What CD drive does one buy for MacBook Pro? Just received a MacBook Pro. What is your suggestions for an external CD drive? I need to move photos from CDs to an external hard drive...

bedgmon Loc: Burleson, Texas

Just received a MacBook Pro. What is your suggestions for an external CD drive? I need to move photos from CDs to an external hard drive using the Mac. My Dell's motherboard bit the dust so I must purchase one hoping it doesn't cost the other "arm & a leg". Thanks in advance.
By the way, the learning curve has not been too bad.

BigBear Loc: Northern CT

I got an external G Drive for when I travel to keep a copy of my files. It uses firewire for it's power so no need for another power source.

http://www.g-technology.com/products/g-drive-mobile.cfm

bedgmon Loc: Burleson, Texas

BigBear wrote:

I got an external G Drive for when I travel to keep a copy of my files. It uses firewire for it's power so no need for another power source.

http://www.g-technology.com/products/g-drive-mobile.cfm

Thanks for the quick reply. I must not have stated my question very clearly. My intention is to use my 1T LaCie Rugged as the host to transfer old photo files that are currently on CD. I just need to be able to transfer them using a CD reader. I don't know what external to get. This should have already been done, but who would have thought that computers would do away with CD drives so quickly. (Same thing I thought about floppy drives.) Everything is going into the clouds. :)

EstherP

bedgmon wrote:

My intention is to use my 1T LaCie Rugged as the host to transfer old photo files that are currently on CD. I just need to be able to transfer them using a CD reader. I don't know what external to get. This should have already been done, but who would have thought that computers would do away with CD drives so quickly. (Same thing I thought about floppy drives.) Everything is going into the clouds. :)

Is there a built-in DVD reader? If so, I would expect it to be backwards compatible with CDs. I have three computers here whose specs state they have a DVD reader/writer. None of them will write to CD, but all three will read them.
EstherP

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

bedgmon wrote:

Just received a MacBook Pro. What is your suggestions for an external CD drive? I need to move photos from CDs to an external hard drive using the Mac. My Dell's motherboard bit the dust so I must purchase one hoping it doesn't cost the other "arm & a leg". Thanks in advance.
By the way, the learning curve has not been too bad.

Are you sure you want a CD drive as opposed to a DVD drive?

bedgmon Loc: Burleson, Texas

EstherP wrote:

quote=bedgmon My intention is to use my 1T LaCie ... (show quote)

No, unfortunately, their is nothing internally in the new MacBooks that will read a CD or DVD. :(

CaptainC Loc: Colorado, south of Denver

I have the Apple USB 3.0 SuperDrive and it works great. The LaCie DVD drives are also good and are less expensive. I have the LaCie CD/DVD drive that does the LightScribe thing for burning labels onto the LightScribe disks - also works great.

bedgmon Loc: Burleson, Texas

Mogul wrote:

bedgmon wrote:

Just received a MacBook Pro. What is your suggestions for an external CD drive? I need to move photos from CDs to an external hard drive using the Mac. My Dell's motherboard bit the dust so I must purchase one hoping it doesn't cost the other "arm & a leg". Thanks in advance.
By the way, the learning curve has not been too bad.

Are you sure you want a CD drive as opposed to a DVD drive?

No, not sure? I want one that will read either I believe. I have a few tutorials on DVD that I would like to keep. I'm a bit lost on what I want or need. I am computer challenged.

bedgmon Loc: Burleson, Texas

CaptainC wrote:

I have the Apple USB 3.0 SuperDrive and it works great. The LaCie DVD drives are also good and are less expensive. I have the LaCie CD/DVD drive that does the LightScribe thing for burning labels onto the LightScribe disks - also works great.

Thank you for looking into this. I will certainly check out the Apple USB 3.0 SuperDrive, but as much as this new computer has cost, I may be looking at the lesser of two weevils.

bedgmon Loc: Burleson, Texas

bedgmon wrote:

quote=EstherP quote=bedgmon My intention is to u... (show quote)

My goodness, you would think I was raised in a barn, I do know the difference between "there and their". So sorry.

Photographer Jim Loc: Rio Vista, CA

bedgmon wrote:

CaptainC wrote:

I have the Apple USB 3.0 SuperDrive and it works great. The LaCie DVD drives are also good and are less expensive. I have the LaCie CD/DVD drive that does the LightScribe thing for burning labels onto the LightScribe disks - also works great.

Thank you for looking into this. I will certainly check out the Apple USB 3.0 SuperDrive, but as much as this new computer has cost, I may be looking at the lesser of two weevils.

SuperDrive is only $79 with free shipping in Apple online store.

CaptainC Loc: Colorado, south of Denver

bedgmon wrote:

CaptainC wrote:

I have the Apple USB 3.0 SuperDrive and it works great. The LaCie DVD drives are also good and are less expensive. I have the LaCie CD/DVD drive that does the LightScribe thing for burning labels onto the LightScribe disks - also works great.

Thank you for looking into this. I will certainly check out the Apple USB 3.0 SuperDrive, but as much as this new computer has cost, I may be looking at the lesser of two weevils.

Then I think you will be happy with the LaCie drives at about 60-70% the price of the Apple unit.

Here are some more: http://www.macmall.com/s/Dvd-Ram-Rewritable?cc=6CA*&removedLicenseFilter=true

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

bedgmon wrote:

CaptainC wrote:

I have the Apple USB 3.0 SuperDrive and it works great. The LaCie DVD drives are also good and are less expensive. I have the LaCie CD/DVD drive that does the LightScribe thing for burning labels onto the LightScribe disks - also works great.

Thank you for looking into this. I will certainly check out the Apple USB 3.0 SuperDrive, but as much as this new computer has cost, I may be looking at the lesser of two weevils.

The LaCie DVD drives are among the best. I used several when I built my first RAID (Redundant Array if Independent Drives) system. Western Digital is better known for its hard drives, but also makes rugged DVD drives; they may be more difficult to find but will probably cost less. Note that WD's strongest selling point is its rugged portability, not its ease of use. Make sure whatever you buy is backwards compatible with your oldest HDD.

bedgmon Loc: Burleson, Texas

[quote=CaptainC]

bedgmon wrote:

CaptainC wrote:

I have the Apple USB 3.0 SuperDrive and it works great. The LaCie DVD drives are also good and are less expensive. I have the LaCie CD/DVD drive that does the LightScribe thing for burning labels onto the LightScribe disks - also works great.

Thank you for looking into this. I will certainly check out the Apple USB 3.0 SuperDrive, but as much as this new computer has cost, I may be looking at the lesser of two weevils.

Then I think you will be happy with the LaCie drives at about 60-70% the price of the Apple unit.

Please correct me if I am wrong, but are you telling me that I do not have to have Apple to run a DVD/CD on my machine, but can use an alternate? That sounds good.

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

[quote=bedgmon]

CaptainC wrote:

quote=bedgmon quote=CaptainC I have the Apple US... (show quote)

As long as you are producing files that will run on any computer you have and they are indexed by the same program, you can use any computer or transfer deck you can plug into. CAVEAT: Not having any personal experience, I would test both very old and very new operating systems for compatibility.