Adding external devices the easy way

[Jason Dunn]

<a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00004Y2P5/jasonsego">http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00004Y2P5/jasonsego</a><br /><br />In my continuing quest to find useful tools for the book, I had requested a few items from ADS Technology. One of them was an external drive kit. The concept is that you can plug a hard drive in and it will bridge to your computer over Firewire. I didn't really clue in until I got it that you could add ANY sort of drive - CD/R, DVD-R, etc. Brilliant!<br /><br /><img src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00004Y2P5.01.MZZZZZZZ.jpg" /><br /><br />I was at Costco today, and they had the Panasonic LF-D321U <a href="http://service.bfast.com/bfast/click?siteid=39648844&bfpage=search_box&bfmid=19187551&Operator=2&linkin_id=2054462&keyword=panasonic lf-d321u">(search for the lowest price)</a> DVD burner there. What makes this drive interesting is that it supports DVD-R like the Pioneer A04, but it also supports DVD-RAM burning for data archiving. I wasn't sure how these two pieces of hardware would interact with my PC, but it worked like a charm. I mounted the DVD-R drive easily in the ADS case, plugged it into my laptop via an Adaptec PCMCIA Firewire adaptor, and I was off. Windows XP identified the DVD-RAM drive, and as I write this the 4.7 gig DVD-RAM disk is formatting in FAT32 format so I can use it like a hard drive. The entire process was smooth and painless.<br /><br />What a beautiful, beautiful thing.

[Jason Dunn]

Doesn't this just warm your heart? I finished formatting the DVD-RAM disc and was able to burn data to it easily - it's so cool that XP sees it as another hard drive!

[Rob Alexander]

That's a great idea for adding more drives if your IDE channels are already full. The only downside I've heard about these is that they appear not to get along with other Firewire devices for simulataneous access, like capturing DV directly to a drive mounted in this case. Whether that's a limitation of this device itself or the Firewire cards some people are using, I don't know, but it's good to be aware of the possibility.

[Jason Dunn]

Well, I haven't tried capturing video to it yet, but I am burning 4 gigs of video from a Firewire hard drive onto the DVD-RAM drive, also on Firewire. Talk about a torture test! With 8 minutes left to go, no problems so far. If this works, I don't see why a video capture capture wouldn't work.

[Jason Dunn]

Does anyone know much about DVD-RAM? I've tried formatting the DVD-RAM disc in FAT32 format, UDF 1.5, and UDF 2.0 - and my other Windows XP with a regular DVD-ROM drive can't read the disc in ANY of the formats. I thought XP had built-in UDF 1.5 support? I'm lost here - any advice?

[Janak Parekh]

Unfortunately, I don't think DVD-RAM disks are readable by most DVD-ROM drives.

After some searching I found http://www.fujifilmmediasource.com/dvdspec.asp?compat=1&hideimages=1. Knowing the DVD industry, I'm sure this is evolving, but it doesn't hold out well for your little project.

--bdj

[Jason Dunn]

Unfortunately, I don't think DVD-RAM disks are readable by most DVD-ROM drives.

Bloody hell! :evil: Thanks for confirming it at least.

[hyonj]

I'll second that. The DVD-RAM format is mainly used by businesses for storage. It can't be read by DVD-ROM or DVD-R/RW, or +RW either. It can only be read by another DVD-RAM drive. FYI, all the DVD-RAMs are not compatible either. It's kind of like th earlier versions of CD-R, they weren't all readable by other CD-Rs. :?

As for the external casing, you can find them cheaper at www.newegg.com. If one doesn't mind externals, they are a nice solution to laptops. :) When you sell the laptop, you don't have to upgrade and buy new peripherals.

[Jason Dunn]

As for the external casing, you can find them cheaper at www.newegg.com.

No doubt. But NewEgg doesn't have an affiliate program, and I'm thrilled when people support my site through my affiliate links like the Amazon one I used. Right? :wink:

[Terry]

Jason, et. al., take a look at the goodies here:
http://www.scsipro.com/catalog/pg22b_firewireidehotswapraid_2.htm
http://www.scsipro.com/images/1394raidboxonrock2.jpg

[Rob Alexander]

Well, I haven't tried capturing video to it yet, but I am burning 4 gigs of video from a Firewire hard drive onto the DVD-RAM drive, also on Firewire. Talk about a torture test! With 8 minutes left to go, no problems so far. If this works, I don't see why a video capture capture wouldn't work.

That's good news! Perhaps the problems people are having are from their Firewire cards and not from the box itself.

[entropy1980]

There are few DVD drives that will read DVD-RAM, Jason i have the same drive and setup and I love it, media prices are getting real cheap there are several vendors offering DVD-R media for $0.98 a disc in bulk of 50 which is soooooooo cheap! I use DVD-RAM to back up files like little 4.7 gig hard drives. It is still a trip to pull video off of my DV camera edit with premiere then dump on a DVD then watch. :D

[Will T Smith]

The micro 2.5" enclocures are even cooler.

Many run of bus power. Plug and play.

Firewire Rules.

[alex_kac]

First - Mac users have been able to do this sort of thing for about 10+ years :) Amazing how Windows XP can just do this now...

Anyhow, with Firewire, you can run multiple drives while burning, while grabbing video from a camcorder, etc... all simultaneously. HOWEVER, the issue is more that there are some Firewire chipsets that don't do this well, and some drivers (on Windows only) that assume that they are the only ones hooked up.

DVD-RAM is neat - but outdated. Just use a normal DVD-R or even DVD+R drive.

