CD-rw Packet writing on OS-x ?

[Samsonid]

Hi,

My wife just bought an iMac and to our stunning surprise we can't find any packet writing software for the single, one and only drive of this computer ? !

Is this for real ? A system with only one drive and NO packet writing to be found for CD-rw disks?

Did we miss it somewhere ? Please tell me it ain't so !
Is there any such software for the Mac ?

Thanks

--

 

[n0cmonkey]

I thought you were going to ask about TCP/IP packets. Heh. Packet writing on cdrs is pretty dumb. Each program (nero, ezcd creator, etc) has their own standards don't they? And you need thier program installed to use the cdr. Seems silly. Did you try toast?

 

[Nothinman]

Packet writing is evil.

 

[Samsonid]

Hi guys, thanks for the responces, but I don't get it.

Why is packet writing evil or dumb ?

I would expect that if we are going to do away with floppies we should at least have something of comperable convenience. No ?

The idea is to have a CD-rw inside the machine to act as a floppy and have various Apps save their files on the fly.

Some Apps would be configured to save their files on a specific CD and if it is not already in the bay they should "Ask" for it.

--What is Toast ?
--Does it offer the ability to handle a CD/DVD as a floppy ?

 

[Nothinman]

The idea itself is sound but the implementations so far have been terrible, like n0c said usually even if it does work you have to have the exact same software to read the disc which makes it pretty worthless to me.

 

[drag]

From my understanding is that packet writing is pretty much a windows only thing... Each program that does it, does it as a propriatory model, which is mostly incompatable with every other computer or program in existance. Sticking to standards means increased reliablity and provides a level of safety for your data.

Imagine in 3 years if you burnt a CD using Nero's software and time comes around when you want to show off some old digital photograph, now what if nero isn't around anymore, or simply dropped support for the now-obsolete method it used? Maybe you can dig up a old app from 3-5 years ago and hope that it works with new hardware and new OSes, but that's only if your lucky. Were as if you used a normal format then it would be no problem.

But do what you want. I believe that apple naturally is able to burn CD-RW's with no problem, and then reburn them to add more info and stuff. I've done it a couple times, but it's been a long time. I don't use cd-rws that much anymore anyways, you can go down to newegg.com and pick up a 100 pack of ritek cd-r discs for 25 bucks(free shipping). And at a quarter a CD I think that's a pretty good deal. And CD-rs last longer, are more reliable, and are more likely to work in more cdrom drives.

Roxio Toast is the premier apple burning software. It's overkill for what I use cdroms for, but most people swear buy it and it's usefull if your into lots and lots of media stuff, even professionally. It can probably do the packet writer thing.

Here it is in a ad at apple's website

 

[Nothinman]

From my understanding is that packet writing is pretty much a windows only thing..

There were kernel patches for Linux to do this but it never really caught on. Now I'm pretty sure Jens Axboe is working on MtRainer patches for Linux which I believe is a 'good'/standard form of packet writing but who knows if it'll catch on any more than the last one.