Tried getting a standard cddvd drive that plugs in via usb off amazon, but my mac seemed to not recognize it, so im returning it. Jul 03, 2008 it would be nice to be able to use my favorite nano usb mouse and the superdrive at the same time though. The usb superdrive is only compatible with the following computers. Buy products related to cd player for mac products and see what customers say about. Get the lowest prices anywhere on macs, ipads and apple watches. Apple superdrive for mac free download and software. Jan 15, 20 fast forward to the introduction of the macbook air. Using disk utility i do see the the drive, and the cd, however it will not mount. Compact and convenient, the apple usb superdrive connects to your imac, macbook pro with retina display, macbook air or mac mini with a single usb cable. It gives you the ability to play and burn both cds and dvds. The unit looks outstanding with my macbook air, macbook pro and the imac. I use a hp usb optical drive with my ppc macs and i always use it via a powered usb hub because they cannot deliver enough juice to.
Get help with the slotloading superdrive on your mac. The first practical problem is that the superdrive seems to require more power from the usb port than ppc macs provided. Use of older internal drive on mac mini or new apple. So, it does not work with the apple computer that i own.
It connects to your macbook pro with retina display, macbook air, imac, or mac mini with a single usb typea cable thats built into the superdrive. Apple superdrive 8x external usb doublelayer dvdrwcdrw. The apple support app has updated, smarter features and a bold new look. Only slightly bigger than a cd case, the apple usb superdrive slips easily into your travel bag when you hit the road and takes up little space on your desk or tray table when youre working. In this how to flash apple macbook superdrive guide, we have given example here with matshitadvdr uj8a8 firmware version hb and hb14. Today i popped an old cd on the superdrive, looking for work pictures i took, and it will not mount whatsoever. Jan 24, 2015 rather than pay the market value of the whole computer to get the drive replaced at an apple store, i purchased a usb superdrive. Connect and use your superdrive to use your superdrive, connect it to a usb a port on your mac, then insert a disc. I bought 2 different bluetooth mice and was dissatisfied with both, the usb nano is super smooth and very slick in comparison.
Apple usb superdrive with attached usb typea connector cable. The apple usb superdrive seems a bit expensive the reason i tried using another one first, so id just like to know your guys thoughts on it before i. With apples focus on thinner and lighter macs, most new macs dont include an optical drive. To cut a long story short, it transpires that the firmware on the superdrives is configured to prevent them working with any mac which has, or is capable of supporting an internal optical drive. I recently bought an apple external superdrive for my aging imac7,1, whose internal drive is slowly losing its will to recognize disks. What you can do with a superdrive there are still plenty of reasons why you. Nov, 2018 the apple usb superdrive is compatible with mac models from 2008 and later that dont have a builtin optical drive. If youve recently upgraded to a new imac or macbook pro, youre probably going to need an optical drive if you want to continue importing your movies and music to itunes, or just access the content on your discs. Macbook pro mac pro models with thunderbolt 3 usbc ports require a usbc to usb.
Although originally meant to read and write to floppy discs, it rebranded in 2001 to evolve with the change in information exchange technology. Compact and convenient, the external apple usb superdrive connects to your mac with a single usb cable and fits easily into a travel bag. Whether youre at the office or on the road, you can play and burn both cds and dvds with the apple usb superdrive. Apple usb superdrive external slim dvdrw drive sweetwater. Fast forward to the introduction of the macbook air. Attaching a apple usb superdrive to the mac allows it to do the things that other computers with a dvd drive can do. Does this applesuperdrive 8x external usb drive work with the macbook 12 display 8 gb memory, 4512 gb flash storage or just with a mac pro. Rather than pay the market value of the whole computer to get the drive replaced at an apple store, i purchased a usb superdrive.
Optical drive for mac mini, macbook air, and macbook pro retina display model covid19 update. Today, well discuss how to use the apple usb superdrive. We may earn a commission for purchases using our links. And the usb dongle is perfect for the air, it is really tiny, like 14 tiny. I have a usb and i can make a windows iso as a last resort but it would be mighty convenient if the apple superdrive is detected as a. To connect your superdrive to a thunderbolt 3 usbc or usbc port on your mac, you can use one of these adapters. These steps are intended to be from taken from windows, however you could download the boot camp support software on a mac and then transfer the zip file to windows through usb, networking, or your method of choice if need be, or you could just extract the \bootcamp\drivers. Will the apple superdrive appear as a bootable device in a.
