by , 3:25 PM EDT, July 12th, 2005

MCE Technologies on Tuesday introduced a slot-loading 8X DVD+/-R Double/Dual Layer SuperDrive upgrade for G4 PowerBooks. (DVD+R DL is known as Double Layer while DVD-R DL is known as Dual Layer.) The drive burns DVD-R/RW and DVD+R/RW single-layer media at up to 8X speed and Dual/Double Layer DVD+/-R media at up to 4S speed. It also burns CD-R and CD-RW discs at up to 24X speed. MCE said that the new drive is abut 20% lighter than the optical drives Apple uses in its G4 PowerBooks.

The 8X DVD+/-R Double/Dual Layer SuperDrive upgrade is compatible with iTunes, iDVD, Finder Burning, iPhoto and DVD Player and requires Mac OS X v10.2 or higher. It can be installed in any 12-, 15- or 17-inch G4 PowerBook and costs US$199 for users who already have Combo drives or SuperDrives and $249 for users who have DVD-ROM or CD-ROM drives.

Consumers can install the drive themselves or have a certified technician do the work; MCE's Web lists MCE-authorized upgrade centers by state. However, the company recommends that a technician install the drive in a 12-inch PowerBook because of the complexity of the task.