New Mac Mini - No Optical Drive

[haruhiko]

I just checked the new Mac Mini page and found that it does not have an optical drive now. Did the last version have the optical drive?

Thanks.

[bugout]

Yes the last version did. Glad they got rid of it. I never used it anyway :)

[D4F]

I use it a lot so this part is disappointing. Another $100 to get one on top of the mini itself.
I'm skipping this one even though the new GPU chip is actually nice.

[haruhiko]

That's a big thumb down from me.... as long as I hate the optical drive like all you do, my parents use my old mac mini as a DVD player though...

[rogan]

sealed the deal for my,

network disc sharing,

new mini hooked up to tv, whack a disc in my MBP and watch it on my tv? please!

[Superman07]

sealed the deal for my,

network disc sharing,

new mini hooked up to tv, whack a disc in my MBP and watch it on my tv? please!

That's an interesting perspective. I can see Apple wanting you to have an iMac as the central machine, and then your MBA, MBP and/or Mini all look to that as the central disc drive.

[Shivetya]

I was all excited about the new discreet chip but damn if I am going to buy one without built in optical.

[jessica.]

I don't know if I care. I never use my mini and when I do, I'm not using the optical drive.

[paulrbeers]

I use a 2009 Mac Mini server every day (you know the first one without the optical drive). I never miss the optical drive and the few times that I needed it (when I installed OSX 10.6 non-server and installed iWork), I just shared the drive from my iMac.

Also you do all realize you can use ANY USB optical drive? Including the < $30 ones you can get at places like Newegg which means the entry level model now is cheaper than last model:

2010 Entry Level: 699
2011 Entry Level: 599 + 30 (for external optical) = $629

So much faster and cheaper? I think it's a no brainer.

[Sdevante]

I like the new specs on the Mini, but he is less cute without his "mouth" lol

[scupking]

I think its great they took it out. As I have said before if they are not going to add blu ray then don't put any optical drive in. Good job Apple!! Optical drives are so cheap to get anyways if you wanted one.

[Sodner]

No problem here. There are Super Drives in my iMac I could share if I needed to. Picking one up today!!

[TheBaconKing]

Really wanting to pick up the $600 mini for a HTPC..
Already have a SuperDrive that I took out of my MacBook pro and replaced with an OptiBay. All I need is the mini...

Must resist..... Cannot resist. Ahhh

[HiFiGuy528]

According to the store info the SuperDrive for the Air does not work with the standard Mac Mini, only the Server model. You think this is a mistake now that all the Mini don't come with a SuperDrive?

[Panch0]

It's the Air of desktops.

It seems strange, since the base model can't be upgraded with a second drive. What are they doing with the extra space? The mini has seemed like a great HTPC, especially since the HDMI port was added. Personally, I abandoned physical disks a couple of years ago, so I'm not worried about it, but I guess there must be someone out there still buying DVDs...

[paulrbeers]

According to the store info the SuperDrive for the Air does not work with the standard Mac Mini, only the Server model. You think this is a mistake now that all the Mini don't come with a SuperDrive?

Yeah or they just haven't updated the specs yet seeing as how only the MBA and the Mac Mini Server were the ONLY macs without optical drives until about 5 hours ago.....

I've used super drives with Macbook Pros, iMacs, etc. They work fine but according to the specs they "don't work".

Some people's kids.... If you don't know what you are talking about, DON'T.

[TheBaconKing]

It's the Air of desktops.

It seems strange, since the base model can't be upgraded with a second drive. What are they doing with the extra space? The mini has seemed like a great HTPC, especially since the HDMI port was added. Personally, I abandoned physical disks a couple of years ago, so I'm not worried about it, but I guess there must be someone out there still buying DVDs...

I don't burn DVDs anymore, I rip my movies to the hard drive for storage. It's easier to keep a hard drive full of hundreds of movies than to search shelfs for the one you want to watch.

[hitekalex]

Love the new "optical drive less" spec, way to go Apple.

The Superdrive is useless anyway, as it doesn't do Bluray. I have an external Bluray drive, which I use with my Mini (mainly to rip disks), and I couldn't be happier.

[mr.steevo]

For me the lack of a drive is a mild irritant. I don't watch dvd's but I do buy CD's from time to time when I go out to watch a local band. I know I can just buy an external drive but it is still an annoyance given I buy less than ten CD's a year.

Other than that the new minis look great. i5's and i7's as I figured but I am surprised to see a dedicated graphics card. Haven't seen that in a mini since the G4's.

[cnak]

Which is faster, the internal optical drive (older model) or adding an external drive (new model)?

[paulrbeers]

Which is faster, the internal optical drive (older model) or adding an external drive (new model)?

Both are 8X DVD drives. No difference.

[Mr. McMac]

I actually like that it doesn't have an optical drive anymore. Less mechanical stuff to go wrong. Plus I was never a fan of slot load drives anyway.

P.S. I own a couple of USB optical drawer load drives I use with my macs..

[btbrossard]

I actually like that it doesn't have an optical drive anymore. Less mechanical stuff to go wrong. Plus I was never a fan of slot load drives anyway.
The few times I've used the optical drive on my 2010 mini it's been full of dust and needed to be "de-dustified" before it would read the disc.

The airflow in the 2010 mini seemed to deposit a lot of dust in the optical drive.

The 6 we have in my office at work also need attention once in a while for similar dust issues.

[jzuena]

The few times I've used the optical drive on my 2010 mini it's been full of dust and needed to be "de-dustified" before it would read the disc.

The airflow in the 2010 mini seemed to deposit a lot of dust in the optical drive.

The 6 we have in my office at work also need attention once in a while for similar dust issues.

i wonder if that is what is going on with my mini. It takes a while to read disks and other computers don't recognize the disks it makes. I don't make disks very often, and just assumed the drive has gone bad.

I just bought an external DVD writer/BD reader from Amazon for way less than an internal slot loader replacement, so I'll just keep using that if/when I upgrade.

[chrismac2]

I personally think that lacking on optical drive is drawback. I have lots of software on cd/dvd roms. Downloadable software is great....but what's the first thing I do when I purchase and download a 2.5gb software product? I burn it to DVD to have a hard copy, and file it, rather than let it just eat up my hard drive space. Then I write on the dvd, labeling what software is on it. Can't do that with a thumb drive.

Also when you want to dump some software/media to disc to give to friend/family, blank dvd's are so cheap. I'm not going to have a stack of thumb drives on hand that I can just 'give away' to friends or family.

Also, the mini has been popular as a home theater/media server. Not being able to pop a DVD in to watch a movie kinda removes the mini from that role for a lot of people. It's bad enough that Apple refuses to put blu-rays's in.

Saying "well you can hook up the external dvd-rw drive"......I mean that kind of defeats the purpose doesn't it? Having this sleek small all in one computer, and then having this drive dangling off of it.

But, regardless, the market will ultimately decide the utility of internal optical drives.....

[vincenz]

Not to say I'm surprised. It's a blow to people who buy the mini to use as an htpc, but oh well, that's the way physical media is going.

[Photics]

I didn't like it when Apple launched the first iMac — without a floppy, SCSI or ADP. And because of that decision, I didn't buy a Mac for about a decade. I went with Windows instead.

Now, it looks like Apple is planning to kill off discs. Is that the future? I don't know.

"The best way to predict the future is to invent it."
- Alan Curtis Kay

I think it's in Apple's interest to help kill off discs. If I buy a CD in a store, or from Amazon.com, what does Apple get? If I buy music in iTunes, they can get some money. If I hook my Mac Mini up to a TV and watch a DVD, that's less iTunes revenue for Apple.

There's something wrong if a new Mac Mini comes out and I think that my early 2009 model is still the better value. The original Mac Mini was $499. This new Mac Mini — sans optical drive — is $100 more. Is the new model faster? Oh yeah! ...but what does that really mean?

With my 2009 model, I can go online, make games, render 3D graphics, create content... stuff I expect to do with a computer. It's amazing how well built this little box is. I really enjoy the power savings too. I save like $30 a month on electricity, compared to when I was using a Windows PC... and it's a lot quieter too. Macs are built to last... and I like that. I feel good that I don't consider my Mac Mini obsolete, but at some point I'm going to be buying a new computer. If I can't get a built-in optical disc, I might pick something else than a Mac Mini.

Yeah, I don't use the optical drive all that much... but I have lots of tools that I don't use that much either. Do I use a masonry drill bit every day? No... I don't have a constant need to put holes in bricks. But when I do, I'm happy to know that it's there... ready for when I need it. I don't use CDs or discs that much, but not having one would likely be noticed.

So yeah, I could spend $599 on a new Mac Mini... and then another $100 for an ugly external optical drive... but then I'm starting to get into the range of alternatives.

Is Apple innovating with the removal of the optical drive or are they trying to steer the future in their favor?

Considering that I think the Mac Mini would be better with a Blu-Ray/DVD/CD drive, I'm disappointed with Apple. But, with technologies like AirPlay and iCloud, I shouldn't be too surprised with the recent changes to Apple hardware.

[haruhiko]

I didn't like it when Apple launched the first iMac — without a floppy, SCSI or ADP. And because of that decision, I didn't buy a Mac for about a decade. I went with Windows instead.

Now, it looks like Apple is planning to kill off discs. Is that the future? I don't know.

"The best way to predict the future is to invent it."
- Alan Curtis Kay

I think it's in Apple's interest to help kill off discs. If I buy a CD in a store, or from Amazon.com, what does Apple get? If I buy music in iTunes, they can get some money. If I hook my Mac Mini up to a TV and watch a DVD, that's less iTunes revenue for Apple.

There's something wrong if a new Mac Mini comes out and I think that my early 2009 model is still the better value. The original Mac Mini was $499. This new Mac Mini — sans optical drive — is $100 more. Is the new model faster? Oh yeah! ...but what does that really mean?

