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    External slim Blu-Ray burner that's firewire?

    Discussion in 'Accessories' started by bizzybody, Aug 12, 2015.

  1. bizzybody

    bizzybody Notebook Guru

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    Is there such a thing as an external slimline Blu-Ray writer with firewire? I've found external ones with firewire that are desktop drives inna box, and I've found slim external ones that are laptop drives inna box, but only USB 2.0 or 3.0.

    Failing that, how about a firewire external case for laptop SATA optical drives and I'll buy a laptop SATA Blu-Ray burner and assemble it myself?

    I don't have USB 3.0 and no way to upgrade, it has a CardBus slot instead of ExpressCard (Samsung, what were you thinking in 2008?!) so I'd much rather go with FW400 than USB 2.0, and slim drives are much more compact for a laptop case or backpack.

    Or perhaps a slim eSATA one and I can get a CardBus eSATA card.
     
    bizzybody, Aug 12, 2015
    #1
  2. Kent T

    Kent T Notebook Virtuoso

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    None such exist. USB2 usually is all there is. Maybe there is a USB2 to Firewire adapter for PCMCIA.
     
    Kent T, Aug 12, 2015
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  3. bizzybody

    bizzybody Notebook Guru

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    Question is why none such exist when there are Firewire to SATA cases for 5.25" half height drives? Hmmm. Has me thinking about buying such a large case then hacking its board into a case for a laptop SATA Blu-Ray burner. A case for a 2.5" hard drive would likely be a better donor since the drive connection is the same size as a 3.5" or 5.25" but the Firewire to SATA converter board would likely be smaller.
    *searches*
    Yes! There are adapters to convert laptop SATA optical drive connectors to standard SATA data and power connections. Just need to get my 3D printer built and I can effing *make* what the computer accessory industry refuses to make! Try to force me to accept a huge and heavy Firewire connected external Blu-Ray burner? Ha! I'll show them! I'll show them all! HHAHAHAHA! (Or I could use my proLIGHT PLM 2000 CNC mill and carve a case out of something.)

    Or I could just get a PATA laptop Blu-Ray burner and carve up its faceplate to ugly-ly fit into the place of the form fit original. I wonder how difficult it may be to find a Panasonic UJ-220 now? If I want it to look original I could make a mold off the DVD burner's face and glue it to the Blu-Ray's face. (Not hard since making silicone molds and resin castings is what I do for a living.)

    Anyone have a list of all laptop PATA Blu-Ray burner models that were made? If I go that route, I still want to make an external, just because one doesn't exist.
     
    bizzybody, Aug 13, 2015
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  4. HTWingNut

    HTWingNut Potato

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    USB 2.0 Blu-Ray drives claim up to 6x speeds, which is very fast. Not sure what else you need? Anything more and you will need more power anyhow so that means external power adapter or USB 3.0.
     
    Last edited: Aug 13, 2015
    HTWingNut, Aug 13, 2015
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  5. Kent T

    Kent T Notebook Virtuoso

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    No PATA Blu-Ray writers. Only SATA. Sorry.
     
    Kent T, Aug 17, 2015
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  6. bizzybody

    bizzybody Notebook Guru

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    The Panasonic UJ-220 was one model of PATA Blu-Ray burners for laptops. Any others?
     
    bizzybody, Aug 17, 2015
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  7. Kent T

    Kent T Notebook Virtuoso

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    Don't know of any other. Really SATA is necessary in today's world for modern peripherals.
     
    Kent T, Aug 17, 2015
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  8. KCETech1

    KCETech1 Notebook Prophet

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    As much as I hate to admit it ... firewire is DEAD and drivers are getting left behind for it unless its pro audio hardware.. honestly I would just burn disks off of USB 2.0 which tends to be more stable and reliable than FW nowadays. ( I still have a couple FW burners in 5.25" external cages from an old Mac Pro setup )

    if you build one keep in mind you will also need to supply external 5V power and possibly 12V power for the driver/converter boards.
     
    KCETech1, Aug 18, 2015
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    Kent T likes this.