Numberzz Posted October 8, 2007 Share Posted October 8, 2007 Today, Fastmac released an upgrade to the DVD drives in Apple's latest computers. The upgrade is a bit much for the average user, $1000, but if you're in the movie business this is a great choice. Fastmac is offering the Blu-Ray upgrade on a lot of recent(and not-so-recent) desktop and laptop computers. iBook G4 iMac G5 iMac Intel MacBook Pro (17-inch) Mac mini PowerBook G3 Pismo PowerBook G4 Titanium (667 Mhz or higher) PowerBook G4 Aluminum Full Story Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unix Posted October 8, 2007 Share Posted October 8, 2007 Are the displays set up for it? I mean, they cannot run native HD, right? Additionally, is there any software to decode or burn Blu-Ray discs yet? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mifki Posted October 8, 2007 Share Posted October 8, 2007 my mbp runs native full hd (MBP 17") Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yami Bakura Posted October 8, 2007 Share Posted October 8, 2007 Why isn't the MacBook on the list? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mebster Posted October 8, 2007 Share Posted October 8, 2007 No HD-DVD drives? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colonel Ingus Posted October 8, 2007 Share Posted October 8, 2007 OK you can quote me on this, when Leopard gets released all of the new SuperDrives will be Blu-Ray compatible, or they will have a Blu-Ray version. New Mac Pros will be released too... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unix Posted October 8, 2007 Share Posted October 8, 2007 my mbp runs native full hd (MBP 17") Ah, yes. I always forget about the behemoth! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cringemaster Posted October 8, 2007 Share Posted October 8, 2007 Cool. Just, who the hell will use blueray with a pismo? G3? cmon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colonel Ingus Posted October 8, 2007 Share Posted October 8, 2007 No HD-DVD drives? For a Mac? Macs are about high-end specs and performance. HD-DVD is geared toward the budget minded market. Compare the specs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glassJAw Posted October 8, 2007 Share Posted October 8, 2007 How would this work out on a 13inch screen? And would the Macbook be able to play HD on a external monitor? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gooly Posted October 8, 2007 Share Posted October 8, 2007 costly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Numberzz Posted October 8, 2007 Author Share Posted October 8, 2007 You cannot have these installed on the MacBooks for some reason. But you can on the old iBooks, so, it is probably something about the MacBook's optical drive. I think it is not the standard size. Correct me if I'm wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazzyyfool Posted October 8, 2007 Share Posted October 8, 2007 Why no MBP 15-incher? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cringemaster Posted October 8, 2007 Share Posted October 8, 2007 I guess when it comes to MacBooks, size matters. afaik, yeah, the macbooks and smaller 15 inch macbok pro use a much more compact optical drive, but it still surprises me that they would support such older hardware. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mebster Posted October 8, 2007 Share Posted October 8, 2007 For a Mac? Macs are about high-end specs and performance. HD-DVD is geared toward the budget minded market. Compare the specs Actually the real reason blu-ray is being offered is because Apple helped create it with Sony. So clearly you would use it also. Another reason would be because M$ is currently backing Toshiba's HD-DVD. But then again this is a third-party, right? So why do they care about the politics? And about the specs. The average HD-DVD is more advanced than the average blu-ray. Also a new HD-DVD format now is capable of storing more data then blu-rays. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colonel Ingus Posted October 8, 2007 Share Posted October 8, 2007 Apple helped create it with Sony. Do you have a link to verify any of this? I know that Apple is a supporter of Blu-ray, but I've never seen in print anywhere that they helped to actually create it. The average HD-DVD is more advanced than the average blu-ray. I think you've got that backwards. Check here a new HD-DVD format now is capable of storing more data then blu-rays. Not for very long. A new Blu-ray quad-layer format will hold over 100GB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vassillios Posted October 8, 2007 Share Posted October 8, 2007 Released today? this has been available on their site for some time now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ayanami Posted October 8, 2007 Share Posted October 8, 2007 =\ God I wish I could have high-def DVD on my 15" MBP..... That's a bummer.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taylor_C Posted October 8, 2007 Share Posted October 8, 2007 You cannot have these installed on the MacBooks for some reason. But you can on the old iBooks, so, it is probably something about the MacBook's optical drive. I think it is not the standard size. Correct me if I'm wrong. That's correct, the MacBook uses a special optical drive that's smaller and oddly shaped compared to the more standard ones used in the MacBook Pros. Regarding Blu Ray, while it may be great to have a drive, as far as I know, no software currently exists to actually play the discs. Apple's DVD Player certainly doesn't support it, though I'm not sure if it will or will not once Leopard arrives. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colonel Ingus Posted October 8, 2007 Share Posted October 8, 2007 no software currently exists to actually play the discs. Do you mean like Toast 8? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mebster Posted October 10, 2007 Share Posted October 10, 2007 Do you have a link to verify any of this? I know that Apple is a supporter of Blu-ray, but I've never seen in print anywhere that they helped to actually create it.This is what I could get hold of in 5 mins.Blu-ray.com: Who developed Blu-ray? Wikipedia: Blu-ray Disc Association I think you've got that backwards. Check here Sorry I messed up what I was saying. The average HD-DVD in the market contains more material then the average Blu-Ray at the moment. True the Blu-Ray has more capacity but that's not really much good if you're not going to use it. Not for very long. A new Blu-ray quad-layer format will hold over 100GB Wait for the Octi-layered HD-DVD with 1TB. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ayanami Posted October 10, 2007 Share Posted October 10, 2007 They better at least offer external ones. Or maybe external ones bundled with Apple TV?!?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colonel Ingus Posted October 10, 2007 Share Posted October 10, 2007 This is what I could get hold of in 5 mins. Thank you Mebster for the links. However I think you misunderstand the purpose of the Board of directors as it applies here. 9 companies started the development of Blu-ray. They are the main founders of the format and are listed here. Other companies can pay a fee of $50,000 a year to guide in the formats creation, but they are not listed as the main patent holders. For a fee of $3,000 a company can become an active member of the Blu-ray association. There are currently 94 members. Only the original 9 companies can take credit for the main patents, and Apple is not one of them. Apple may however present ideas for the format, and then the original 9 companies will vote either for or against using those ideas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mebster Posted October 12, 2007 Share Posted October 12, 2007 Thank you Mebster for the links. However I think you misunderstand the purpose of the Board of directors as it applies here. 9 companies started the development of Blu-ray. They are the main founders of the format and are listed here. Other companies can pay a fee of $50,000 a year to guide in the formats creation, but they are not listed as the main patent holders. For a fee of $3,000 a company can become an active member of the Blu-ray association. There are currently 94 members. Only the original 9 companies can take credit for the main patents, and Apple is not one of them. Apple may however present ideas for the format, and then the original 9 companies will vote either for or against using those ideas. I didn't know that. Thanks for that info. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colonel Ingus Posted October 12, 2007 Share Posted October 12, 2007 You are very welcome Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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