With my 2009 model, I can go online, make games, render 3D graphics, create content... stuff I expect to do with a computer. It's amazing how well built this little box is. I really enjoy the power savings too. I save like $30 a month on electricity, compared to when I was using a Windows PC... and it's a lot quieter too. Macs are built to last... and I like that. I feel good that I don't consider my Mac Mini obsolete, but at some point I'm going to be buying a new computer. If I can't get a built-in optical disc, I might pick something else than a Mac Mini.

Yeah, I don't use the optical drive all that much... but I have lots of tools that I don't use that much either. Do I use a masonry drill bit every day? No... I don't have a constant need to put holes in bricks. But when I do, I'm happy to know that it's there... ready for when I need it. I don't use CDs or discs that much, but not having one would likely be noticed.

So yeah, I could spend $599 on a new Mac Mini... and then another $100 for an ugly external optical drive... but then I'm starting to get into the range of alternatives.

Is Apple innovating with the removal of the optical drive or are they trying to steer the future in their favor?

Considering that I think the Mac Mini would be better with a Blu-Ray/DVD/CD drive, I'm disappointed with Apple. But, with technologies like AirPlay and iCloud, I shouldn't be too surprised with the recent changes to Apple hardware.Very well said. I was taking out my credit card from my wallet (literally) when I was reading the spec page and found that it doesn't have the optical drive anymore. I may be OK, but I do need to keep a bit backward compatibility for my family members.

[Mr.C]

Saying "well you can hook up the external dvd-rw drive"......I mean that kind of defeats the purpose doesn't it? Having this sleek small all in one computer, and then having this drive dangling off of it.

But, regardless, the market will ultimately decide the utility of internal optical drives.....

Hardly the case. I take it you haven't seen the MacBook Air SuperDrive ? I've got one of those and it's the size of a CD/DVD case. Granted it has to be connected via USB and may not be quite as fast as an internal as a result but it is still rated the same speed at 8X and suffices pretty well. Mine sits on top of my current Mini and acts as a secondary drive. If I get one of the new Mini's I will use it with that.

[nadaclue]

What some people don't see is that the mac mini was a great gateway computer for Apple. It was for me. And without the optical drive it will probably be seen as a turn off for many people. Sure you can add an external drive, but you really wreck the beauty of mini with the extra clutter.

Also, this last week I purchased some software for $200, it came on 3 DVD's. There is no way that if this was on the app store that I would even think of downloading it.

[Tulpa]

If Apple is trying to kill DVD and Blu-ray as part of some master plan to make people dependent on iTunes for video, there's one minor flaw in their plan: they forgot to disable the USB ports.

In the case of the original iMac they weren't trying to kill the floppy drive -- they were just trying to save space and money. The floppy disk was already on its way out at that point, as they simply couldn't store the larger and larger files that were becoming common; it was only a question of whether Zip drives or CD-RW would take over.

[javisan]

I didn't like it when Apple launched the first iMac — without a floppy, SCSI or ADP. And because of that decision, I didn't buy a Mac for about a decade. I went with Windows instead.

Now, it looks like Apple is planning to kill off discs. Is that the future? I don't know.

"The best way to predict the future is to invent it."
- Alan Curtis Kay

I think it's in Apple's interest to help kill off discs. If I buy a CD in a store, or from Amazon.com, what does Apple get? If I buy music in iTunes, they can get some money. If I hook my Mac Mini up to a TV and watch a DVD, that's less iTunes revenue for Apple.

There's something wrong if a new Mac Mini comes out and I think that my early 2009 model is still the better value. The original Mac Mini was $499. This new Mac Mini — sans optical drive — is $100 more. Is the new model faster? Oh yeah! ...but what does that really mean?

With my 2009 model, I can go online, make games, render 3D graphics, create content... stuff I expect to do with a computer. It's amazing how well built this little box is. I really enjoy the power savings too. I save like $30 a month on electricity, compared to when I was using a Windows PC... and it's a lot quieter too. Macs are built to last... and I like that. I feel good that I don't consider my Mac Mini obsolete, but at some point I'm going to be buying a new computer. If I can't get a built-in optical disc, I might pick something else than a Mac Mini.

Yeah, I don't use the optical drive all that much... but I have lots of tools that I don't use that much either. Do I use a masonry drill bit every day? No... I don't have a constant need to put holes in bricks. But when I do, I'm happy to know that it's there... ready for when I need it. I don't use CDs or discs that much, but not having one would likely be noticed.

So yeah, I could spend $599 on a new Mac Mini... and then another $100 for an ugly external optical drive... but then I'm starting to get into the range of alternatives.

Is Apple innovating with the removal of the optical drive or are they trying to steer the future in their favor?

Considering that I think the Mac Mini would be better with a Blu-Ray/DVD/CD drive, I'm disappointed with Apple. But, with technologies like AirPlay and iCloud, I shouldn't be too surprised with the recent changes to Apple hardware.

Agree with you 100%

That's why I went ahead and purchased last night the 2010 Mac Mini (with free parallels 6) from B&H for $554.95. I plan to upgrade it to 8gb. This system will be more than enough for my needs for the next few years.

[beeman07]

I agree with Apple's decision to move towards an optical-less future, but with 100s of DVDs I need an integrated DVD drive in my HTPC. Ripping all but the most watched discs is a huge waste of time and hard drive space.

So, it was with some reluctance that I ordered a 2010 Mac Mini this morning (Mac Mall closeout (http://www.macmall.com/p/Apple-Mac-Mini/product~dpno~8160087~pdp.gbihacg)). It might not have the horsepower of the 2011 model, but it will be big upgrade to my AppleTV.

[xheathen]

I too am curious what the inside of the new mac mini looks like with the optical drive removed. Is there enough room to add another HDD or possibly put a SSD in there? You can see the BTO options show you can combo SSD+HDD, so they surely have the connectors for them both.

But I really have no idea why so many people seem upset by the lack of an optical drive. I kind of feel like if Apple did choose to put the optical drive in, we'd have the same amount of people bitching it wasn't bluray :)

The new mac minis are great in two ways: it provides an excellent upgrade for a decently powerful desktop computer that can do all the regular stuff most people need. The second reason is that it drove down the prices of the 2010 minis, which are absolutely fine for a htpc. The main reason people didn't use them before is because, yet again, too many people bitched they didn't have bluray drives. So just let that ship sail, get the 2010 mini, buy an external bluray drive if you are fanatic, and bring it all together in plex. Or just buy an apple tv and convert your library into that format.

[Nanker/Phelge]

I too am curious what the inside of the new mac mini looks like with the optical drive removed. Is there enough room to add another HDD or possibly put a SSD in there? You can see the BTO options show you can combo SSD+HDD, so they surely have the connectors for them both.

But I really have no idea why so many people seem upset by the lack of an optical drive. I kind of feel like if Apple did choose to put the optical drive in, we'd have the same amount of people bitching it wasn't bluray :)

The new mac minis are great in two ways: it provides an excellent upgrade for a decently powerful desktop computer that can do all the regular stuff most people need. The second reason is that it drove down the prices of the 2010 minis, which are absolutely fine for a htpc. The main reason people didn't use them before is because, yet again, too many people bitched they didn't have bluray drives. So just let that ship sail, get the 2010 mini, buy an external bluray drive if you are fanatic, and bring it all together in plex. Or just buy an apple tv and convert your library into that format.

Early reports seem to say there is room for another HDD/SSD but there is no cable provided (from replaced optical drive) to hook it one up to. I'm looking forward to iFixit's teardown to see for myself...

[G4er?]

Hardly the case. I take it you haven't seen the MacBook Air SuperDrive ? I've got one of those and it's the size of a CD/DVD case.

So in other words Apple could have made the Mini case just a tiny bit taller and could have still offered a neater, easier to use internal drive.

[javisan]

So in other words Apple could have made the Mini case just a tiny bit taller and could have still offered a neater, easier to use internal drive.

They didn't have to make it taller, at least in the base model, all they needed to do was just leave it in! Right now the base model has just empty space inside. There is no justification for this, other than extreme corporate greed and arrogance. This would have been acceptable maybe in 2016, but not in 2011. No matter what some people say, disks are not going away anytime soon.

They should have at least left the ODD in the $599 model and eliminated it in the other models.

[TheBaconKing]

They didn't have to make it taller, at least in the base model, all they needed to do was just leave it in! Right now the base model has just empty space inside. There is no justification for this, other than extreme corporate greed and arrogance. This would have been acceptable maybe in 2016, but not in 2011. No matter what some people say, disks are not going away anytime soon.

They should have at least left the ODD in the $599 model and eliminated it in the other models.

I would rather have them used the extra space to design the inside to allow easy hard drive replacement like RAM. I don't care about an optical drive, but I do like upgrading the HDD without having to pay apple tax. So I am a little ticked about that.

[MTI]

All the makers of external USB DVD drives, like Samsung, LG, Toshiba, Sony and Targus . . . all had a joint orgasm this week. ;)

[turfmate1]

It's the Air of desktops.

It seems strange, since the base model can't be upgraded with a second drive. What are they doing with the extra space? The mini has seemed like a great HTPC, especially since the HDMI port was added. Personally, I abandoned physical disks a couple of years ago, so I'm not worried about it, but I guess there must be someone out there still buying DVDs...

The graphics card takes the place of the second hard drive in the $799 unit and also why the server goes back to shared graphics.

[Jimmdean]

The graphics card takes the place of the second hard drive in the $799 unit and also why the server goes back to shared graphics.

that's not right - the $799 unit has the option for 2 drives - the reason the base unit does not is that the base unit is the base unit - it never really has those options. The reason the server goes back to the 3000 is either so it does not cannibalize iMac or price/profit or some sort of licensing thing...

[admanimal]

Another $100 to get one on top of the mini itself.

More like $35 for a 3rd party USB dvd burner.

[QuantumLo0p]

I like the new Mini although I am going to use my 2010 Mini for a while yet. The lack of an optical drive is a bummer, as it is for many people out there. I basically agree that direction is fine but it is a big step. I would imagine many people feel the drive exclusion is money better spent on other worthy components, which I understand, but many people still use an optical drive.

