Review: Fast Mac SuperDrive upgrade kicks things up a notch (even on Mac Pros)
Posted by Dennis Sellers 
Sep 14, 2006 at 5:22am
If you want to really jazz up your Mac Pro, Fast Mac has announced the availability of an enhanced internal 16x Dual Layer SuperDrive upgrade. It not only works for the new pro desktop, but also for PowerMac G3, G4, G5, eMac and iMac G4 systems. (Alas, the latest rev of iMacs use a slim line optical drive so the standard size of the Fast Mac drive won’t work.)
But for the compatible Macs, the Fast Mac upgrade offers quite a boost. The drive provides read and write support for DVD-RAM and 48x CD-R burning, which is two times faster than Apple’s top-of-the-line Mac Pro (which offers 24 x speed for CD-R burning). The drive was easy to install in my eval Mac Pro unit. Just follow the instructions in the manual that comes with the pro desktop, and it’s a simple, straightforward process. It should be relatively easy to install in a Power Mac, as well.
I’m not sure about the ease of installing it in an iMac or eMac. Unless you’re technical proficient, you might want to have an Apple authorized technician do the job. After installation, the 16x Dual Layer Superdrive upgrade worked without a hitch.
The upgrade is available now for an introductory price of US$79.95 (it’s regularly $99.99) and comes with a one-year warranty and 30-day money back guarantee.
If you want to boost your Mac Pro to maximum performance, the FastMac upgrade will kick things up a notch. And If you’ve been looking for a way to take advantage of the new dual-layer DVD media on a Mac that doesn’t offer it, this is a product worth your consideration.
Macsimum rating: 9 out of 10.
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Dennis Sellers
Dennis has been a newspaper editor/reporter (seven years) and teacher (seven years). He has over 4,000 magazine, newspaper and online articles to his credit. He has also covered the Mac and tech industries for over a decade for such online publications as MacCentral, MacMinute and now MacsimumNews.
kwerk Says:
also IMHO worth noting is a much better deal...as far as I can tell this drive is 8x slower for cd-r at 40x. PLUS they have bundle deals w/ ilife 05 for a mere $89. The drive alone is $48. Following is the sites(OWC) link to the drives btw-I have done business w/ them several times and give them 5 stars.
https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/optical-drives/superdrives/powermac/
Posted on September 14, 2006