usb or pc card or firewire for cd burner?

[islandguy]

I just bought an IOMEGA Predator CD-RW w/usb interface. I was wondering if a PC card or Firewire would be worth it? Forturnately IOMEGA is flexible enough that I can use all 3 interfaces.
Also, my Gateway 1150 laptop has USB 1.0 how do I upgrade to 2.0?

Thanks!

[otheos]

Since USB1.x is stuck at a theoretical 12Mbit/sec (that's less than 1.2MB/s), and given that 8x burning needs 1.2MB/s the burnen will be using the BURN Proof technology quite a lot. The 4x rewrite is slow enough for the interface though. Needless to say that 32x reading is a joke from a USB device. All you'll get is a max of 7-8x.

This was the reason USB burners where stuck at 4x4x6 before burn proof.

By advise is to buy a cheap firewire connector. It's 400Mbit/s capable (that's a LOT of bandwidth), it is self powered (I doubt your burner can use that though), it has many periferals designed for it, you can plug in your digital Camcorder, and it won't set you back more than $40. Don't go for the most expensive though.

SCSI (what you reffer to as PC Card) is your other option. You can buy a cheap Ultra SCSI controler for about the same price, but cables are expensive. Look around before you buy, as SCSI is flexible and comes in various configurations for all needs.

I'd still go for the firewire for your use though.

EDIT: USB1.x is NOT upgradable to 2.x

Found this review that might help.

[This message has been edited by otheos (edited 07-10-2001).]

[daveleau]

That burner runs at 4X with anything except firewire. If the speed is worth buying the extra adapters needed (drive only comes with USB attachment and you have to get firewire ports on the system), then I would go firewire for sure!

Dave

[islandguy]

<<My advise is to buy a cheap firewire connector>>

Know where I can find a "cheap" connector? All the ones I've seen online are in the $100 range. Not to mention the firewire adaptor on the burner's end cost $70.

Thanks...j

[otheos]

Hm, here in the UK cheap ones retail for about £40, thats about $55. For the US, sorry but cannot help you. Start a new thread in General discussion.... Hope it works for you!