I still need to make bootable iso images for hdd firmware upgrades. I was also thinking of building a new Smoothwall router and I need a bootable iso image to install it on old pc hardware. I wonder if I can boot an iso image from usb or a sd/sdhc card to do a hdd firmware upgrade? As for making a Smoothie, it will be using old pc hardware so I doubt I can boot from usb on it.

My 2010 still does everything my family needs it to do so I probably won't upgrade this time around; perhaps 2012? If I make any hardware purchases it will probably be to build a fast rig for gaming and occasional cad/cam/cae work.

Overall I give the new Mini a thumbs up. If I were in the market for one I would definitely choose the 2.5GHz model that has nice graphics. Good job Apple.
:)

[Max Xinzou]

Corporate greed and strategic marketing killed the Mini with Superdrive for me. I presently have 5 computers in the house and 2 of them are Minis. Clearly, the feature set of the Apple TV is so purposely limited that people feel steered to Apple to rent movies and tv shows. I can't wait until Firecore's aTV2 hack comes out of beta. Now, even the mini is crippled. Yes, the unit in the kitchen is used to play movies for my young niece and nephew, while I learn what else they're not eating this week. And, the other unit sits underneath a 26" Samsung multifunction display. It is a versatile and thrifty configuration that can be changed one part at a time as the household budget allows. Can't really see an Apple all-in-one iAppliance that I would have to completely replace and wouldn't find as useful as this combo. (Oh yeah, there is a great firewire iSight that is elegantly attached with clear lucite to the rear Vesa mount!) AND, call me geezer, but I actually do burn CD's and DL DVD's with the Superdrive. Do you notice how we're never told that consumer demand has waned to the point of these configuration no longer being viable to make and sell. Nooooo, real Steve Jobs has pushed us off a cliff and has begun to force us into iStores to buy our software and to rent poor digital copies of quickly expiring licensed movies. I hear Axel Rose singing welcome to the iJungle in the background! Less choice and more Apple cha-ching! I guess eliminating the Superdrive option actually helps create more jobs, too! Yeah, yeah, I know, just buy the bloody usb add-on and stop your whining. Buy ya know, I've already got an airport extreme with external time maching drive and another drive as NAS, sitting on top of multiple usb hubs and with a network switch on top of all that. No, that old slightly taller mini with the machined slot was kind of elegant. Is the hard drive to be pulled next as we're all asked to migrate to the "trust us", small use fee, iCloud? Nope, just doesn't seem right by me!

[T'hain Esh Kelch]

I too am curious what the inside of the new mac mini looks like with the optical drive removed. Is there enough room to add another HDD or possibly put a SSD in there? You can see the BTO options show you can combo SSD+HDD, so they surely have the connectors for them both.
iFixit just confirmed that there is room for one more!

[hitekalex]

iFixit just confirmed that there is room for one more!

Of course there is room, but you need to figure how to get a drive assembly, and a custom mini-SATA connector cable. Without these - you won't be able to install 2nd drive.

[spda242]

Just buy a superdrive,problem solved!

External SuperDrive
Compact and convenient, the external MacBook Air SuperDrive connects to your Mac mini with a single USB cable. It lets you install new software and play and burn both CDs and DVDs, including double-layer DVDs.

Everything you need in an optical drive.

You can play and burn both CDs and DVDs with the MacBook Air SuperDrive connected to your Mac mini. It's perfect when you want to watch a DVD movie, install software, create backup discs, and more.


The essence of simplicity.

You'll never have to worry about lost cables with the MacBook Air SuperDrive. There’s no power adapter, and it connects to your Mac mini with a single USB cable that's built into the SuperDrive.

Technical Details

Slot-loading 8x SuperDrive (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
Writes DVD+R DL and DVD-R DL discs at up to 4x speed
Writes DVD-R and DVD+R discs at up to 8x speed
Writes DVD-RW at up to 6x speed and DVD+RW discs at up to 8x speed
Reads DVDs at up to 8x speed
Writes CD-R discs at up to 24x speed
Writes CD-RW discs at up to 16x speed
Reads CDs at up to 24x speed

Apple MacBook Air SuperDrive $79.00

[spda242]

Not to say I'm surprised. It's a blow to people who buy the mini to use as an htpc, but oh well, that's the way physical media is going.

I have never used the DVD drive in My Mac Mini HTPC, if I need to watch a DVD I rip it and handbrake it on My fastest computer...All My CDs are gone and stored in iTunes and My DVDs are going next:)

[Outrigger]

The graphics card takes the place of the second hard drive in the $799 unit and also why the server goes back to shared graphics.

um.. the gpu is soldered on the motherboard which is about the size of a nickle. what does that have to do with the space of the hard drive?

[Liquinn]

Shall I buy a 15" Macbook Pro and a Mac Mini or a 17" Macbook Pro?

Cheers

[TheBaconKing]

Shall I buy a 15" Macbook Pro and a Mac Mini or a 17" Macbook Pro?

Cheers

About 2 years ago I would have said the 17 MacBook Pro.. Since then I have been ripping all my DVDs to my computer. I want a mini now to store them and be able to play them anytime without having to turn on my laptop. Or be able to stream them to my iPad with Air Video. I always am turning off my MacBook Pro when I leave so I cannot really use Air Video. Also I don't really care for large laptops. I carry mine to class with me and the 13" is perfect for that.

I'm actually thinking about selling my Pro and buying an Air to go with a Mac Mini.

[eljanitor]

They got rid of it on the server edition first. Mac mini has always been a great machine for the price. Looks like the days of ( DVD/ CD )discs are becoming a thing of the past for all computers now.

[MTI]

Media come and go . . . I still have a USB 3.5" floppy/Compact Flash/SD external, along with external DVD writer and a Zip100 drive . . . just in case. ;)

[G4er?]

The essence of simplicity.


Internal is even simpler.

[NoNameBrand]

So much faster and cheaper? I think it's a no brainer.

Yeah, what he said.

I like the new specs on the Mini, but he is less cute without his "mouth" lol

Sharpie and a ruler?

[dmk1974]

This may be a dumb question, but is an internal superdrive going to write DVDs any faster than a USB external superdrive? 8X I think is 10.8 MBps and USB 2.0 spec is up to 60 MBps, but does it really ever run that fast? When I transfer from an external USB hard drive, I usually only get around 25 MBps.

[tommyr]

I was all excited about the new discreet chip but damn if I am going to buy one without built in optical.



I agree. No optical drive is flat out stupid. People DO still use them, me included. You'd have to add an external drive which defeats the purpose of the Mini.

[Tulpa]

This may be a dumb question, but is an internal superdrive going to write DVDs any faster than a USB external superdrive? 8X I think is 10.8 MBps and USB 2.0 spec is up to 60 MBps, but does it really ever run that fast? When I transfer from an external USB hard drive, I usually only get around 25 MBps.

In either case the USB transfer is much faster than the disc writing, so it shouldn't matter (at least with regard to speed) whether it's internal or external. The bottleneck is inside the DVD writer itself.

[henry72]

I think is a really good idea. I'm actually waiting for them to get rid of the Optical Drive on iMac so that I can buy one with a redesign of the iMac :D

People... we should move on!!! If you really need one, get an external one ;)

[Resist]

I have been considering the Mac Mini as a media center for years and was thinking this would be the year I purchase one....until I saw the new version doesn't have an optical drive. For me that's a big issue.

I had also hoped to play Battlefield 2 on it, kind of hard to do now without a way to put it in the Mac Mini.

[wordoflife]

Thing is, they dropped $100 off the price tag of the Mac Mini.
So, if you need an optical drive, add $79 for an external one and it's still cheaper than what the last generation would have costed you.

[weckart]

that's not right - the $799 unit has the option for 2 drives - the reason the base unit does not is that the base unit is the base unit - it never really has those options. The reason the server goes back to the 3000 is either so it does not cannibalize iMac or price/profit or some sort of licensing thing...

None of those. Try thermal issues. Quadcore cpu + discrete gpu under load = meltdown.

um.. the gpu is soldered on the motherboard which is about the size of a nickle. what does that have to do with the space of the hard drive?

I dare say its heatsink robs a few cms, though not enough. Yet to see the teardown of the version with the ati gpu.

[G4er?]

Spending money for an external optical drive isn't the issue. The issue is having no choice but to use an external drive with what is supposed to be a desktop computer. As a desktop computer it doesn't have to be the lightest or the smallest because it isn't meant to be as portable as a laptop or tablet. The Mini could be one inch taller or three inches taller and it would still be small.
For many of us the optical drive is still a basic need and will be for some time to come. What is supposed to be the beauty of a desktop computer is its ability to house things internally. Why do you think so many of us have been screaming for something sized between the Mini and the Mac Pro? We know we don't need the horsepower of the Mac Pro and don't need all the space that big case offers but we want more than the Mini provides.

As for myself if Apple offered the iMac is a mid sized headless design that was big enough for two hard drives and an optical drive I would gladly pay $1500 for it. That's right, I'd pay a premium above the cost of an iMac with a screen in order to have one without it in a mid sized case.

[Baby Mac]

No problem here. There are Super Drives in my iMac I could share if I needed to. Picking one up today!!

The iMac is next to get the ax.

Early reports seem to say there is room for another HDD/SSD but there is no cable provided (from replaced optical drive) to hook it one up to. I'm looking forward to iFixit's teardown to see for myself...

For all the posters smiling as they remove a feature valued by many, why don't you tear out the optical drives in your 2010 minis and give the cable to those folks who have a 2011 mini with an empty space where they could put in another hard drive.

Just buy a superdrive,problem solved!

External SuperDrive
Compact and convenient, the external MacBook Air SuperDrive connects to your Mac mini with a single USB cable. It lets you install new software and play and burn both CDs and DVDs, including double-layer DVDs.

Everything you need in an optical drive.

* * *

The essence of simplicity.


That's already built in to my 2010 mini. Next you'll extol the virtues of removing wireless capability, then tell us that Bluetooth is antiquated, and all the ports in back need to go because one Thunderbolt is all you need.

