions_drives_devideon

Hmmm... Let's do the math. $137.05 in your hip.

Heck, if you want a package deal with software LaCie's external drive 
comes with their CaptyDVD software and Toast Lite for $295. 
http://www.smalldog.com/product/44492/atdealsearch/ I haven't used 
this software or drive so can't recommend. I have had good success 
with LaCie over the years.

I have no affiliation with any software/hardware company.

Obviously... my opinions are entirely my own.

Trust this helps.

Rod

>Rod:
>
>Thank you very much for the detailed comments.
>
>I'm going to purchase the unit with the combo drive and am trying to 
>figure out how to get portable, dependable DVD capabilities.   Could 
>you please tell us more about the "external firewire case and [the] 
>Pioneer 4XDVD drive"? Where?  How much?  How does it work for you? 
>Etc.
>
>Thanks.
>
>
>
>Rod Duncan wrote:
>
>>Been following the thread and many valid comments.
>>
>>I have a 667 DVI combo drive with RAM upgraded to 768 Mb and the HD 
>>upgraded to a 5400 rpm 48 Gb. Kept the original 30 Gb and popped it 
>>into a portable external case. Recently, I purchased an external 
>>firewire case and a Pioneer 4X DVD drive for that capability. Do 
>>lots of video and find this machine great, if it doesn't drop 
>>frames it's fast enough for me. I had the original 400 Mhz Ti and 
>>the improvements from it to the 667 DVI are night and day. I'm 
>>going to spend a few hundred dollars next month (anniversary date) 
>>and get the extended Applecare.
>>
>>I've always treated my Powerbooks with extra-ordinary respect so 
>>the Ti case isn't and hasn't been an issue, touch wood. However, 
>>the differences from the original Ti to the 667 DVI were 
>>substantial so I'm sure the current, latest and greatest to the AI 
>>series is continuing in that trend.
>>
>>Personally,  I'm going to wait for the next... next generation with 
>>(hopefully) an IBM CPU driving it faster AND MUCH cooler.
>>
>>My less than 2¢.
>>
>>Rod


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