Multiburner

Message

marko · #1 Post by **marko** » Tue Mar 08, 2005 2:11 pm

What is going on with this multiburner for t-series?

1. Only 2x...upgrades anytime soon?

2. Price...how can I justify paying so much when I could buy a different brand for less and better performance, however at cost of not having it inside my laptop, perhaps not that terrible.

Thank you

Marko

stgreek · #2 Post by **stgreek** » Tue Mar 08, 2005 2:45 pm

marko wrote:What is going on with this multiburner for t-series?

1. Only 2x...upgrades anytime soon?

2. Price...how can I justify paying so much when I could buy a different brand for less and better performance, however at cost of not having it inside my laptop, perhaps not that terrible.

Thank you

Marko

1. I believe you are talking about the T4x multiburner, since the T2x one exists (from OEMs) in higher speeds. As for the T4x one, it is unfortunately not in IBM's judgement, as they get the drives from Panasonic and the only 9.5mm drive atm is 2x. It is however one of the main requests from thinkpad users, we can only hope they do something about it.

2. You cannot. Along with the hardrives when they are directly from IBM and the docking station, this is the most overpriced IBM accessory. The only reason I got is is that I found it at a great price on ebay (~$200 new), otherwise it is simply not worth it. Save your money for something more useful such as HD or RAM and get an external burner.

Hope this helps
Stavros

zver17 · #3 Post by **zver17** » Tue Mar 08, 2005 4:29 pm

i also agree - $300 for a slow shabby burner is ridiculous. ditto for the $400 dockII (cheaper on ebay), except at least the dock is not blatantly substandard.

MadeInJapan · #4 Post by **MadeInJapan** » Tue Mar 08, 2005 8:05 pm

I agree completely about the T4* series multi-burners. Only 2 drives fit the Ultrabay slim slot...and both are Panasonic (UJ-812 and UJ-822), and little can be done about these over-priced shams.

When I was in Akihabara last month (electronic section of Tokyo) where all of the newest stuff comes out, I searched long and hard for a 9.5mm drive that will fit the T4* series. I couldn't find any. What I did find instead were a slew of very nice, fast and versitile burners at decent prices in external USB2.0 cases. I was told to give up on the internal drive and go with an external. I tend to agree with that at this point in the T4*'s history.

Fortunately for me and my T30's Ultrabay2000, the 12.7mm drive fits and there are some really wonderful alternatives, such as the NEC ND-6500A which can be got from NewEgg for $129 plus shipping. This drive can be made region free and burns +/- at 8X with Bit-setting or book-typing capability. Only drawback to not using the Panasonic drives (same goes for the T4* series), is that many drives can't burn DVD-RAM where the Panasonics can.

So, if you own a Tseries Thinkpad (whether it be T2*, T3* or T4*) and your concern is burning DVD-RAM for data storage, then best bet is to stick with the Panasonics...otherwise, they aren't worth it.

Me for one am not intersted in DVD-RAM for data storage. I'm interested instead in burning viewable movies on +R discs set as -ROM booktype for the most compatible disks that play in any machine.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

Leon · #5 Post by **Leon** » Tue Mar 08, 2005 8:12 pm

The NEC ND-6500A is down to $119 at Newegg...

Marko, welcome to our forum. Please add location and other pertinent information to your profile. Not required, but appreciated. (This goes for the rest of you too

).

MadeInJapan · #6 Post by **MadeInJapan** » Tue Mar 08, 2005 9:21 pm

Leon...great news for the T2* and T3* owners as well s the X3* with UltraBase. This little drive is incredible and the faceplate is easily altered to fit the Ultrabay2K!

Leon · #7 Post by **Leon** » Tue Mar 08, 2005 9:24 pm

MadeInJapan, what is your recommendation for an external drive for us T42 owners? (and Thanks 4 the location info

).

MadeInJapan · #8 Post by **MadeInJapan** » Tue Mar 08, 2005 9:54 pm

I'm not really sure, Leon for slimmer drives. If you want to build your own, and don't mind a full size DVDRW, I would recommend a NEC ND-3520. (about $60 on the web now...I believe also at NewEgg). There is excellent firmware for it to be found at www.cdfreaks.com that enables it to be type-set. this burner does 16X with ease with both +/- formats. (I bought one for my school and we've been well please with it.) I would then buy a USB2.0 box to put it in. You'll most likely have to power this guy up separately from the USB (would depend on the enclosure), but not really sure about that. Also, if you go this route, you'll have to flash the drive's firmware inside of a desktop before using it in the enclosure.