I have never used the DVD drive in My Mac Mini HTPC, if I need to watch a DVD I rip it and handbrake it on My fastest computer...All My CDs are gone and stored in iTunes and My DVDs are going next:)

Your fastest computer is next, if Jobs has anything to say about it. No more ripping for you!

http://www.iphone-news.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/soup-nazi-jobs-no-blue-ray-320x222.jpg

http://www.tipb.com/images/stories/soup-nazi-jobs-no-flash.jpg

[MattyO]

I think is a really good idea. I'm actually waiting for them to get rid of the Optical Drive on iMac so that I can buy one with a redesign of the iMac :D

People... we should move on!!! If you really need one, get an external one ;)

I agree. The next Imac in my opinion will be sans optical drive.

[T'hain Esh Kelch]

Shall I buy a 15" Macbook Pro and a Mac Mini or a 17" Macbook Pro?

Cheers
How do you expect any of us to answer that question, unless you are buying it for one of us?

[bcojoe]

I save like $30 a month on electricity, compared to when I was using a Windows PC...

I hope you didn't just trash that Windows machine! I'm sure the Smithsonian, or Guinness, or Ripley's...Someone would be interested in paying big bucks for a computer that consumes more electricity than a water heater. Well, my water heater anyway. I'm sure a water heater in a household of more than 1 person who's rarely home might use more electricity than your old PC. But still... $30/month. That's incredible!!!

Or maybe you were exaggerating just slightly for dramatic effect.

Or maybe you really think that. Yikes.

[Photics]

I hope you didn't just trash that Windows machine! I'm sure the Smithsonian, or Guinness, or Ripley's...Someone would be interested in paying big bucks for a computer that consumes more electricity than a water heater. Well, my water heater anyway. I'm sure a water heater in a household of more than 1 person who's rarely home might use more electricity than your old PC. But still... $30/month. That's incredible!!!

Or maybe you were exaggerating just slightly for dramatic effect.

Or maybe you really think that. Yikes.

I used to run my PC all the time, with the Folding@Home GPU client. I had to upgrade the power supply to accommodate the video card — an NVIDIA GeForce 9800. That's not really such an antiquated piece of technology. Actually, power hungry video cards seems to be the norm for Windows PC — especially with PCs setup for gaming.

So, roughly 400 Watts per hour... at approximately 20¢ per kilowatt hour... is roughly $2 a day or $60 a month. Even without all the folding stuff, it's roughly 200 Watts per hour, that's still $30 a month. I saw a significant drop on my electric bill soon after switching to my Mac Mini.

With my Mac Mini, I haven't figured out a way to run the NVIDIA GeForce 9400 for CUDA based folding@home... so that is a huge power savings. (I tried to figure it out, but it didn't work.) But even without that, my Mac Mini is quiet. It's more like a laptop than a desktop, but it's still peppy enough to get my work done.

[timiambeing]

I agree. No optical drive is flat out stupid. People DO still use them, me included. You'd have to add an external drive which defeats the purpose of the Mini.

Its a killer for me as well, I wanted the Mac Mini as a home theatre unit under the 50" plasma, not much point in that if my family can't just put in a DVD and watch it! And what about ripping audio CD's to iTunes - and no I don't want a bloody add-on super drive, or use my MacBook superdrive and transfer the damn files - more boxes, more cables! Don't you lot who say 'just get a USB DVD drive' realise what's going on here? Most people who buy this will not have a clue it hasn't got a optical drive, so when they want to buy software for it what will they do - ah! they will use the App Store! How convenient for Mr. Apple, another locked off and certified platinum plated revenue stream! And when they want to add some music or a movie - ah! iTunes store! This is getting silly now, I am starting to talk about Apple the way I used to talk about Microsoft a few years ago - don't these corporate morons realise we actually 'know' whats going on? Do they think we are all certifiably stupid? I was going to fill my new house with Apple gear, Mac Mini as the central home theatre unit, AX's in every room feeding powered speakers, AE bringing in the wireless, iPad for a remote... it goes on. I love the gear, I am starting to hate the company... not good PR :-/

[MJL]

Its a killer for me as well, I wanted the Mac Mini as a home theatre unit under the 50" plasma, not much point in that if my family can't just put in a DVD and watch it! And what about ripping audio CD's to iTunes - and no I don't want a bloody add-on super drive, or use my MacBook superdrive and transfer the damn files - more boxes, more cables! Don't you lot who say 'just get a USB DVD drive' realise what's going on here? Most people who buy this will not have a clue it hasn't got a optical drive, so when they want to buy software for it what will they do - ah! they will use the App Store! How convenient for Mr. Apple, another locked off and certified platinum plated revenue stream! And when they want to add some music or a movie - ah! iTunes store! This is getting silly now, I am starting to talk about Apple the way I used to talk about Microsoft a few years ago - don't these corporate morons realise we actually 'know' whats going on? Do they think we are all certifiably stupid? I was going to fill my new house with Apple gear, Mac Mini as the central home theatre unit, AX's in every room feeding powered speakers, AE bringing in the wireless, iPad for a remote... it goes on. I love the gear, I am starting to hate the company... not good PR :-/

I am so glad I did not wait and bought my Mac Mini 10 days before the new Mini came out. If I look at all the hoops I have to go through to do a restore and how long it takes then I regret going to Apple hardware (but I like the form factor and the low noise level). No DVD is a killer for me and I am not going to add an external (USB) DVD. Takes away the "cute" factor. (on my Windows 7 laptop it takes me less than 5 minutes to restore my machine from backup, on the Mini I am talking hours....)

Apple imho is far worse than M$N ever was. I am suprised that they have not been broken up yet and that no one has started some anti-competitive behaviour proceedings against them. A month ago I was blissfully unaware of their antics but especially their iPhone reporting stuff got me irked no end. (reporting what program you start, when you stop it and where you are located at that moment through GPS positioning). That is a no-no for me so it is a given that as soon as something comparable comes on the market locally (and able to run windows natively) that can take over from the Mac Mini that I will no longer be an Apple customer. A first and a last here.

[Resist]

Thing is, they dropped $100 off the price tag of the Mac Mini.
So, if you need an optical drive, add $79 for an external one and it's still cheaper than what the last generation would have costed you.That may be true but an external drive also requires yet another electrical outlet. And even with a power strip, I am about maxed out for plugs. I wish these devices just daisy chained off each other for power.

[Kyahx]

That may be true but an external drive also requires yet another electrical outlet. And even with a power strip, I am about maxed out for plugs. I wish these devices just daisy chained off each other for power.

Except that the external SuperDrive Apple sells for $79 is bus powered, so it's a single USB cable and that is it...no extra brick or outlet required. I've also seen a number of slim external DVD drives that are USB powered for as low as $30.

[MattyO]

Most people who buy this will not have a clue it hasn't got a optical drive, so when they want to buy software for it what will they do - ah! they will use the App Store! How convenient for Mr. Apple, another locked off and certified platinum plated revenue stream! And when they want to add some music or a movie - ah! iTunes store! not good PR :-/

I am sure this was a main reason that the optical drive was dropped. It only makes sense $ wise. It makes it a lot easier for people to justify buying music off iTunes.

[-SD-]

Also, this last week I purchased some software for $200, it came on 3 DVD's. There is no way that if this was on the app store that I would even think of downloading it.

I really don't understand why you wouldn't buy the same software from the App Store? It could end up cheaper than buying it on DVD, and would be exactly the same. If your HDD dies, the software licence is tied to your Apple ID so you can just download it again, and that's only if you don't have a current back-up to restore from.

The removal of the Super-Drive was inevitable, and I'm glad to see they've started the process. I'm sure the next iMac update will definitely remove the optical drive from the 21", maybe even the 27" too. If that means better GPU and CPU options then that's really awesome.

I really don't know a single person who bothers with CDs or DVDs now. Everyone I deal with uses USB pens/HDDs or SD cards if it has to be on a physical format.

:apple:

[Aussieiphone]

I really don't know a single person who bothers with CDs or DVDs now.

Roflmao

Whilst solar flares or other magnetic fields wiping HDDs is unlikely, DVDs @ 10c each, is cheap/mb for archiving/giving photos & movies to friends family (YouTube is good but not always ideal and not everyone uses FB or will on principle).

As an HTPC the previous model was the pinnacle. HD streams perfect and DVDs/CDs play great - not to mention ripping them too.

[Resist]

I really don't understand why you wouldn't buy the same software from the App Store?Maybe he's running Windows on his Mini and it was PC software.

[MJL]

I really don't know a single person who bothers with CDs or DVDs now. Everyone I deal with uses USB pens/HDDs or SD cards if it has to be on a physical format.


1) need to run windows 7. Comes on a DVD...
2) want legacy MS Office for Mac. Comes on a DVD...
3) I may have a virus / trojan. Will infect any writeable backup media but not a backup on a DVD...
4) have a CD with some scratches. Need to make a backup before I cannot read it any more.....

and how many people have lost their pictures or music because of a virus or HDD crash? You may be able to download the iTunes music again but how about the music that was ripped from CD, how are you going to re-rip it....

What about those precious pictures that you have no physical media for........

and what about those countries where they have no broadband? (or no broadband outside the main centres....)

and what about those countries where the broadband is capped at 3 Gb / month......

There is still a very valid use for the DVD/CD, not having one build in is a killer for me.... (this is why I did not have any interest in the server) I can understand from a business perspective the push to iTunes but it might backfire badly. At one stage CD sales dropped completely away but after several people have lost their whole music collection (lost iPod etc) the CD sales have gone up again. Shees wonder why....

If you do not want to use it than that's fine. If it is not in the ultra light laptops that's fine. But no excuse for not having it in a desktop or in the desktop' replacement laptops.

You'll find that those who have been around longer than just a few years still do not trust writeable media for backup. Oh yes, you rely on anti virus / anti malware software but that very software slows the computer down by HOW MUCH???!!!!!! Some of us cannot afford that slowdown! (i've got a special database and write more than a billion (with a B) records per hour.....

You can protect whatever you want but if there is a lightning strike close by then everything electric may be fried in your home. You'll be o so glad you had those pictures on a DVD....