Just so you know what I'm using - a Firewire Oxford 911 chipset 2.5'' enclosure (Oxford 911 is the best I've seen in terms of compatibility and speed in Firewire chipsets) with a laptop 48GB drive (sine it handles being moved a lot better); a 5 and 1/4'' Oxford 911 chipset enclosure for my Pioneer DVD-R drive; and of course a Sony firewire DV camera. All work great. And I can use them simultaneously.

Also, seriously - if you do a lot of DVD-R burning, get the Apple DVD-R discs. They are about $1-3 per disc, and very high quality. I think Apple basically sells them at near cost to help them cement their lead in consumer video and as such, they are a great deal no matter what platform you use.

[st63z]

I agree, those 2.5" HDD enclosures are neato for portability. Get a nice one supporting (and bus powered off) both USB 2.0 and 1394a. Mass storage driver, screwless enclosure access, some sort of shock protection or rubber bumpers, optional bay-mounted IDE docking frame, all are nice features. (FYI I also use 3.5" trays/enclosures for all my desktop HDDs at home, too.) If you want to go smaller, there's a couple of fixed 1.8" HDD enclosures for USB and/or 1394 (SmartDisk makes one, if I recall). But then, you could always just get the PC Card form factor too :) Even smaller, I've seen USB/1394 enclosures for CF cards like the Microdrive. I've also been carrying SanDisk' free USB Cruzer for SD cards on my keychain...

BTW, when are we going to see >60GB laptop HDDs from Toshiba/IBM/Hitachi/Samsung? I've been eyeing IBM's (soon Hitachi's) 60GB 5400rpm 12.5mm Travelstar 60GH, but it's soo expensive, like two and a half times as much as the 40GB 4200rpm (9.5mm) Travelstar...

Anyways, I've been using a lot of Addonics parts (as if I haven't harped on that enough in the past), but as far as I know they don't sell an empty 5.25" enclosure (to house full-size CD drives), only kits with specific drives already installed. For serious portability though, I'd personally prefer one of those custom slimline CD drives anyways, though they tend to lag in speed and can be more expensive (but can usually be bus powered).

EDIT: I guess there aren't a lot of DVD+R(W) proponents here.. I feel so alone... :) We're a lot more prevalent in other corners of the net, though.

[Jason Dunn]

Alex...I'll never understand the Mac user need to "put down" PCs users by bragging about their platform at the expense of someone else. Here I am excited about something new that I can do, and you come in to arrogantly brag about what your Mac can do. It's low man, really low. :? I know you're a nice guy, so this surprises me quite a bit. :cry:

First - Mac users have been able to do this sort of thing for about 10+ years :) Amazing how Windows XP can just do this now...

Gee, really? Macs had DVD burners ten years ago? Wow...I guess that explains why they're so expensive. :roll: Macs adopted Firewire more quickly that PCs, but Compaq machines were shipping with DVD-R drives the same time the new iMacs were, so it's not like you have some claim to fame with it. Yes, Macs make good multi-media computers. So do Windows XP machines.

DVD-RAM is neat - but outdated. Just use a normal DVD-R or even DVD+R drive.

There's a reason why DVD-RAM is supported natively inside XP - it has some advantages that no other version of the DVD spec has, and having a drive that does both gives me an advantage. I can do DVD-R just like your Mac, and DVD-RAM, which your Mac cannot do.

Just so you know what I'm using - a Firewire Oxford 911 chipset 2.5'' enclosure (Oxford 911 is the best I've seen in terms of compatibility and speed in Firewire chipsets)

Funny, that's the same chipset that the ADS box has. Nothing special there. :-)

Also, seriously - if you do a lot of DVD-R burning, get the Apple DVD-R discs. They are about $1-3 per disc, and very high quality. I think Apple basically sells them at near cost to help them cement their lead in consumer video and as such, they are a great deal no matter what platform you use.

Have you checked the DVD newsgroups lately? There's a lot of buzz about the fact that Apple switched suppliers and their media isn't as good as it used to be - many people are abandoning it due to a very high bad burn ratio. I haven't bought any DVD-R media yet, but it won't be Apple (at least, not until I hear better things about it).

[st63z]

Let's all be friends and hold hands and sing together in harmony...

The tongue-in-cheek digs from the Macs fans here seem to have been done in good spirits (at least that's my take), it's one of those long-standing "wars" that by now have become something we can all laugh about :)

FWIW, I think (after his first sentence), Alex seriously just wanted to post about his own experience and personal recommendations to help add to the knowledge pool, which is what this is all about. I think he meant his post as a general-purpose help, but I can see how some people's views might have been affected by his first sentence (the Windows dig) and thus it colors their reading of the rest of his post.

Sorry if I'm not explaining my take on this very well (or if this is uncalled for)...

EDIT: The singing part may have been a bit much, maybe...

[krisbrown]

Oh no, another format war, when are they gonna learn?
Poetic that even someone as 'well read' as Jason:) didn't find out his RAM discs wouldn't play in an ordinary drive till he'd bought the thing.
The whole area is a mindfield, they're are gonna be a lot of dissapointed techies when they open their Christmas stockings this year.

[st63z]

http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=02/08/10/2017232&mode=thread&tid=137

D*mn these fits of insomnia that keep waking me...

P.S. I'm pro "+" and I hope it wins

[Jason Dunn]

Poetic that even someone as 'well read' as Jason:) didn't find out his RAM discs wouldn't play in an ordinary drive till he'd bought the thing.

Well, to be honest, I didn't really care - I bought it for the DVD-R features. The DVD-RAM was just a bonus. :D

[Gordo]

I also noticed the DVD Burner at Costco and like the idea of being able to have it mobile. I am in Canada and am wondering how do I use the affiliate link so that I can support the site?

Also, any estimates on shipping, duty, etc...

Gord
[email protected]