LaCie announces LightScribe for Macs

MacBooks and Mac minis use slot-loading drives. Slot-loading drives like to eat labels (they say they're delicious). While some Mac users have been using LightScribe drives on their systems for some time in order to avoid the dreaded label jam (and to make pretty label-less labels), they can finally -- officially -- get in on the label-free disc-etching thing with LaCie's software support. The drive company announced that their LightScribe drives and labeling software are now Mac compatible and ready to go. The drives are $99.99 and come with LightScribe Labeling software v1.4.105.1 for 10.3.9 or higher (check those dots, yo).

[SkylarS @ Oct 19th 2006 2:54AM]

I've had a LaCie external d2 on my iMac for almost a year now, and lightscribe has been flawless.

[Carnaval13 @ Oct 19th 2006 2:54AM]

Actually the announcement is about Linux support.
LaCie has been shipping Lightscribe Labeller for Macs for at least 1 year.

Here is the link to the news on LaCie's site:
http://www.lacie.com/company/news/news.htm?id=10293

[Gr3g @ Oct 19th 2006 3:52AM]

I had the pleasure of talking to one of the guys who worked on lightscribe (at HP) just before they went and fired everyone on the project and he said it had always been his intention to get lightscribe on Windows, Mac, and Linux from the start. But that it had been difficult to get apple to support it directly.

[Shredsled @ Oct 19th 2006 3:59AM]

Lightscribe is an awesome idea. Too bad it looks like a turd.

[Rus @ Oct 19th 2006 7:35AM]

I don't understand ... this was reported by a lot of sites ... Lightscribe has been on Macs for over a year. I've sold several of the HP drives and downloaded the lightscribe software.

[Intrepid @ Oct 19th 2006 8:50AM]

Lightscribe is rubbish... now Mac fans can complement their rubbishy systems with this rubbish. Congrats.

[monitron @ Oct 19th 2006 9:17AM]

I've had slot-loading Macs (and cars) for years and I'm also an obsessive CD labeller. Never had a label eaten. Whatchew talkin 'bout, Engadget?

[Gordy @ Oct 19th 2006 10:12AM]

The disconnect for me is that you have to take the disc out and flip it over to do the label side. Why not put a mechanism on top of the drive also? Then after it burns, it creates the label--with no user interaction. This tech has been around for a while now, no excuse for it not evolving.

This irritant is probably why Apple didn't want to support LightScribe directly.

[NicleT @ Oct 19th 2006 10:23AM]

I tried a lot of CD labeling softs (Lightscribe include), but my ultimate choice is Disc Cover.
(http://www.belightsoft.com/products/disccover/overview.php).
It is completely Aqua, intuitive and unexpensive. If you want something serious, this is the app.

[Antonio Rosario @ Oct 19th 2006 10:42AM]

I've had a lightscribe on my mac for well over a year now (maybe longer) and it worked just fine. The software that is out now is just a slight update to the program I 'm using now. I don't see how this is "news" since it's at least 12 months old.

[The Jeremy @ Oct 19th 2006 2:21PM]

I would like to see Apple directly incorporate LightScribe with their systems standard. They already are thought of as some of the best multimedia systems out there, so why not add another piece of the puzzle that complements that association?

Of course, adding DVR functionality would also be another way to improve the Mac's consumer multimedia experience. And before someone claims that this would defeat Apple's strategy of selling television shows and movies through iTunes, just remember that iTunes did not disable the ability to play MP3's once they started selling music through the iTunes Store.

[Peter Savas @ Oct 19th 2006 8:31PM]

I have a Lightscribe burner in my PC. It does a decent job of labelling, but I've actually found that if I put the discs in a specific type of disc sleeve, the label will actually FADE AWAY!

If people are really afraid of their slot-loading drives eating labels off their media, then invest a couple hundred dollars in one of Epson's printers that print directly on the CD/DVDs themselves! Printable media is cheaper than Lightscribe media, and you get full-color labelled discs that are near-professional quality! I've been doing that for years!

[Dean Kinton @ Oct 20th 2006 5:02PM]

Light Scribe does not work. i have had a light scribe drive now for 6 months and for me it has never worked, so no there going to put technoligy that does not work in to MAC's, some ones not got there head screwed on right.

[Tommy @ Oct 21st 2006 1:19AM]

Light Scribe is ugly choice, better to spend $100 and buy an epson printer (R200, R220) and print directly to DVD's or CD's with full color support and a professional looking media.