[Mr.C]

1) need to run windows 7. Comes on a DVD...
2) want legacy MS Office for Mac. Comes on a DVD...
3) I may have a virus / trojan. Will infect any writeable backup media but not a backup on a DVD...
4) have a CD with some scratches. Need to make a backup before I cannot read it any more.....

and how many people have lost their pictures or music because of a virus or HDD crash? You may be able to download the iTunes music again but how about the music that was ripped from CD, how are you going to re-rip it....

What about those precious pictures that you have no physical media for........

and what about those countries where they have no broadband? (or no broadband outside the main centres....)

and what about those countries where the broadband is capped at 3 Gb / month......

There is still a very valid use for the DVD/CD, not having one build in is a killer for me.... (this is why I did not have any interest in the server) I can understand from a business perspective the push to iTunes but it might backfire badly. At one stage CD sales dropped completely away but after several people have lost their whole music collection (lost iPod etc) the CD sales have gone up again. Shees wonder why....

If you do not want to use it than that's fine. If it is not in the ultra light laptops that's fine. But no excuse for not having it in a desktop or in the desktop' replacement laptops.

You'll find that those who have been around longer than just a few years still do not trust writeable media for backup. Oh yes, you rely on anti virus / anti malware software but that very software slows the computer down by HOW MUCH???!!!!!! Some of us cannot afford that slowdown! (i've got a special database and write more than a billion (with a B) records per hour.....

You can protect whatever you want but if there is a lightning strike close by then everything electric may be fried in your home. You'll be o so glad you had those pictures on a DVD....

Come on don't you think you're being overly dramatic. Anyone would think Apple not including an optical drive in the new Minis is a sign that the World is coming to an end. Apple has always been the initiater in these kind of moves but they are never the only ones. In time all computer hardware manufacturers will go the same way and discontinue the inclusion of optical drives. At the end of the day you have a choice. You can either stick with old hardware or accept the new one the way it is. It's not like you cannot use optical drives/media at all with the new Minis.

[Photics]

At one stage CD sales dropped completely away but after several people have lost their whole music collection (lost iPod etc) the CD sales have gone up again.

From Apple's perspective, they have a pretty good response to this issue. If I lose an app on my iPhone and my desktop, I can still get it back again from the cloud. So, it's not like I really need to backup my apps. (I've never bought a song from iTunes, so I don't know how that works... but I imagine Apple is backing that up too.)

This really just the first stage in the coming Cloud wars.

Personally, I like having a CD music collection. I have a big stack of CDs next to my desk and I like it. Maybe that makes me old-fashioned, but I think it's cool to have a stack of books or disks along the wall.

Why do I feel this way? It's because I hate the cloud. This is nothing new. I've been hearing the praises of cloud computing for about a decade. I don't see it as a feature. I see it as less control over my stuff... music, applications, documents... on hardware that I don't own... I don't like that. I don't trust it.

I've seen servers and the Internet go down lots of times.
I don't remember when one of my CDs or DVDs ever failed me.

And even if everything goes perfect with the cloud... whoops... the company got sold or the policies changed — maybe they want to start charging for what used to be available for free. I don't know, but I know that I generally don't worry about my CD/DVD collection going bad. The only real threat that I see to my CD/DVD collection are the protagonists of the cloud... and Apple is clearly a cloud protagonist.

[adnoh]

My brother has a desktop that is near end of life. I was going to try and convince him to buy a mac mini to replace the desktop BUT the lack of optical drive is a definite deal breaker.

How does one watch DVDs? Install windows?

Its ok for us mac guys but the mac mini was designed for windows users to be able to easily replace their windows based desktop with a mac. This is very visibly advertised in the mac mini section.

[Mr.C]

My brother has a desktop that is near end of life. I was going to try and convince him to buy a mac mini to replace the desktop BUT the lack of optical drive is a definite deal breaker.

How does one watch DVDs? Install windows?

Its ok for us mac guys but the mac mini was designed for windows users to be able to easily replace their windows based desktop with a mac. This is very visibly advertised is the mac mini section.

Simple. Use an external DVD drive like the MacBook Air SuperDrive. That said whilst there may some people who use an HTPC to watch DVD's most people use a dedicated DVD player or a games console. I use my old HD-DVD player for my PAL DVD's and my PS3 for my NTSC DVD's and Blue Rays.

[sporadicMotion]

This is very reminiscent of the Blueberry G3. People will complain for about a year or so.

[aristobrat]

There is still a very valid use for the DVD/CD
Gesh, if you need a DVD/CD drive, buy one!

For $79, you can get a bus-powered (i.e. no external power brick) and extremely slim external SuperDrive.

And if you take that $79 cost and add it to the cost of the 2011 base mini, you still end up paying *less* overall than it cost to buy the previous generation base mini.

[DarthMoops]

That said whilst there may some people who use an HTPC to watch DVD's most people use a dedicated DVD player or a games console.

I will second what you said.

If someone is that into their home theater system or entertainment center that they would connect a mini to it I'd think they likely already have; the requisite big LCD TV, 5.1 or 7.1 speakers, a receiver, Xbox/PS3 (there's your Blue Ray player), along with DVD player, and maybe VHS player for us old coots.

So then if a person can drop $600+ on a mini for this setup, then save a little (or maybe a lot) of wear and tear on it and get a dedicated DVD player for $40.

Don't get me wrong, I wish they would have kept the slot in the new mini. Maybe even made it 1-2 inches taller to accommodate the slot and for cooling. But other than that I think Apple hit it out of the park with this mini. I didn't think an i7 would be an option at all and had a suspicion they might drop the Firewire port.

[Photics]

For $79, you can get a bus-powered (i.e. no external power brick) and extremely slim external SuperDrive.

And if you take that $79 cost and add it to the cost of the 2011 base mini, you still end up paying *less* overall than it cost to buy the previous generation base mini.

Interesting... the original base Mac Mini was $499. I forgot that the price for a base Mac Mini went as high as $699.

http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2010/06/15Apple-Unveils-All-New-Mac-mini.html

Yet, the superdrive is not the same size as the new Mac Mini.

2011 Mac Mini = 7.7 inches X 7.7 inches
Superdrive = 5.47 inches x 5.47 inches

Not since the Sega Genesis / Sega CD / 32 X combo would I own such poorly aligned add-on hardware. One of the main reasons in buying a Mac is because it's elegant. I look forward to seeing Apple's creative designs. Not much has changed in years. The Mac Mini of 2005 is not that much different looking than the Mac Mini of today... except that it's missing an optical drive. I consider that a negative. It looks like I'm getting less, when the box actually has more power.

The iMac has gone from being a fish tank, to a shaving mirror, to basically just a monitor. That's a radical change, and I think it became more elegant with each major revision.

The Mac Mini is just a little box. Does it really need to be that much smaller? I can see that space matters if you're going to mount them in a server rack, but for general consumer use... disks are still common.

Maybe Apple could have created an Expansion Bay and let the customer decide what they want... optical drive, second hard drive or something like that.

[Tulpa]

2011 Mac Mini = 7.7 inches X 7.7 inches
Superdrive = 5.47 inches x 5.47 inches

Not since the Sega Genesis / Sega CD / 32 X combo would I own such poorly aligned add-on hardware.

lol, good one.

Wait, you're serious?

[sporadicMotion]

Yet, the superdrive is not the same size as the new Mac Mini.

2011 Mac Mini = 7.7 inches X 7.7 inches
Superdrive = 5.47 inches x 5.47 inches

Not since the Sega Genesis / Sega CD / 32 X combo would I own such poorly aligned add-on hardware. One of the main reasons in buying a Mac is because it's elegant. I look forward to seeing Apple's creative designs. Not much has changed in years. The Mac Mini of 2005 is not that much different looking than the Mac Mini of today... except that it's missing an optical drive. I consider that a negative. It looks like I'm getting less, when the box actually has more power.

The USB superdrive was designed to go with the MacBook Air which is why they don't "align" but why should it matter? Just put it away when your not using it... leads to way less clutter on your workspace.

Just my 0.02

PS - Sega CD was hilarious :p

[Ieo]

I just ordered a slim, bus-powered DVD burner off newegg for $30...(along with 8gb of ram for $50)....For the few and far between instances where I actually use optical media, it's a perfectly adequate solution for me.

Now to scrounge up a cheap SSD to throw into that empty space and BAM- Epic Home theatre.

[MJL]

An external (USB) DVD player won't do. I like the mid 2010 Mac Mini because it did away with the power brick, less cables to clutter up the place.

Similarly I do not want to clutter up the place by having an USB DVD player, nor do I want to have to plug it in - I am making weekly a backup on DVD.

How long do you think the connectors will last if you plug / unplug the thing every time? That gold coating will start to come off pretty quickly and with it goes the reliability.

They could just have done like in the desktop replacement laptops: have a slot that either can take a HDD or a DVD/CD.

On another note: I just upgraded my memory from the standard 2 Gb to 4 Gb from OWC. The OWC changed the Windows 7 (64 bit) memory experience under Boot Camp version 3.2 from 5.5 to 5.9. Impressed with the memory change.

I am expecting that in due time this mid 2010 Mac Mini will be included in the Apple "Hall of Fame" as being the smallest fully functioning (without accessories) desktop Mac. It is more versatile than the new ones.

[AVonGauss]

To each their own regarding feelings about the DVD drive removal, but I definitely would recommend against DVD based backups. A mass production DVD might outlive us all, but a DVD-R can easily become degraded based on time and environmental conditions. You'd be better off using an external drive or SDHC card for backups.

[Ieo]

An external (USB) DVD player won't do. I like the mid 2010 Mac Mini because it did away with the power brick, less cables to clutter up the place.

Similarly I do not want to clutter up the place by having an USB DVD player, nor do I want to have to plug it in - I am making weekly a backup on DVD.

How long do you think the connectors will last if you plug / unplug the thing every time? That gold coating will start to come off pretty quickly and with it goes the reliability.

They could just have done like in the desktop replacement laptops: have a slot that either can take a HDD or a DVD/CD.

