CompuServe Thread

#NEC CDR 73 vs 73M ????

4 messages in this thread
#21424From: Arthur PrestMay 16, 1992 4:02 PM
Does anyone know if an NEC CDR-73M that has the CDR-73 manufacturing label but a yellow M sticker on the bottom is a full blown CDR-73M? The original CDR-73 had a 150 Kb/s transfer rate, a 300 ms access time and isn't CD-ROM XA rated. The CDR-73M is supposed to have a 300 Kb/s transfer rate, a 280 ms access time and is CD-ROM XA rated. It appears as though NEC upgraded their inventory of CDR-73s to CDR-73Ms by changing the firmware. Will a firmware upgrade by itself increase the transfer rate, improve the access time, and add XA compliance? MPC Magazine indicated that an upgraded CDR-73 won't have the faster transfer rate of the CDR-73M. I don't know of anyone who has a "non-upgraded" CDR-73M that has a CDR-73M manufacturing label in lieu of an "M" yellow sticker or anyone that has a CDR-73M owners manual. NEC just announced a new CDR-84 that sounds very much like a "real" CDR73M. I'm concerned about the XA rating because of KODAK's forthcoming pictures on a CD. NEC hasn't answered my letter of 4/20/92 asking these same questions. Have we been fooled? Will the Real NEC CDR-73M please stand up! Art
#21436From: Albert DayesMay 17, 1992 12:11 AM
You can upgrade the NEC-73 to the 73M it requires a firmware upgrade and a new motor. Call (800)-FONE-NEC for details … I think its under $200 for the upgrade. 73 and 83 are external and internal versions of the same CD-ROM.
#21448From: Arthur PrestMay 17, 1992 7:04 PM
Albert I have the upgraded CDR-73M. I'm trying to find out if an upgraded CDR-73 (with a yellow M sticker) unit is equivalent to a factory CDR-73M (if such a thing exists). I meant to say CDR-74 instead of CDR-84 in my message — the CDR-74 is a new unit that was announced last week im PC WEEK as NEC's latest CDROM player. It's specs sound suspiciously like a factory CDR-73M. Thanks for the input, Art
#21452From: Albert DayesMay 17, 1992 11:50 PM
I'll have to read PC WEEK to find out more about the CDR-74.