I'm thinking of buying a Mac Mini. I'll still need an optical drive but am not so keen on the extra cable for the Mac AND the screen AND the drive. Does anyone have a recommendation for a screen (around 20-25") that has an optical drive built in (DVD RW non bluray)? Many thanks.
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Screen with built in drive for Mac Mini?
- Thread starter Hackfix21
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What about getting a screen with USB hub and thus having three cables? Two cables (USB and video) from Mac to display, and one cable to the external optical disk drive (ODD).
PS: Even if such display would exist, you still would have had to use two cables, as current video standard interfaces do not transport USB signals (which would be needed in order to use the ODD in any form). And since only one Thunderbolt display exists (thus only one cable), your are out of luck.
PS: Even if such display would exist, you still would have had to use two cables, as current video standard interfaces do not transport USB signals (which would be needed in order to use the ODD in any form). And since only one Thunderbolt display exists (thus only one cable), your are out of luck.
True, but sounds like a good idea for a future product. Imagine a Thunderbolt monitor with built-in SSD and optical drive via internal daisy-chaining... technically it's possible.
The technology exists, but the demand just isn't there. I'd guess that at least 95% of PCs still ship with an optical drive and the whole reason the Mac mini and other computers don't have an optical drive is because the industry as a whole is moving away from physical media.
There are thousands of monitor options out there that appeal to all sorts of consumers. Different sizes, different quality, price, etc. If you wanted to start selling monitors with an optical drive built in, you'd have to cover at least a small variety of those options, and even then your monitor is only going to appeal to a incredibly small niche market of people who need both a monitor and an optical drive.
Anyway, I think I found the perfect computer for you:
http://www.apple.com/imac/
There are thousands of monitor options out there that appeal to all sorts of consumers. Different sizes, different quality, price, etc. If you wanted to start selling monitors with an optical drive built in, you'd have to cover at least a small variety of those options, and even then your monitor is only going to appeal to a incredibly small niche market of people who need both a monitor and an optical drive.
Anyway, I think I found the perfect computer for you:
http://www.apple.com/imac/
Why not buy a tv/dvd lcd/led combo and hook the mini to that.
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Televisions/TV-DVD-Combos/abcat0101005.c?id=abcat0101005
![5088635_ra.jpg;canvasHeight=500;canvasWidth=500]()
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Televisions/TV-DVD-Combos/abcat0101005.c?id=abcat0101005
Why not buy a tv/dvd lcd/led combo and hook the mini to that.
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Televisions/TV-DVD-Combos/abcat0101005.c?id=abcat0101005
![5088635_ra.jpg;canvasHeight=500;canvasWidth=500]()
Well that's great, except how will the OP actually use that DVD drive with his Mac? The televisions with DVD drives are only usable for playing DVD's. I assume that the OP is probably planning on interacting with the DVD drive (meaning loading software, burning DVD's, etc. etc.). I guess if all the OP wanted was to play DVD's this would work fine.....
Since optical drives are prone to failure why would anyone want one combined with a display? When an optical drive dies in a MacBook Pro or iMac it is a difficult/expensive repair; when (not if...) the display optical drive dies you would be without a display while the drive is being replaced.
I'm glad that Apple is doing away with integrated optical drives. In recent years they have been a hardware weak-point; I much prefer an easy-to-replace stand-alone optical drive.
I'm glad that Apple is doing away with integrated optical drives. In recent years they have been a hardware weak-point; I much prefer an easy-to-replace stand-alone optical drive.
While I can't comment on the iMac/Mac Pro drives, my 3 year old Windows laptop uses a standard laptop optical drive. Easy to replace. Easier than the SSD surgery some here have been successful at.
Some really interesting comments, thanks very much.
DVDs is actually pretty much all I'd need the optical drive for. I don't burn data onto CDs anymore (flash drive just as easy), and although I still have a couple of old games on that require installation from CDs that's an acceptable loss.
But would such a TV with built-in DVD drive just allow you to watch the DVD, or (more importantly) allow you to rip them to the computer? What I most need the optical drive for is whenever I buy a DVD or music CD I immediately rip it to the computer.
I do take the point that of course buying an iMac is the alternative. I've got one at the moment. One of the reasons for being interested in a Mac Mini is that we tend to move quite often so I like the idea of being able to move the Mini and the big lumbering item just being a £200 screen rather than a £1200 computer. Also it would allow me to upgrade the computer without having to buy a new screen at the same time.
I'll admit I probably hadn't thought this one through entirely - if I'm looking for flexibility between the components of a computer, having a separate ODD is arguably an advantage...
Why not buy a tv/dvd lcd/led combo and hook the mini to that.
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Televisions/TV-DVD-Combos/abcat0101005.c?id=abcat0101005
![5088635_ra.jpg;canvasHeight=500;canvasWidth=500]()
DVDs is actually pretty much all I'd need the optical drive for. I don't burn data onto CDs anymore (flash drive just as easy), and although I still have a couple of old games on that require installation from CDs that's an acceptable loss.
But would such a TV with built-in DVD drive just allow you to watch the DVD, or (more importantly) allow you to rip them to the computer? What I most need the optical drive for is whenever I buy a DVD or music CD I immediately rip it to the computer.
I do take the point that of course buying an iMac is the alternative. I've got one at the moment. One of the reasons for being interested in a Mac Mini is that we tend to move quite often so I like the idea of being able to move the Mini and the big lumbering item just being a £200 screen rather than a £1200 computer. Also it would allow me to upgrade the computer without having to buy a new screen at the same time.
I'll admit I probably hadn't thought this one through entirely - if I'm looking for flexibility between the components of a computer, having a separate ODD is arguably an advantage...
When a decent external drive (DVD-burning) can be had for about $30, why complicate the matter? If it doesn't meet your aesthetic standards then keep it in a drawer and plug it in when you need to. Problem solved.
No. and that's the point. A Build in DVD drive to a television will only allow you to watch a dvd thru the screen. You will NOT be able to interact with it. That's why my post directly after that explains why this isn't an option. Unless all you do is put DVD's into your computer to watch and do NOTHING else, this will not work for you.
You could use some blue tack or duck tape or something to fix a cheap drive to the back of your monitor. The cable can be run next to the display cable, looking fairly neat. A slot loading drive would work best for this.
Duct tape leaves behind a sticky residue that requires a citrus-based remover and it may not work well depending on the monitor. If you go this route buy some high-quality gaffer tape that doesn't leave a residue. (I personally wouldn't tape an optical drive to a monitor but it is a cheap and easy way to obtain a display/optical drive combo.)
dvd drives are a thing of the past. much better to get a external blue ray drive. then you can watch / rip blue rays and they make 25/50 gb data disks so its great for backups. just tuck it in a drawer when not in use. I use a sleek slim blue ray buner / player and it still burns 25 gb disk in 20 minutes.
Well, you could either stack your Mac Mini on top of a Apple USB Superdrive
![41B8dmZqFHL._SL1210_.jpg]()
or get a Newertech Ministack Max
![nwt_ministack_max_macmini.jpg]()
or get a Newertech Ministack Max
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Well, you could either stack your Mac Mini on top of a Apple USB Superdrive
![41B8dmZqFHL._SL1210_.jpg]()
or get a Newertech Ministack Max
Image
Thats a great product! Thanks for the tip!