On another note: I just upgraded my memory from the standard 2 Gb to 4 Gb from OWC. The OWC changed the Windows 7 (64 bit) memory experience under Boot Camp version 3.2 from 5.5 to 5.9. Impressed with the memory change.

I am expecting that in due time this mid 2010 Mac Mini will be included in the Apple "Hall of Fame" as being the smallest fully functioning (without accessories) desktop Mac. It is more versatile than the new ones.


If YOU don't like it....don't buy it. I have very little use for an optical drive (In the two years I owned my last macbook, I probably used the optical drive less than a dozen times. Seriously....)

While you spit shine your "Hall of Fame" C2D mini and quake at the thought of anything different, I'll be getting along splendidly with my core i7 mini.

To each their own. ;)

[ForeverG5]

In essence, I have to agree with Ieo. Ultimately, if the Mac Mini without an optical drive (or even the MacBook Air) does not suit your needs, don't buy it. No one is being forced into an optical drive-less world just YET. However, I do believe that it is the way of the future. I know there are a bunch of users, including myself at times for my work, who still need physical media but I think that as the hardware changes, other options for sharing media will become available to make up for the loss of CD/DVDs. My thoughts are described more clearly on the topic in this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WKG4hACGaY&feature=channel_video_title. In the end though, just remember that Apple has offered us an external optical drive and I think that will be available to us for a long time to come. Even long after Apple kills the built-in optical drive in ALL Macs.

[Mavimao]

Were you guys around in 1998 when the iMac first came out and had no floppy drive, no serial ports (meaning 90% of printers, gamepads, and other peripherals could not hook up to it)and not even Apple's own ADB survived... ?

THAT caused quite the s***storm.

[Ieo]

This makes me excited for the next 13" MBP refresh....remove the optical drive to make space for extra cooling and discrete graphics...hell, maybe even enough room for an extra hard drive too.

[Mavimao]

This makes me excited for the next 13" MBP refresh....remove the optical drive to make space for extra cooling and discrete graphics...hell, maybe even enough room for an extra drive too.

I forsee Apple axing the optical drive in the 13" and 15" macbook pro...and doing dual harddrive systems à la mini. SSD for system and applications and a regular plate drive for data.

[skottichan]

This makes me excited for the next 13" MBP refresh....remove the optical drive to make space for extra cooling and discrete graphics...hell, maybe even enough room for an extra hard drive too.

Same here. I'm sooo hoping the 13" drops the ODD for a discrete GPU. Granted, my 2009 13" is still running like a charm.

[Robellyn]

The hubaballoo about the ODD is pretty funny really ... everyone seems to complain that Apple doesn't offer any choices with their computers and yet as soon as they offer one (and yes, it IS a choice ... you buy an external if you need one, or not if you don't) everyone begins to scream foul!

Pure comedy!

[Photics]

Were you guys around in 1998 when the iMac first came out and had no floppy drive, no serial ports (meaning 90% of printers, gamepads, and other peripherals could not hook up to it)and not even Apple's own ADB survived... ?

It's why I stopped buying Macs for more than a decade. I figured if I had to buy all new hardware, I might as well go with a Windows PC — cheaper hardware, more software... especially games.

Is history going to repeat itself?

Ultimately, if the Mac Mini without an optical drive (or even the MacBook Air) does not suit your needs, don't buy it. No one is being forced into an optical drive-less world just YET.

"Yet" — that's the problem. I see this as the first push into the cloud. And while I think Apple is building a nice cloud service, I like keeping my current technology.

Fortunately, USB is a popular standard. I could get an external Optical Drive... but then I see the words... "Intel HD Graphics 3000" ...it's like the base models are really weak. New hardware releases are supposed to get customers excited. It's hard for me to get excited about the base MacBook Air... with only 2GB of RAM (no upgrades?!) and a shared memory graphics processor.

Are optical discs really that obsolete?

If the Mac Mini launched with a Blu-Ray player... or Apple launched a more powerful disc format system... wouldn't that be exciting? With a standard HDMI port, the Mac Mini would have been a perfect companion for my TV — if it had better base specs and a standard optical drive.

[WiiDSmoker]

The hubaballoo about the ODD is pretty funny really ... everyone seems to complain that Apple doesn't offer any choices with their computers and yet as soon as they offer one (and yes, it IS a choice ... you buy an external if you need one, or not if you don't) everyone begins to scream foul!

Pure comedy!

What you're referring to is not a choice.

[Tulpa]

It's why I stopped buying Macs for more than a decade. I figured if I had to buy all new hardware, I might as well go with a Windows PC — cheaper hardware, more software... especially games.

Is history going to repeat itself?

And during that decade Apple's market presence exploded. Nothing personal but it doesn't seem they missed you.

Remember the condition Apple (and the MacOS) was in in 1998?

If you're not excited about finally getting the i-core CPUs into the mini then you haven't really been following things, I think.

[theSeb]

An external (USB) DVD player won't do. I like the mid 2010 Mac Mini because it did away with the power brick, less cables to clutter up the place.

Similarly I do not want to clutter up the place by having an USB DVD player, nor do I want to have to plug it in - I am making weekly a backup on DVD.

How long do you think the connectors will last if you plug / unplug the thing every time? That gold coating will start to come off pretty quickly and with it goes the reliability.

They will last longer than the computer. It amazes me to see people, who have no idea what they're talking about, spreading their uninformed oponion as if it's the definite truth and with so much conviction. The worst part is that others actually believe it and "up-vote" the post.

[haruhiko]

I agree. The next Imac in my opinion will be sans optical drive.

No. The DVD or CD Sharing box in the spec page of the new Macbook Air and Mac Mini shows them sharing a CD/DVD over the air from an iMac.

[haruhiko]

I am so glad I did not wait and bought my Mac Mini 10 days before the new Mini came out. If I look at all the hoops I have to go through to do a restore and how long it takes then I regret going to Apple hardware (but I like the form factor and the low noise level). No DVD is a killer for me and I am not going to add an external (USB) DVD. Takes away the "cute" factor. (on my Windows 7 laptop it takes me less than 5 minutes to restore my machine from backup, on the Mini I am talking hours....)

Apple imho is far worse than M$N ever was. I am suprised that they have not been broken up yet and that no one has started some anti-competitive behaviour proceedings against them. A month ago I was blissfully unaware of their antics but especially their iPhone reporting stuff got me irked no end. (reporting what program you start, when you stop it and where you are located at that moment through GPS positioning). That is a no-no for me so it is a given that as soon as something comparable comes on the market locally (and able to run windows natively) that can take over from the Mac Mini that I will no longer be an Apple customer. A first and a last here.
Because they only own about 5% or at most less than 10% of the PC market of the world. Nobody cares about their PC business.

[zbarsky]

Next iteration of iMacs to lose the DVD drive for sure. Moving parts are on the way out and the space and money saved is better for Apple all round.

[mdgm]

Next iteration of iMacs to lose the DVD drive for sure. Moving parts are on the way out and the space and money saved is better for Apple all round.

Unfortunately I think is highly likely. Already some iMac users are receiving units with no software DVDs but Internet Recovery instead apparently.

It'll be interesting to see if the Mac Pro keeps the optical drive or not.

[kazmac]

except for burning movies. Many of the films I like are dvd only and netflix priced themselves out of the picture.

Hopefully, Mac compliant external optical drives will still be available, IF the iPad is not everything I need in a computer by the time I get done with school. I've stopped buying cds so it's only a matter of time I guess.

Still, the thing that bugs me more than no optical drive is the fact that Apple has drastically cut the educational discount (on the Mini, Air and display > those are the ones I've checked) by at least $30. As a long time student this is very disappointing to see.

[cleverbloke]

In a few years down the line, when the Mac Mini get more and more powerful i think apple will do away with the iMac not just the Optical Drive

they will sell TB Display with all the connections but no moving parts and SSD will be the norm for hard drives by then in the Mac Mini

[theSeb]

except for burning movies. Many of the films I like are dvd only and netflix priced themselves out of the picture.

Hopefully, Mac compliant external optical drives will still be available, IF the iPad is not everything I need in a computer by the time I get done with school. I've stopped buying cds so it's only a matter of time I guess.

Still, the thing that bugs me more than no optical drive is the fact that Apple has drastically cut the educational discount (on the Mini, Air and display > those are the ones I've checked) by at least $30. As a long time student this is very disappointing to see.

I am not sure what you mean by "mac compliant", but any external DVD or BR drive will work with a Mac. I am using one right now to rip my BR collection.

[bearcatrp]

Unfortunately I think is highly likely. Already some iMac users are receiving units with no software DVDs but Internet Recovery instead apparently.

It'll be interesting to see if the Mac Pro keeps the optical drive or not.

For now, yes. But, if you look how cloud computing is moving in, consumers are being moved to dumb terminals. Turn on the box, your icons will be there to click on, then the program you RENT (subscribe to) will come from their servers for you to use.

[Robellyn]

What you're referring to is not a choice.

Really? Because the way I see it, IF Apple had left he ODD in the mini, those who do not want the ODD would have no choice about paying for one. If you choose to use an ODD, you can choose to buy an external.

[Photics]

And during that decade Apple's market presence exploded. Nothing personal but it doesn't seem they missed you.

Nope, probably not... but where did Apple's success really come from in the last decade? It's the iPod... which lead to the iPhone. The only reason why I own a Mac today is because I needed it for iPhone development. That's why I don't like these latest desktop changes. It seems to take away the desktop and push things towards the iOS/Cloud world.

And again, history might prove Apple right. They're helping to kill off discs, so Apple is making their own future. This time around, I already have a good Mac. I can just wait things out. Unlike the late 90's, I don't have to worry about replacing $1000 worth of hardware. Heh, and my current Mac Mini is not a Performa 6300... I don't feel the same urgency to upgrade.

And yeah... the desktop appears to be losing ground to portable devices, so maybe Apple is right to make these changes. I'm actually happy that Apple launched hardware that is disappointing to me... that means I can save money and wait for the next generation of stuff.

Remember the condition Apple (and the MacOS) was in in 1998?

