#A Few Basic Questions
7 messages in this thread
Does a CD-ROM designed for a PC show up as volume under DOS, or is special
software required to access the CD-ROM?
I have the impression that creating a CD-ROM for DOS requires (expensive)
authoring software in order to use the disk. Please correct me if I am wrong.
All I really need is to dump a whole bunch of PageMaker files onto a CD-ROM,
maybe with a ToolBook project and some clip art.
Is it feasable to have a cross-platform CD-ROM (Mac and PC) that mounts as an
HFS volume on the Mac and as a DOS volume on the PC?
I have lots of experience on the Mac, but alas, very little on the PC.
Any help greatly appreciated.
Ray Taylor
Ray:
Here are a few quick answers:
– Does a CD-ROM designed for a PC show up as volume under DOS, or is special
software required to access the CD-ROM?
Yes.
– I have the impression that creating a CD-ROM for DOS requires (expensive)
authoring software in order to use the disk. Please correct me if I am wrong.
No, the expensive part of the software is purchased by the developer. the
software required to run the disc is built into the price (if there is a price
for the run-time software used in the product).
– All I really need is to dump a whole bunch of PageMaker files onto a CD-ROM,
maybe with a ToolBook project and some clip art.
This is do-able, although use of the word "dump" is a tad disturbing if you are
trying to create a commercial product, rather than creating a backup or archive
of your own data. Good products require considerable thought in the design
process.
– Is it feasable to have a cross-platform CD-ROM (Mac and PC) that mounts as an
HFS volume on the Mac and as a DOS volume on the PC?
Yes, and in fact it is increasingly common.
Hope this helps. Please follow up if you have more detailed questions. Best –
Rich Bowers
Rich,
Thanks for the expedient reply!
The proposed project is to replace a printed production specification manual
(that is produced at great cost in very small volumes) with electronic
templates and instructions on how to use them. Since the users of the manual
are using PCs and Macs to actually produce the material, we felt that going the
extra step to provide electronic templates would save time, improve quality,
etc. etc. Because of the large number of templates, as well as having to
support two platforms (and possibly three operating systems), I suggested
CD-ROM. The client is of course very intrigued by this simple distribution
scheme.
I intend to use HyperCard to create the "front end" for the manual, and to
provide an index and links to the templates. I will convert the stack and
rework it in ToolBook (for Windows and OS/2 if necessary). I will simulate the
project on Syquest cartridges (I anticipate about 75 meg of data for each
platform). I would then turn the project over to a subcontractor for writing to
CD-ROM.
1. Is this do-able? It has to be plug and play easy for the user, as well as
being inexpensive to produce the content.
2. Would it be worth it to wait for cross-platform development tools from
Apple, MicroSoft, Kaleida, Kodak, et. al.?
2. I am concerned about reports of sluggish performance on the Mac with
cross-platform CD-ROMS, something inherent with the ISO 9660 standard.
3. I am curious about rolling our own versus contracting out. The initial
quantity will be 40 CD-ROMS. (I know buying roll-your-own equipment wouldn't
make sense for one project, but if the project is successful demand for CD-ROM
from this client will skyrocket.)
4. What can I expect the CD-ROM production bill to be, based on 40 CD-ROMs,
given that the content is ready-to-write?
Thanks for your help.
Ray Taylor
Ray:
-1. Is this do-able? It has to be plug and play easy for the user, as well as
being inexpensive to produce the content.
Count on the first iterations to be more expensive to produce than later
editions. But that is the price to pay for ease-of-use.
– 2. Would it be worth it to wait for cross-platform development tools from
Apple, MicroSoft, Kaleida, Kodak, et. al.?
I would be less than comfortable planning my future based on what these
oganizations might or might not do. My advice is to make work what you need to
work. If an easier alternative appears, use it.
– 2. I am concerned about reports of sluggish performance on the Mac with
cross-platform CD-ROMS, something inherent with the ISO 9660 standard.
How appropriate a second #2 <g>. It seems likely a hybrid disc of the type you
are describing might best be produced with an HFS partition and a 9660
partition, thus avoiding such difficulties.
– 3. I am curious about rolling our own versus contracting out. The initial
quantity will be 40 CD-ROMS. (I know buying roll-your-own equipment wouldn't
make sense for one project, but if the project is successful demand for CD-ROM
from this client will skyrocket.)
What the heck, buy the gear! It's not your money! Er, sorry, I got carried
away there…allow me a moment to compose myself. Ahem. Forty copies is on
the hairy edge of the make-or-master decision. If you need more copies than
that, definitely master them. If you think prototyping and pre-mastering are
important, plus occassional shorter-run jobs, invest in the CD-recording system
too.
4. What can I expect the CD-ROM production bill to be, based on 40 CD-ROMs,
given that the content is ready-to-write?
I'd suggest you get some quotes. See the MFG.TXT file in Libr #8, wait for
some of our members here to respond, or check out the CDROM Vendors Forum (go
cdven).
Hope this helps! Best – Rich Bowers
Rich,
Thanks again for your fast replies. I really like the treatment I get in this
Forum!!
– I have downloaded the FAQ, it is a most useful document.
– I did not know that you could make a CD-ROM with an HFS and an ISO 9660
partition. This sounds like what I need to strive for.
From what I can tell, you are right. 40 is about the limit for DIY CD-ROM.
Since I am a incorrigible hardware junkie you just helped a true addict justify
a fix <g>.
I have just about enough information to flesh out my proposal. I'll be lurking
and popping up now and then for more assistance which I'm sure I'll need.
Thanks again,
Ray Taylor
Ray:
>>- I did not know that you could make a CD-ROM with an HFS and an ISO 9660
partition. This sounds like what I need to strive for.<<
Post a query in the Production section #8 to get info from those who do this
kind of thing everyday to see if I was on track here.
Best – Rich Bowers
Yeah, you can do it, but it's not easy. Usually, it means recording a lot of
data twice: once in the ISO 9660 partition and once in the HFS partition.
Remember, PCs can't see the contents of an HFS directory tree, and Macs (in
general) can't read the contents of an ISO 9660 directory tree if that same
disc also contains an HFS directory tree.