What I noticed in Akihabara were somewhat slim NEC, Pioneer, LiteOn and Hitachi DVDRW's already packed away in neat slim USB2.0 enclosures, and the Japanese were buying these like crazy. I wish I had more time to write down model numbers to compare to what is over here but I didn't.

I really used to like LiteOn drives, but the newer models they have come out with (12 and 16x) are not very good...at least those on the forums have complained of inconsistent burns. I personally have a couple of LiteOns...SOHW-415S and 815S (in mine and my son's desktops), both of these drives have had firmware upgrades, so they are recognized as SOHW-832S drives with very consistent 8X burning. Unfortunately, you won't find any of these 8X burners now in the stores unless you're really lucky. The newer 12X and 16x burners from LiteOn have been a dissapointment.

Benq and NEC seem to have a great following right now with their 8 and 16X burners, mainly because the price and quality are both really good.

Try this thread for info on external DVDRW drives:
http://club.cdfreaks.com/showthread.php ... =USB+DVDRW

Maybe I should build some external USB2.0 burners and sell them in the 4Sale section? Would anyone be interested in these if I could guarantee no DOA and good burning results?

BTW, I have heard that these are pretty good (LaCie brand is gaining acceptance): http://www.digitallyunique.com/300785.html
Don't know anything about these:
http://www.pcmall.com/pcmall/shop/detai ... 512198.asp
Or these (Sony...internals are made by LiteOn):
http://www.buy.com/prod/SONY_Branded_16 ... 85440.html

Also a whole slew of external drives here:
http://www.nextag.com/buyer/outpdir.jsp ... rnal+dvdrw

dfumento · #9 Post by **dfumento** » Tue Mar 08, 2005 11:06 pm

From my readings, it appears USB 2 can only go about 15MBytes/sec and for 16X DVD burns you need the 23-24MBytes/sec provided by the Firewire a to get a full 16X DVD burn.

MadeInJapan · #10 Post by **MadeInJapan** » Tue Mar 08, 2005 11:39 pm

I think you are correct. What I've read also is that 8X and if lucky, 12X is about all that you can expect for an external USB2 drive, even if it is rated 16X. This is still much much better than what is currently available internally for the T4* series.

marko · #11 Post by **marko** » Wed Mar 09, 2005 11:47 am

Thanks for the welcome and the replies.

Sorry for the confusion. The first note referred to the 2x recording for the multiburner plus (same price as multiburner?) not the T series model.

Glad I'm not the only one who thinks it's not too reasonable (300 bucks plus tax...hmm...) specially since the burning speed is not the greatest (however it is a laptop model).

I'm still stuck on the idea of having everything in one, without the need to drag with me accessories (kind of defeats the whole light, slim, portable laptop idea), however, this at the current price level does not seem too viable.

External seems to way to go, within some sort of enclosure, or perhaps a slimmer ext. version but those are pricey too.

Myung · #12 Post by **Myung** » Wed Mar 09, 2005 12:59 pm

Hello,

My T30 with dock has only CD-RW drive, and I've been thinking of buying DVD-ROM at ebay for about $40~$50. But, why not spend more and try NEC-6500A?

Does it work to use the facelift or bezel in CD-RW drive for NEC-6500A? And is it an easy job to do?

If someone has tried this and can share his/her experiences, I would appreciate it.

skuehne · #13 Post by **skuehne** » Wed Mar 09, 2005 1:35 pm

I think the slow DVD writer is one of the very few flaws of the otherwise superb T4x series. IBM is usually cutting edge in terms of hardware, so I don't really understand why they opted for this outdated and overpriced solution. It's certainly possible to design a case that is equally thin and accommodates a decent DVD writer, e.g. Apple's 15" and 17" PowerBooks.

Well, let's hope things will change with the next major update of the T series (no, I don't mean the T43, it still has that crappy 2x writer ...)