I remember the dark days of Apple, when it wasn't clear if Apple was going to live or die. I was a big Mac fan, but Apple didn't seem to care about to that. I actually wrote to Apple and asked if I could get an all-in-one G3, but I didn't even receive a reply. Macs were expensive... they're still expensive.

If you're not excited about finally getting the i-core CPUs into the mini then you haven't really been following things, I think.

What's so exciting about it really? Most of the things that I need extra computing power do so with a GPU... and the Mac Mini is really screwed up in that regard. If I want the better graphics processor, I have to spend $799. If I want the quad, I have to give up the better graphics processor and spend $999.

The base model Mac Mini has 2GB of RAM... so that stunts the power of the dual-core Intel Core i5. Apple wants $100 for the upgrade. That's expensive... especially if you start adding an external optical drive. If computing power was my main concern, I could build a Windows PC that would crush the Mac Mini. In fact, the PC under my desk now is probably more powerful than my 2009 Mac Mini.

I like the Mac Mini because it does a lot, without taking up a lot of space or electricity... and it's cheap. The way things are setup now, buying the $599 model doesn't make sense for me because of the shared memory graphics processor and the limited RAM. So, $799+$80 external optical drive a lot for an upgrade.

Is roughly double (perhaps triple) the CPU power really worth it to me? No, I think that's just too much money... especially when the external is less elegant looking.

I can use my early 2009 Mac Mini to render 3D graphics, create apps, write books, read and write CD/DVDs, make promo videos, use the Internet and more! It does it's job. And while I enjoyed looking at the benchmarks for the new Mac Mini... I currently do not have a need for that much CPU power.

I think Folding@home changed my perspective of the CPU. With CUDA GPU folding, I completed in weeks what used to take years with just a CPU.

[theSeb]

1) need to run windows 7. Comes on a DVD...Get an external drive. How many times a month do you plan to install Windows? Sure, back in win2000 and xp days I used to have to reinstall every 3 months, but I believe that things have improved now.


2) want legacy MS Office for Mac. Comes on a DVD... You can download it from MS and enter your serial or use an external drive. How often are you planning to reinstall? You could image the DVD and keep it on an install hard drive. To protect yourself against data loss, make a backup of this onto another drive. DVDs can scratch and also deteriorate over time.


3) I may have a virus / trojan. Will infect any writeable backup media but not a backup on a DVD...

A virus will only infect executable files, not your precious memories. Since you're talking about people's media this point is moot. A virus / Trojan cannot do anything to your photos or other media. You cannot backup your installed applications to a DVD. So when you mention writeable backup media, you must be talking about using an external hard drive to backup media and not applications. A virus will not do anything to this data.


4) have a CD with some scratches. Need to make a backup before I cannot read it any more.....


Yep, those pesky CDs and DVDs do get scratched and they even deteriorate over time. This is exacerbated if you live in a humid climate. I would urge you to image them to an enterprise hard drive, if the data is critical.


and how many people have lost their pictures or music because of a virus

No one, unless you're talking about an old school virus from two decades ago or so that would attempt to destroy the data on your hard drive. These days such things do not exist. Viruses only infect executable files. They cannot infect your media. They are designed to make money by stealing your info or make your computer join a botnet. They won't harm your precious memories or music. Again, get an external drive or a NAS solution and store your media there. Always have a backup. A virus cannot damage your backed up media on an external drive.

If the external disk is the only place that you have, then make a backup of that. It's safer than physical media. What about those people that have far more precious memories and other media than you can imagine? Do you really think I should try to backup 4 TBs ( WITH A T and growing) of data onto DVD discs? Or even BR discs?


or HDD crash? Hard drives crash, DVD discs deteriorate, planes fall out of the sky. These things happen. You need to lower the risk of this scenario happening. Keep multiple backups and use enterprise grade hard drives if it's really important. Off-site tape storage for mission critical stuff. It works for enterprises so it will work for you. The nice thing is that you can recover your data from a faulty HDD in most instances. I am not aware of consumer services that will allow you to recover data from a broken or badly scratched DVD.


You may be able to download the iTunes music again but how about the music that was ripped from CD, how are you going to re-rip it.... I would plug in my external BR drive and restore my music again, if I was silly to forget to back it up to an external drive. Or I would connect my backup HDD and restore it.


What about those precious pictures that you have no physical media for........

Your precious pictures can be backed up to a cloud-based solution and to an external drive.


and what about those countries where they have no broadband? (or no broadband outside the main centres....)

and what about those countries where the broadband is capped at 3 Gb / month......
What about them? Which countries would those be? I've lived in Africa and even there they don't have 3 GB caps.


There is still a very valid use for the DVD/CD, not having one build in is a killer for me.... (this is why I did not have any interest in the server) I can understand from a business perspective the push to iTunes but it might backfire badly. At one stage CD sales dropped completely away but after several people have lost their whole music collection (lost iPod etc) the CD sales have gone up again. Shees wonder why....

Do you have any proof of this other than your anecdotal evidence? CD sales are dwindling, no matter how much you deny this. DVD sales are still holding their own against streaming media.


If you do not want to use it than that's fine. If it is not in the ultra light laptops that's fine. But no excuse for not having it in a desktop or in the desktop' replacement laptops.Just use an external DVD drive. Considering the mini's size I can see plenty of logical reasons to remove it. I can also see Apple's strategy. If you don't agree with it, no one is holding you back to stay on the train.


You'll find that those who have been around longer than just a few years still do not trust writeable media for backup.

Who are these people besides you? Do you wear a tin foil hat as well? We used writeable media for backups long before DVDs and CDs and managed to survive. For how long have you been around? Not long enough, I guess? Corporations do not backup to DVD discs.


Oh yes, you rely on anti virus / anti malware software but that very software slows the computer down by HOW MUCH???!!!!!! Some of us cannot afford that slowdown! (i've got a special database and write more than a billion (with a B) records per hour.....

I actually laughed because I pictured DR Evil saying, "One billion dollars!". One billion records per hour? That is nearly 27,778 records per second. How big are these records since I do wonder how your current mac mini core 2 duo manages to run this special database, write DVDs, rip music and still allow you to surf the Internet? I thought that you couldn't afford any slowdowns? That's quite impressive indeed. What makes this database special?


You can protect whatever you want but if there is a lightning strike close by then everything electric may be fried in your home. You'll be o so glad you had those pictures on a DVD....
Moot point. Have you ever heard of a proper backup strategy? Why would you keep your backup powered on all the time? Imagine what would happen to your precious photos if you didn't have a backup strategy with offsite storage? If your house caught on fire, then it would be all gone, including your discs. Hence why a proper backup strategy is important.

You could, of course, have bought an external DVD drive and burnt discs all night long, but I have better things to do.

[G4er?]

You could, of course, have bought an external DVD drive and burnt discs all night long, but I have better things to do.

Exactly. Some of us that have CDs or DVDs do not want to spend the time ripping all of it to hard drives. If what we have works why not use it that way? But Apple getting rid of the optical drive forces one of three things that aren't really necessary. Getting an external drive for what is supposed to be a stationary desktop computer, spend all that time ripping what we already own to a hard drive or buying it all again from iTunes.

When a slightly bigger case and an option for an internal optical drive would have been the best solution.

[Mak47]

Unfortunately I think is highly likely. Already some iMac users are receiving units with no software DVDs but Internet Recovery instead apparently.

It'll be interesting to see if the Mac Pro keeps the optical drive or not.

I just had a conversation with my business partner about the Mac Pro ODD today. (we own two recording studios)

Both of us are really, really hoping they throw it out--along with HDD's. Mac Pros are not consumer grade machines. Sure, some people use them for other purposes, but they're mostly purchased by professional audio/video/media editors.

We use a Mac Pro 8 core, and a quad core in our private studio. All data is stored on external drives. All optical discs are read or burned from/to an external device as well. This is the norm for the majority of pro shops. We have to use external devices because they are the most likely to fail. If we rely on what's built in, and a drive fails, then we have to have the entire machine serviced. The work we would lose in the down time can't be justified by the convenience of an all-in-one solution.

As a result, when we (and many other pros) buy a Mac Pro, we are paying an arm and a leg for internal components that are hardly even used.

If the new version is the slim, rack-mountable design that has been rumored, it would make much more sense to do away with those things in favor of better processors & GPU options for video editors.

Really what would be perfect would be two small SSD's to boot from and load applications. Each could be cloned, thereby creating a backup system in the event that one would fail. All the data is stored externally anyway, discs are loaded externally too, so getting rid of these options creates a system that is more in tune with real professional workflow. It would take up substantially less space and potentially reduce the price as well.

When the redesign happens, and it is inevitable, I suspect that is along the lines of what we'll see--with multiple options. If they keep the current case design for the next refresh, I'd expect the ODD to stay put. The thing's so big you could practically live in it, so it would make little sense to shake things up for no reason.

[Porco]

If we rely on what's built in, and a drive fails, then we have to have the entire machine serviced. The work we would lose in the down time can't be justified by the convenience of an all-in-one solution.

Are you sure you aren't actually talking about a MacBook Pro? Otherwise your post makes very little sense to me. A Mac Pro is super-easy to swap out drives... you could install 2 SSDs in like... 3 minutes or something if you want to. There shouldn't be any need to have the machine 'serviced' just for a failed drive. All you'd need is a new drive, a screwdriver, and 1 fewer coffee break.

[theSeb]

Are you sure you aren't actually talking about a MacBook Pro? Otherwise your post makes very little sense to me. A Mac Pro is super-easy to swap out drives... you could install 2 SSDs in like... 3 minutes or something if you want to. There shouldn't be any need to have the machine 'serviced' just for a failed drive. All you'd need is a new drive, a screwdriver, and 1 fewer coffee break.

Whilst this sort of stuff may seem very simple to you and me, most people have no idea where to start and don't want to ever open their computers.

[Tulpa]

Exactly. Some of us that have CDs or DVDs do not want to spend the time ripping all of it to hard drives. If what we have works why not use it that way? But Apple getting rid of the optical drive forces one of three things that aren't really necessary. Getting an external drive for what is supposed to be a stationary desktop computer, spend all that time ripping what we already own to a hard drive or buying it all again from iTunes.

