Thinkpads Forum

I was wondering if there are any new slimbay DVD/CD-RW combo drives available yet? I have a T42 with a 2x DVDRW drive, and I was wondering if there have been any faster models out, or if there are any plans for any?
If no, I guess my best bet is to get an external model. Any suggestions on current drives, or should I wait for newer ones? Im leaving in July for Japan and will be taking my T42 with me to spend the year, so that's my time frame.

Thanks!

-Antioch

If you want a multi-burner (apparently what you have) then you don't have a choice. If you want a DVD/CDRW then there are a few. However, if you're going to Japan, I'd recommend you go down to the electronic town (Akihabara) section of Tokyo when you get there. If you're going to find choices, there is where they will be first, before they hit the market over here. I was there twice over the past 6 months or so. What I found is that everyone is going to external burners. This might ultimately be your best choice after all.

Antioch wrote:I was wondering if there are any new slimbay DVD/CD-RW combo drives available yet? I have a T42 with a 2x DVDRW drive, and I was wondering if there have been any faster models out, or if there are any plans for any?
If no, I guess my best bet is to get an external model. Any suggestions on current drives, or should I wait for newer ones? Im leaving in July for Japan and will be taking my T42 with me to spend the year, so that's my time frame.

Thanks!

-Antioch

I bought a 73P3312. That's 4x on DVD-RW. Go to http://www.ibm.com and enter that model number in the search box. Scroll down and click on #2 for the whole spec.
"
Now reads and writes to DVD+R and DVD+RW in addition to reading and writing to CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R, DVD-RW and DVD-RAM media.
"

Ted_E wrote: I bought a 73P3312. That's 4x on DVD-RW. Go to http://www.ibm.com and enter that model number in the search box. Scroll down and click on #2 for the whole spec.
"
Now reads and writes to DVD+R and DVD+RW in addition to reading and writing to CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R, DVD-RW and DVD-RAM media.
"

Unfortunately that drive won't fit in the T4x series since its for the Multibay Enhanced not the Multibay Slim. The new drive for the T4x series now also writes to dvd+rw as well as the -rw. But only at 2x for -rw and 2.4x for +rw

http://www-132.ibm.com/webapp/wcs/store ... rId=201230

TERESA!

Out early for good behavior?

Regards,

James

(Ducking and Running!!!)

tselling wrote:

Ted_E wrote: I bought a 73P3312. That's 4x on DVD-RW. Go to http://www.ibm.com and enter that model number in the search box. Scroll down and click on #2 for the whole spec.
"
Now reads and writes to DVD+R and DVD+RW in addition to reading and writing to CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R, DVD-RW and DVD-RAM media.
"

Unfortunately that drive won't fit in the T4x series since its for the Multibay Enhanced not the Multibay Slim. The new drive for the T4x series now also writes to dvd+rw as well as the -rw. But only at 2x for -rw and 2.4x for +rw

http://www-132.ibm.com/webapp/wcs/store ... rId=201230

How sure are you of that? I boudght one for my T23. It comes with an "adapter" so it can be used in the Ultrabay 2000. Without the adapter it's supposed to fit the slim bay. From the IBM site:
"Simplify! One drive to burn CDs and DVDs. Now reads and writes to DVD+R and DVD+RW media. With the ThinkPad Multi-Burner Plus Ultrabay Slim Drive you can archive and access data, video, photo and music files on high capacity DVDs or inexpensive CDs. It is compatible with ThinkPad notebooks featuring the Ultrabay Slim modular bay and can be used in other ThinkPad notebooks and docks with Ultrabay 2000 modular bays when combined with the optional Slim Drive Adapter for Ultrabay 2000."

you are correct about an adapter to use in Ultrabay2000, etc., but the T40 series (T41, 42 and a assume the new T43) all use a 9.5mm (height) drive where as all the ones you mention in you post are 12.7mm. It's just physically impossible to fit 12.7mm into a 9.5mm space.

Good luck