Sven

MadeInJapan · #14 Post by **MadeInJapan** » Wed Mar 09, 2005 11:17 pm

Hi Myung. Glad to see you are also a T30 person like me. I just installed the NEC 6500A in my T30. Unfortunately the light and eject buttons of the original drive in the Ultrabay2K does not line up with the NEC drive. So, you have to do "surgery" on the faceplate of the NEC. I've done a few of these, including the Panasonic UJ-815 which was much easier...softer plastic.

Anyway, here's what you do:
1. First, with the tray closed, take something sharp and score (or mark) the inside of the faceplate along the outline of the drive itself. When you do this, you'll see that it is a small rectangular section that you will need to remove. the outline of the drive itself is what exactly fits the Ultrabay2K (Ultrabay2000).
2. The faceplate of the 6500A just snaps on the drive, so by opening the tray and turning the drive upside down with the tray sliding away from you, you can grab the right side of the faceplate and pull it away from the drive. It will snap off from the right...then the rest of the faceplate comes right off. be careful that you don't depress or bend the outside casing of the drive while you're holding it with one hand and unclipping the faceplate with the other.
3. Last, you will need to set the faceplate down on a magazine or something that is stable, but firm and at the same time won't scratch the outer surface of the faceplate. Here, you'll see where you scored the faceplate (scratched it). You'll be cutting alond this scratch or scored lines.
4. Be careful that you don't bend or break the plastic clips. I use a straight edge razor, like is used in the old timey barber shops for a clean shave. The blade is very sharp but the other edge (facing you) is thicker and won't cut you. I use a small hammer or hard object and with the knife in place on the scored line, gently hammer downward on the blade. This works very well but will take time. In the end you will get a very clean cut into the plastic and finally all the way through the plastic.
5. If you have a dremmel tool you can touch up the edge where you have cut the small rectangular piece of plastic off of the faceplate.
6. Snap the faceplate back onto the drive and add the plastic frame for the Ultrabay2K and you're finished!

The above is what I did successfully. It took me about 30 minutes to do a very good clean job that doesn't look like the faceplate is altered but instead, as if the faceplate was made for the Ultrabay2K to begin with.

Good luck!

bapatterson · #15 Post by **bapatterson** » Thu Mar 10, 2005 1:57 am

skuehne wrote:IBM is usually cutting edge in terms of hardware . . .

I beg to differ. IBM is usually quite behind the curve on new technology. What they are ahead of the curve on is reliability. IBM waits until a technology is stable before installing it. Fine with me. I want it to work.

skuehne · #16 Post by **skuehne** » Thu Mar 10, 2005 9:26 am

bapatterson wrote:IBM is usually quite behind the curve on new technology.

Fingerprint readers, shock sensors, security system? Behind the curve? Nah!

Fine with me. I want it to work.

Same here. Reliability and good service is why I'm using ThinkPads.

Sven

Myung · #17 Post by **Myung** » Thu Mar 10, 2005 10:26 am

Hello, MadeInJapan,

Thanks a lot for detailed explanation. It takes more than what I have thought. But, I think this will be my weekend project sometime in the future.

Thank you.

vovus · #18 Post by **vovus** » Thu Mar 10, 2005 12:46 pm

may be i miss some, but what means 4x max:

ThinkPad T43p

Model Name: 2668G2G
Part Number: UC3G2xx

Optical device
Optical device: DVD Recordable
Optical device speed8: 4X Max
Device interface: EIDE

kevinlwu · #19 Post by **kevinlwu** » Thu Mar 10, 2005 2:32 pm

http://www-132.ibm.com/webapp/wcs/store ... &storeId=1

and someone on ebay is selling these...

Leon · #20 Post by **Leon** » Thu Mar 10, 2005 2:44 pm

But STILL only writes at 2.4X!!!

DaveO · #21 Post by **DaveO** » Thu Mar 10, 2005 5:29 pm

Myung wrote:Hello,

My T30 with dock has only CD-RW drive, and I've been thinking of buying DVD-ROM at ebay for about $40~$50. But, why not spend more and try NEC-6500A?

Does it work to use the facelift or bezel in CD-RW drive for NEC-6500A? And is it an easy job to do?

