MCE Technologies is now shipping an 8X Dual Layer DVD+/-R/RW SuperDrive upgrade for the G4 iBook. Itis compatible with the 12- and 14-inch versions of the laptop and offers the same level of performance found in the Dual Layer SuperDrive the company released for the Mac mini last week: 2.4X recording of DVD+R Dual Layer media, DVD-R and DVD+R burning at 8X speed and DVD-RW and DVD+RW writing at 4X speed. The drive also features a liquid crystal tilt/thickness compensator that helps it better write to media with slight irregularities.
Pricing is US$199. Consumers can install it themselves or pay MCE for installation with two-day ($49) or overnight ($99) shipping. They can also have MCE install a larger hard drive at the same time, and for a limited time, MCE is offering Mac OS X v10.4 "Tiger" for $79 with the purchase of the Dual Layer SuperDrive for the G4 iBook. Mac OS X v10.3.6 or higher, including v10.4, is required. MCE says the drive is compatible with iTunes, iDVD, Finder Burning, iPhoto and DVD Player.