When a slightly bigger case and an option for an internal optical drive would have been the best solution.

I've had external HDDs, memory card readers, webcams, etc, hooked up to every "stationary desktop computer" I've owned in the past 10 years. What's so special about an optical drive that it must be internal? Did God come back to Mt Sinai and decree that desktop computers must have optical drives inside them or something?

I mean, if anything the optical drive is the last piece of equipment you'd want to waste internal space with, since USB transfer is faster than the disc reading mechanism itself. There is ZERO benefit from having an internal vs. external DVD drive per se. With the extra room created by removing the ODD I can get an internal HDD that will actually benefit from being internal.

Whilst this sort of stuff may seem very simple to you and me, most people have no idea where to start and don't want to ever open their computers.

Computational novices probably aren't the ones buying Mac Pros.

[MJL]

@ theSeb;

I've forgotten more than you'll ever know, you have not gotten a clue what I've done in the past 30 years.

Regarding backup, don't worry I've got that well under control. I like to see how you are going to safeguard your offsite backup against intellectual theft and other calamities. Let me assure you that weekly putting a DVD in a safe at the bank is darn hard to beat.

[AustinZ]

Because clearly there is a difference between putting a DVD burned by an internal drive into a safety deposit box, and putting a DVD burned by an external drive (or a Flash drive, for that matter) into that same safety deposit box.

[vanc]

The new Mac Mini works perfectly for me, without the built-in DVD. I barely used the DVD drives from my MBP, Windows PCs. If I really need to do something with the CD/DVD, simply plug in an external one.

For people heavily rely on the DVD drives, it's a big let-down. But for others, it's perfectly fine.

[G4er?]

I've had external HDDs, memory card readers, webcams, etc, hooked up to every "stationary desktop computer" I've owned in the past 10 years.

You would probably want everyone to drive old cars with a rumble seat and the spare tire exposed on the front fender? Why have the back seat inside? Why have the spare tire neatly stored out of sight?

It's called convenience and practicality.

[Ieo]

@ theSeb;

I've forgotten more than you'll ever know, you have not gotten a clue what I've done in the past 30 years.

Regarding backup, don't worry I've got that well under control. I like to see how you are going to safeguard your offsite backup against intellectual theft and other calamities. Let me assure you that weekly putting a DVD in a safe at the bank is darn hard to beat.

I'm finding it hard to follow you.....You think the new mini is a poor product because it doesn't cater to your unique needs, which are:

-An optical media drive to make weekly backups of highly-sensitive, mission-critical data that is highly desirable and consequently highly susceptible to theft...justifying a safe deposit box and weekly trips to the bank.

-"Cuteness"....which would be spoiled by a $30 external DVD drive that would solve issue A 100%.

You my friend are a complex individual. I only hope you don't end up being some super-spy "Brain" like the guy from Law Abiding Citizen. Last thing I need is a really "cute" cell phone blowing my head off.

[New2macmini]

So much whining about the removal of the internal ODD! This is my first Mac, ever, and i'm nothing but impressed with the design of this little power house. Removing the ODD was a great move, now we have the option of choosing the external ODD of our choice, slim @8x, full size @24x, blu-ray ROM or burner and now there's room for 2 internal disks.
I had an internal SATA DVD burner laying around that had been replaced with a newer one in a PC, I bought an external enclosure for it for $34 and now have a great ODD to plug into my new mini. Which I expect to be delivered in the next day or two.
Stop the whining, buy an external ODD if you need one! Enjoy! :D

[G4er?]

So much whining about the removal of the internal ODD! This is my first Mac, ever, and i'm nothing but impressed with the design of this little power house. Removing the ODD was a great move, now we have the option of choosing the external ODD of our choice, slim @8x, full size @24x, blu-ray ROM or burner and now there's room for 2 internal disks.


Well hell why not make it even smaller and take out the hard drives too. That way you have the option of choosing the external hard drives of your choice, 2.5 inch or 3.5 inch, USB, Firewire, TB, disk or SSD.

[L0s7man]

Madness and stupidity.

That's what new Mac Mini is. What it should have been is G4 cube.

I'm not opposed to the idea of having laptop hardware to use as a desktop. But damn you Apple, why not give Mac Mini a top of the line GPU? It would be a reasonable gaming machine. If it had the same GPU as iMac 27", it'd be alright. Or even some sort of ATI mobile crossfire something something;

And if it was 1cm taller because of that, so what? What difference does it make? Making Mac Mini smaller doesn't really make it any better (well, built in power brick is nice, I have to admit).

Just a bit bigger and soo much more useful. Sigh..

[potatis]

Would've been neat if they could have used the saved space to make a really small base model, more like the size of the :apple:TV. The older pre-2010 Mini's had smaller footprint, though they were taller, but what do you do with that saved vertical space anyway? (And a server model the size of a cube?)

[nebo1ss]

There is a large market for the MINI to be used as a Media server. The Apple TV just does not do the job for many of us and we chose to use a Mac Mini running something like Plex or XBMC. With the HDMI connection on the Mini it is an ideal Media server and it allows us to use media formats that are just not supported on the Apple TV.

The lack of an integrated optical drive could lose Apple this market. I am sorry but I don't need another box "USB connected optional drive" under the TV in addition to the Mac Mini so I will stay with the 2010 model. I am fed up with those who keep telling me why I don't need an optical drive in my mini.

[JimDut]

There is clearly a split between people over the lack of the drive, but that's purely down to what 'technical' lifestyle that person still leads.

I think we've all established there will be a day when its normal for us not to have any physical media... its perhaps a case, for a percentage of people, of a little too early by Apple, especially whilst internet speeds are what they are.

Personally, I've not purchased a CD for over 6 years. The last DVD I purchased was about 2 years ago... if the mini did have a drive, I probably wouldn't use it, so I certainly won't miss it. I'm also very fortunate to have 50mb broadband.

I buy Apple products, much like I'd buy a Mercedes (if I could afford one)... they do things years ahead of others... some things seem ridiculous or unnecessary... then 5-8 years later its industry standard.

Trying to look outside the 'box', I guess, for the sake of a slightly bigger box, apple should have provided the drive to satisfy the fact a fairly large percentage still use physical media.

[philipma1957]

There is a large market for the MINI to be used as a Media server. The Apple TV just does not do the job for many of us and we chose to use a Mac Mini running something like Plex or XBMC. With the HDMI connection on the Mini it is an ideal Media server and it allows us to use media formats that are just not supported on the Apple TV.

The lack of an integrated optical drive could lose Apple this market. I am sorry but I don't need another box "USB connected optional drive" under the TV in addition to the Mac Mini so I will stay with the 2010 model. I am fed up with those who keep telling me why I don't need an optical drive in my mini.

yes lots of people have cds dvds believe it or not. I also want to mention that rare cd's and dvds do exist
digital downloads are not available for them. Also handing a dvd or a cd to a relative or a friend works. think wedding video for an example.

There is clearly a split between people over the lack of the drive, but that's purely down to what 'technical' lifestyle that person still leads.

I think we've all established there will be a day when its normal for us not to have any physical media... its perhaps a case, for a percentage of people, of a little too early by Apple, especially whilst internet speeds are what they are.

Personally, I've not purchased a CD for over 6 years. The last DVD I purchased was about 2 years ago... if the mini did have a drive, I probably wouldn't use it, so I certainly won't miss it. I'm also very fortunate to have 50mb broadband.

I buy Apple products, much like I'd buy a Mercedes (if I could afford one)... they do things years ahead of others... some things seem ridiculous or unnecessary... then 5-8 years later its industry standard.

In all in, trying to look outside the 'box', I guess, for the sake of a slightly bigger box, apple should have provided the drive to satisfy the fact a fairly large percentage still use physical media.


I am pretty tech savy I keep up with gear what the problem for me is I do want some solid copies .

The cloud has no appeal to me as the only option. As an option fine but as the only choice no.

[Alucardx03]

I know this has been discussed to death (so please don't attack me!)... but why not just use an external optical drive? Is the main argument that it makes things look sloppy? Is it an argument of convenience? It certainly can't be one of cost, as the price has been reduced $100 and most external drives can he had for about $30.

In my opinion, I like the idea of a bare bones system that allows me to add functionality as my needs dictate it. Just from a longevity standpoint, keeping things as simple as possible (and modular, to a certain extent) can only add to the life of the components.

For example, my 2009 Mini works perfectly fine (it's been running 24/7 since I purchased it) except for the optical drive. That died about 1.5 years later. If that was a cheap external drive, it would have been replaced long ago. It's just not worth the hassle to me to open the thing up and replace the drive.

It seems weird to me that people are passing up this computer because of the lack of a drive. Worst case scenario, can't you just hide the external drive? Mount it to the back of your monitor/TV or something?

[volodymyrqa]

Apple gave us an opportunity to choose:

- save 100 $
- or to buy external blu ray drive( a lot of people whining that they cannot play blu ray discs )

So what is the problem?

http://fastmac.com/blurayext - i guess it's slim enough...
it will fit perfectly... especially if put it under Mini

[theSeb]

I have quite a large collection of DVDs and BR discs. I've ripped them into mkvs. Problem solved and so much more convenient then looking for a particular disc.

[Esrhan]

Apple gave us an opportunity to choose:

- save 100 $
- or to buy external blu ray drive( a lot of people whining that they cannot play blu ray discs )

So what is the problem?
Why do you ask when you didn't bother to read the replies?

First of all you don't save the 100 bucks because the Mini was cheaper before with an optical drive. Second it's supposed to be a desktop computer for crying out loud. Not something you take with you in a bag. Having the optical drive integrated makes sense since it takes away practically no space nor functionality. The only burden you have is the disc slot in the front of the case. Suggesting that people get more external peripherals for this is like dropping the USB-ports and telling people to get an external USB-hub. Oh, and optical media isn't dead yet by far.

Having said that I'm perfectly fine observing these changes with my 2010 Mac Mini. It will be interesting to see what changes happen along the next few years.