A31 Matshita DVD-ROM SR-8177

[rnfolsom]

When my wife's IBM Thinkpad A31's systemboard failed, after comparing the cost of systemboard replacement ($500 for the board plus about $250 labor), it turned out to make more sense to get a new-to-her refurbished Thinkpad A31.

Her old A31 was a 2652-C4U (15" XGA screen, Mobile Pentium IV 1.6GHz) with a Teac CD read and write CDs capability; her new A31 is a 2653-PU9 (same specs except for a 1.9Ghz chip) with a Matshita DVD-ROM SR-8177.

I don't know anything about computer DVDs. I gather that this Matshita unit can read or play both DVDs but also CDs (at least audio).

But can it write anything? If not, since she wants to be able to distribute pictures on CDs, then I think I need to swap out the Matshita unit in exchange for the Teac.

Is that conclusion correct?

Thanks for any help.

Roger Folsom

________________________________________

P.S.: One complication is that since her old machine's hard drive was not damaged, and neither she nor I wanted me to set up Windows again (Win2k) and reinstall all of her software, customize the start menu, etc., , the shop simply swapped the old A31's hard drive into the new A31.

When I realized that the new machine had a DVD drive rather than a CD drive, I was surprised that Device manager thought the DVD unit was working properly, since there hadn't been any "Windows is installing new hardware" message on bootup. The Matshita did play music, but I didn't have a DVD available for a test.

If anyone reading this has any information about the A31 2653 PU9, I'd appreciate any information I can get. I have a "Tawbook" that describes withdrawn models (A, T, X, and G series, 2000 to May 2005), but the A31 2653 PU9 isn't listed, perhaps because it wasn't withdrawn (which I assume means production stopped) until after May 2005.

[Kendas]

By the specs listed below the drive is DVD & CD read only.

Panasonic / M a t s u s h i t a SR-8177-M 8X/24X DVD-ROM Notebook Drive (SR8177-M / SR-8177M / SR8177M / SR-8177 / SR8177)

Description:
Slim Tray Load DVD-ROM Drive from Panasonic supports DVD-ROM reading, and can also read DVD-RAM and DVD-R! This is a slim tray load drive designed for notebook PCs or slim servers.

Features:

* UDMA33 Support
* mini-IDE (for Notebook PC)

Specifications:

Interface: mini-IDE (for Notebooks)
Reading Format Support: DVD-ROM
CD-ROM
DVD-RAM
DVD-R (read only)
Reading Speeds: DVD-ROM: 8x max
CDROM: 24x max
DVD-RAM: 1x max
DVD-R: 1x max
Disc Loader: Tray Load
Dimensions: 128x13x129mm (WxHxD)
Weight: 500g
Voltage: DC +5V ±5%

[rnfolsom]

Kendas:

Thanks very much for confirming that.

Roger Folsom