[KLUG Members] IDE cd burner

[members@kalamazoolinux.org]

> I looked at other brand SCSI CDRW drives, but the faster ones switched
> their drive connector from the flat ribbon type connector to the HD-50
> connector (or whatever they are called), and my external SCSI tower
> has the ribbon type connectors.  I even shopped around for different
> cables and adapters, and couldn't find anything to cobble up my SCSI
> connection for under $75.  Combine that with the increased cost of
> the SCSI drives themself, SCSI would have cost me $150-$200 extra.

Computer Geeks has low-cost, 2-bay, external SCSI enclosures (cost you half as 
much to ship them UPS ground!):
http://www.compgeeks.com/details.asp?invtid=205-0239

Then goto Cyberguys for low-cost, quality SCSI cabling, converters and 
terminators (most things are $7-15):
http://www.cyberguys.com

I like toting around my 1x DVD-RAM and 8x CD-R from system to system, even Macs.

> After many hours of investigating different options that I decided to 
> take a chance on a less expensive IDE CDRW drive setup.  Overall I've 
> been quite pleased with my IDE Plextor 12X-10X-32X.

The newer IDEs are MMC-compatible so they are, for all intents and purposes, 
SCSI under Linux.  If you really want fast CD-to-CD copying, then SCSI is 
best.  But only a few vendors -- e.g., Plextor and Yamaha -- make both IDE and 
SCSI versions, and the SCSI versions lag the IDE release by several months, and 
cost $50 more.

Again, see my review of my new TDK 24x/10x/40x drive which actually has piss-
poor specs (only 2MB buffer, only ATA-2/16.6MBps DMA).

-- TheBS