#NEC CDR-55 ??
9 messages in this thread
MacWarehouse is selling an external CD-ROM drive under their
"PowerUser" label for $299, that at first glance looks like a
terrific deal. It's double-speed (300kbs), Kodak multi-session
compatible and comes with the best Mac CD driver software, FWB's
CD-ROM Toolkit. I called and asked which mechanism it's based on and
they told me it's a NEC CDR-55. That's one I've never seen before.
Does anyone know the specs of this drive? Thanks.
Never heard of the NEC-55 mechanism myself….but here is some other
info I got when I called and asked about this device. Data transfer
rate of 300KB, Access time of 400MS, Cache memory = 64K, Audio lines
out = Headphone jack only…NO RCA JACKS! (Though some one else I
spoke with over in the Mac Hardware forum said he called and they
told him that it DID have RCA jacks)…and finally, I was told it was
32 bit clean.
To me, this sounds like a product similar in features to the NEC CDR
38, but with a little bit more and at a better price. They also offer
some pretty good bundles with it as well. I'm skeptical, but
considering it.
Oh!, one last thing….I may have missed it, but I never saw where we
get FWB's CD ROM tool kit with it. Was that somewhere in the fine
print or did they tell you that?
Scott, the drive appears twice in the catalog I received. The second time (on
p. 130) they mention FWB's CD-ROM Toolkit.
…Barry
AH! I see! No mention of it at all in the "special" "CD-ROM WAREHOUSE"
catalog. In that catalog, they only state "Utility Software (setup,
audio, driver – $79.95 value" (but then offers it later in the
catalog for $59.95). You think they'd advertise this and other
features a little more. Well, still considering, but still skeptical.
Oh, a P.S., I did hear finally a confirmation that the device does have RCA
jacks.
Scott
Come on, Scott. Go ahead and order one and check it out. Think of the service
you'll be doing for the rest of us.
…Barry
Ok, you lend me the $ and I'll…Anyway, I called NEC this morning and
heres what they said about the NEC-55: MacWarehouse purchased
directly from NEC and had the device made especially for them, per
their (MacWarehouse) specifications. NEC provides no support for this
drive mech, and really has no info (that they'd like to share) on its
specifications available. NEC has no plans to use this mechanism in
any future drive of theirs, in fact, its probably the last and only
tiem you'll ever hear of the NEC-55. SO…it looks like we really
know very little more about this thing than when we started our
quest. I guess the next step is (like you said) to get some willing
consumer out there to do us the great service of trying out the
product (and letting us know). Me? Last time I rushed like that into
a purchase, I wound up with a Tandy (radio shack) computer. Need I
say more?
Scott
Hope you realize I was just kidding. I haven't learned yet how to do those
little "grin" notations. Just had a thought. What's MacWarehouse's return
policy?
…Barry
"Most" macwarehouse products come with a 30-day money back guarantee that
states that you can return the product for any reason.
Unfortunately, according to the product index in the back of the
catalog, this CD-ROM does not come with this.
It does come with Macwarehouse's 120 day guarantee (for defectice
products)…but this guarantee does state that "Defectice hardware
will be replaced or repared at our discretion."
Although suspecious, I must say in their (MacWarehouse's) defense,
that I have purchased products (many) from them in the past,
including hardware under their "PowerUser" label, and have been
pleased.
SO….I don't know…still considering….confused…maybe I'll just
go to bed and worry about it more later.