A few details on new MAC

[cerealchamp2000]

How are the built-in CD-rw in the new towers? The Mac sales rep told me swapping out for a Plextor (or otherwise) is not feasable as the hardware is hardwired. I suppose I can use an available bay door.

Next issue. Based on the success guys are having with older MACS (G3 350etc...) new 466 should be plenty buff. I struggle with tempation to keep spending "just $500 more" for next buffer MAC. Somebody stop me....

(12-14 audio)
(4-6 midi tracks)
usual eq/verb/compression

What's up with paying $400 for Glyph hdd? Is there something I dunno? What's a matter for spending only $125 on IBM Deskstar?

I can't quite pull the trigger on buying the Seasound. I'm curious about new RME due out April. Patience, patience, patience...

[Jim M]

CDRW in my new Mac works perfectly so far, i-tunes is a little odd...
I've got a friend with a 466 and he's playing back 16-20 tracks w/ an audio only IDE drive... But
I do believe the 533 on up (definately 667/733) modles come with large 40 to 60 gig IBM Deskstar hardrives stock. I use these for audio and they're very good. You could then buy a small 5400 rpm drive and install your OS on that, make it your boot drive and your ready to go. As far as Glyph and other SCSI/Firewire drives go, I use both SCSI and IDE drives and while SCSI is a better preformer, it's 4 times the price but not 4 times the preformance. You can easily play back 24+ tracks on modern 7200rpm IDE drives provided you configure your system right. I do it every day...
And I've never used Seasound but I have heard good things about it.
Good Luck

[bigh]

My first impression is to say that the Mac sales rep is wrong - I've never heard of a CDRW being "hardwired." But I hesitate to say that because Apple seems to be changing things at an alarming rate these days, and tightening up their compatability requirements. The best source I know of for this type of information is at <http://www.xlr8yourmac.com> They have a drive compatability database, and I'm fairly certain they would have info on the new machines.

If you're planning on using Digital Performer, I'd consider getting a dual 533MHz machine. DP3 is supposed to be MP aware, and that could be huge with plugins, etc. The performance has been reported to be better than even the top machines (you can read about it on xlr8 or barefeats.com)

[fr3ed]

!

<<How are the built-in CD-rw in the new towers? The Mac sales rep told me swapping out for a Plextor (or otherwise) is not feasable as the hardware is hardwired. I suppose I can use an available bay door.>>


i discovered (to my dismay) that the available drive bay on the front of the g4 tower is only 3.5" - you cannot add a second cd (5.25") drive internally

slight annoyance...