I have since done extensive research learning that if you do not own an macbook air or have skills beyond the basic computer wizard that i am this device is useless. Although many say that cds are going the way of the floppy drive, many people still use cds for music, language classes and photo storage to name a few. Macbook pro with retina display, macbook air, imac late 2012. It is slim and portable and is powered by usb so there is no bulky power adapter to carry with you. Reconnect the superdrive directly to the display when you no longer need to start the computer from the superdrive. To use your superdrive, connect it to a usb a port on your mac, then insert a disc. Mar 24, 2020 as you can see, weve selected the confoly usb c superdrive as our favorite since its super similar to apple s superdrive and you dont need adapters to utilize it. How to connect the apple usb superdrive apple support. Now that we know what apple superdrive is, i believe you must be wondering, whether you actually need an apple superdrive for your device. Will apple usb superdrive works on pc or only with a mac. Use of older internal drive on mac mini or new apple superdrive. Macbook air with retina display macbook pro with retina display imac late 2012 and later. Find out which macs can use the apple usb superdrive and how to connect it. Because so many apple products, such as the macbook pro with retina display, the macbook air, and the mac mini, do not have an optical drive already installed in.
Alternatives to the apple usb superdrive if you dont have an old mac with a dvdcd drive available for remote disc, there are plenty of cheaper dvdcd drive options that can work with your mac. This was ten dollars less here at amazon than what apple charges at the store. Apple usb superdrive a cautionary tale the nifty tech blog. As other computers in apples lineup stopped offering internal optical drives, the product was rebranded as the apple usb superdrive, compatible with all macs manufactured after 2008. Most importantly the apple usb superdrive is quiet and works flawlessly. Apple usb superdrive or mac superdrive, as its commonly referred to, is the device that. Apple usb superdrive dvdrw r dl drive hispeed usb series sign in to comment.
May 10, 2015 the first practical problem is that the superdrive seems to require more power from the usb port than ppc macs provided. Apr 18, 2018 is apple about to kill the superdrive on macs. Nov, 2018 find out which macs can use the apple usb superdrive and how to connect it. Sometimes the patch fixes the continuously rejecting disks. Usb superdrive stormfront your local apple experts. Easily connects to your macbook pro with retina display, macbook air, imac, or mac mini with a single usb cable thats built into the superdrive. The newest to join the line up of apple superdrive products looks to be the best one yet developed.
I use a hp usb optical drive with my ppc macs and i always use it via a powered usb hub because they cannot deliver enough juice to even get the drive recognised, let alone mount a disc. Make sure that the aluminum enclosure of the superdrive is facing up. Mar 19, 2018 as other computers in apples lineup stopped offering internal optical drives, the product was rebranded as the apple usb superdrive, compatible with all macs manufactured after 2008. For use with your macbook pro with retina display, macbook air or mac mini.
How to use apple usb superdrive with complete guide. Plug in the superdrive directly to the computers usb port. Regarding the external superdrive not working on your mac. Feb 01, 2014 best usbc hub dongle what to buy duration. A lot of times a persons builtin optical drive fails, and they see the new external at the apple store. This thin and compact apple superdrive can be taken practically everywhere for burning or reading your cdrws on the go. So apple usb superdrive will only accept cdsdvds when. How to flash apple macbook superdrive to make region restriction free with patched firmware. Shop apple superdrive 8x external usb doublelayer dvdrwcdrw. Take your mac or apple display to an apple retail store or other apple authorized service provider.
Macbook pro with retina display, macbook air, imac late 2012 and later, mac mini late 2009 and later mac pro late 20. To use your superdrive, connect it to a usba port on your mac, then insert a disc. If you think youll need an external drive mostly for bluray discs, most of them will also play dvds and cds but are not readablewritable. Macbook pro with retina display, macbook air, imac late 2012 and later, mac mini late 2009 and later mac pro late 20 macbook pro mac pro models with thunderbolt 3 usb c ports require a usb c to usb adapter sold separately to use apple usb superdrive. Only slightly bigger than a cd case, the apple usb superdrive slips easily. The terms dvd multi, super allwrite and super multi are used to describe optical disc drives. What is apple superdrive and the best superdrive alternatives.
Using disk utility i do see the the drive, and the cd, however it. The apple usb superdrive and macbook air superdrive are designed exclusively for use with mac computers that do not have a builtin optical drive. It is built with the same quality materials that apple builds all of their products with. Only slightly bigger than a cd case, the apple usb superdrive slips easily into your travel. Apple usb superdrive apple mac accessories electronics. Apple and the incredible vanishing cd drive macworld. Attaching an apple usb superdrive to the mac allows it to do the things that other computers with a dvd drive can do. The apple usb superdrive is compatible with mac models from 2008 and later that dont have a builtin optical drive. Jul 14, 2019 apple superdrive is an optical disc reader.
Wondering whether to buy an apple superdrive to go with your mac. Apparently, i did not understand that this apple macbook air superdrive mc684zma does not play nice with imac computers. The air didnt have the room for an internal dvd drive, so apple updated their external superdrive design to produce a small, portable drive that could be powered through a single usb connection. If i load the windows bios on my rig, will the apple superdrive appear as a bootable device. If youre working with a small budget, take a look at the lg gp65nb60. It would be nice to be able to use my favorite nano usb mouse and the superdrive at the same time though. Its perfect when you want to watch a dvd movie, install software, create backup discs, and more. Does this apple superdrive 8x external usb drive work with the macbook 12 display 8 gb memory, 4512 gb flash storage or just with a mac pro. I really got this to start looking through my thousands of photos stored on.