If someone has tried this and can share his/her experiences, I would appreciate it.

I use the Panasonic and Pioneer slot loads in my T30s without a problem,
i also found the H.L 4080B to be an alternative to the Panasonic if you like RAM.
Being an H.L brand (Hitachi/LG) the buttons on the fascia of my original Thinkpad H.L Combo drive line up,
so no cutting involved. It burns RAM at 3x and -R, + R at 8x. They have been going very cheap new on ebay.
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll ... 28989&rd=1
The RPC1 firmware is listed as beta at the moment but it looks hopeful for this drive.

MadeInJapan · #22 Post by **MadeInJapan** » Thu Mar 10, 2005 7:04 pm

Nice drive I'm sure, but wish the faceplate was black and not white...still would need altering.

DaveO · #23 Post by **DaveO** » Thu Mar 10, 2005 7:29 pm

MadeInJapan wrote:Nice drive I'm sure, but wish the faceplate was black and not white...still would need altering.

White? wheres that? I guess its a foggy picture....
Mine was delivered black. The idea is to use the original IBM faceplate anyway.

MadeInJapan · #24 Post by **MadeInJapan** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 8:53 am

In regards to the NEC ND-6500, I have found a guy in China who sent me 2 IBM faceplates...I actually only paid for one but he sent 2 by mistake. I need to either send him $ for the extra one or send it back. It would be a shame to lose this opportunity to have one of these if I have to send it back to him. It is a perfect fit. The guy who sold me these faceplates is also the guy who's selling the ND-6500 on eBay with the ThinkPad faceplate for crazy $$ (way too expensive), and he's told me that I won't be getting any more of these because it is bad for his business.

So, I offer one of these faceplates up to someone here if they want it. Please PM me about it.

Also, I have one modified faceplate for the same drive (the one I cut...it looks good) that works well. I want to sell it to someone who doesn't want to cut their own. Let me know. I can let this go for half of the other.

beeblebrox · #25 Post by **beeblebrox** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 2:54 pm

The problem with the T4x series is that IBM got burned by being ahead of the curve and using the newest slimline drives.

Unfortunately the notebook industry is 12.7mm and therefore almost nobody does the slimline drives. Therefore the high prices, because there is not sufficient volume production.

I wish there would be an R60 thinkad, that has the height and feel of the good ol´ T2x series and could use all standard drives.

The new Toshiba drive (8x DVD double layer and slot-in) seems to be an excellent choice. Of course, only in 12.7mm.

Further what I don't understand: if you look at the T4x drive, there is a 2mm gap. Which is necessary for the 2nd HDD drive option. So, in total I saved 1mm height and thereby lost all industry standard drive options.

maybe someone at IBM could explain this paradox to me.

Ted_E · #26 Post by **Ted_E** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 3:03 pm

[quote="marko"]What is going on with this multiburner for t-series?

1. Only 2x...upgrades anytime soon?

2. Price...how can I justify paying so much when I could buy a different brand for less and better performance, however at cost of not having it inside my laptop, perhaps not that terrible.

You didn't say which TP. I have the multiburner plus (model 73P3312) in my T23. It is *much* better than that..

Highline · #27 Post by **Highline** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 4:28 pm

I paid for the multiburner because...

#1 - I am lazy.

#2 - I dont want the hassle of carrying around an external one.

#3 - The cost is worth satisfying my lazyness

kanate · #28 Post by **kanate** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 4:55 pm

I have this one
http://www.lacie.com/products/product.htm?pid=10515

It's so small, slim and the best part is no need for ac adapter, it can run from USB power. The price is good also (retail at $199)

MadeInJapan · #29 Post by **MadeInJapan** » Fri Mar 25, 2005 2:40 pm

LaCie has a great reputation...how fast does it actually burn a DVD? Will it ACTUALLY do 8X? My NEC is suppose to, but I find when I time it, the average is only about 6X, and it's internal

kanate · #30 Post by **kanate** » Fri Mar 25, 2005 4:01 pm

Last time I burn movie on DVD+R, Nero show it as 8x burning. I didn't really time it, though

Multiburner

Multiburner

Re: Multiburner

4Õ max

Re: Multiburner

Who is online