Can my Mac Mini (MB139LL/A) read Mini-disks or DVD-RAM?

I know that a big problem with many slot loading drives is that they cannot accept mis-shaped disks (such as ones in a rectangle shape used as business cards) or mini-disks, but some slot-loading drives can. Can my Mac Mini accept them?

Also, DVD-RAM is not as popular a format as DVD-ROM, DVD-R or DVD+R and few devices support it, does my Mac Mini support it?

I want to make sure the drive at least supports mini-disks before I wind up getting a disk stuck in my Mac Mini, at least if it can't read a DVD-RAM disk then there will be no harm done as long as the drive can physically accept the disk with no problems.

Mac Mini, Mac OS X (10.5.6)

Posted on Apr 18, 2009 7:23 AM

18 replies

mooblie

Level 4

1,954 points

May 6, 2009 8:09 AM in response to James Harries

Hi James. This [_item on UK eBay |http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/DELL-K937C-XPS-series-DVD-RW-Writer-AD-7640A-SonyW0QQitemZ390049870743] is what I bought, and what I got was better: a Teac DV-W28SLC drive, capable of DVD-RAM as well as all the other Superdrive functions. I queried it (before I realised what I had been offered) and they told me "It's an equivalent." It was better! YMMV of course.

For 20 quid (I collected it from Reading) and the rebate from selling an Apple-branded Superdrive (without DVD-RAM capabilities) on eBay, I'm quids in!

AJHawaii

Level 1

8 points

May 6, 2009 9:55 PM in response to mooblie

Mooblie, is the Sony AD-7640A compatible with the Mac Mini? I found your post on xlr8yourmac.com (I think that was you!) and know that the Teac DV-W28SLC will work. As you stated, the Sony is cheaper and I wasn't able to find the Teac for under $85+ shipping.

If the Sony will work, I can pick one up for around $60.

Also, if anyone knows of a good website that details swapping the optical drive on the 2007 model mac mini, I'd appreciate it! I've found stuff on ifixit.com, but not specifically for the 2007 Core2Duo 2GHz model.

mooblie

Level 4

1,954 points

May 8, 2009 1:20 PM in response to AJHawaii

Hi - I expect the Sony AD-7640A to be compatible with the Mac Mini - provided you ensure they've both got the same interface: IDE or SATA - both IDE, I expect. Get a [_AD-7640a spec sheet_|http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/storage/P172883/en/spec.htm] and check any differences.

BTW: I am indeed the "Martin M" that did the Teac DV-W28SLC report on xlr8yourmac!

I see the Sony/Optiarc AD-7630A is listed in xlr8yourmac.

In that report are my instructions for changing the optical drive. It's easy, and the only difficult bit is removing the outer case. There are videos about that [ here_|http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynQKYTaJzA].

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Can my Mac Mini (MB139LL/A) read Mini-disks or DVD-RAM?