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The new iMac-no DVD drive
- Thread starter kjdean
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easy, external Apple SuperDrive -- or get with the times and get digital content 
http://store.apple.com/us/product/MD564ZM/A/apple-usb-superdrive?fnode=5f
http://store.apple.com/us/product/MD564ZM/A/apple-usb-superdrive?fnode=5f
From what I understand this drive does not work with an iMac.Apple has to at least provide an alternative. And one that works!
easy, external Apple SuperDrive -- or get with the times and get digital content
http://store.apple.com/us/product/MD564ZM/A/apple-usb-superdrive?fnode=5f
Your understanding is incorrect. Most external DVD drives will work, including the apple one.
OK: Then read this. I want an Apple external drive not just any external drive.
http://store.apple.com/us/question/...HADUF7AD97D7J4HH7FX2DFD4PPH9X9UT99TATKCDUTTY7
http://store.apple.com/us/question/...HADUF7AD97D7J4HH7FX2DFD4PPH9X9UT99TATKCDUTTY7
The super drive will work with any Mac that does not have a DVD built in. Look at the date of the questions/answers you've linked to. The 2012 iMac did not exist. The super drive will work with a 2012 iMac.
Nice! Just bought super drive for my rMbp. I want to get this desktop even though I use my laptop 90% of the time lol.
There is no need. Reading and writing from/to a DVD is barely fast enough to saturate a USB 2 connection. Therefore USB 3 is a waste of time and money. It's like putting a tractor on the freeway and expecting it to be able to reach 100 MPH. It's not going to happen.
What would be the purpose? DVDs are slower than USB2. You would never see any difference.
/Jim
easy, external Apple SuperDrive -- or get with the times and get digital content
http://store.apple.com/us/product/MD564ZM/A/apple-usb-superdrive?fnode=5f
Too bad digital content isn't good enough compared to the stuff you get on discs...
Too bad digital content isn't good enough compared to the stuff you get on discs...
Depending on where you get it from. Digital content is comparable to DVD quality. It is not comparable to BR quality. So I've created my own digital library from my DVDs and BRs using an external BR drive and makeMKV.
If you're concerned about quality then you shouldn't be using a computer to watch movies in the first place.
Probably not, it wouldn't make the optical drive any faster.
The limiting factor with the external optical drive isn't USB2's 480 Mbps throughput: it's the rate data can be read from DVDs. Reading data from a DVD at 8x speed is 84 Mbps.
Doesn't matter if you put a fancy USB3 bus on the external optical drive, you're still not reading discs any faster than 84 Mbps.
The limiting factor with the external optical drive isn't USB2's 480 Mbps throughput: it's the rate data can be read from DVDs. Reading data from a DVD at 8x speed is 84 Mbps.
Doesn't matter if you put a fancy USB3 bus on the external optical drive, you're still not reading discs any faster than 84 Mbps.
Too bad digital content isn't good enough compared to the stuff you get on discs...
I have to respectfully disagree with you guys on that one. "Good enough" is subjective, and I believe 1080p iTunes content is totally comparable to blu-ray. I know it doesn't have the incredible bit rates that blu-ray has to offer (or the HD audio), but after several months of enjoying 1080p iTunes content on my HDTV through Apple TV, I must say I am thoroughly impressed with the quality. I used to be a huge blu-ray collector until about a year ago when I started making the switch to all digital and I'm very happy. I understand I don't get the full-out pristine quality as blu-ray, but to my eyes, the differences are marginal enough that I simply don't care. And I know that most consumers will just not be able to tell a difference.
That said, I am also fully aware of 4K and now 8K "Ultra HD". But until then, the lines between blu-ray and 1080p digital content have definitely blurred for the consumer. No pun intended.
Edit: I also find that having my content immediately accessible through iCloud and being able to play immediately without any of the annoying advertisements or disc loading at the beginning is a huge convenience that I enjoy over physical discs.
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I have to respectfully disagree with you guys on that one. "Good enough" is subjective, and I believe 1080p iTunes content is totally comparable to blu-ray. I know it doesn't have the incredible bit rates that blu-ray has to offer (or the HD audio), but after several months of enjoying 1080p iTunes content on my HDTV through Apple TV, I must say I am thoroughly impressed with the quality. I used to be a huge blu-ray collector until about a year ago when I started making the switch to all digital and I'm very happy. I understand I don't get the full-out pristine quality as blu-ray, but to my eyes, the differences are marginal enough that I simply don't care. And I know that most consumers will just not be able to tell a difference.
That said, I am also fully aware of 4K and now 8K "Ultra HD". But until then, the lines between blu-ray and 1080p digital content have definitely blurred for the consumer. No pun intended.
I cannot disagree with anything that you've said. It is definitely subjective and most people won't see the difference in a "blind" test between 1080p digital content and direct BR. There are also other factors like what TV or projector is being used for the output.
easy, external Apple SuperDrive -- or get with the times and get digital content
http://store.apple.com/us/product/MD564ZM/A/apple-usb-superdrive?fnode=5f
Definitely get an external drive... but Apple's drive is a complete ripoff.
You can get a perfectly functional, attractive, slimline external DVD reader/burner for $30 and sometimes less on sites like Amazon and NewEgg. No need to pay $80 for the same product from Apple.
I used my $25 Samsung drive (got it on sale) many times over the summer with my MacBook Air to watch, rip, and burn movies. Worked great.
I still think this is BS by Apple. Now I have to spend more money just so I can install my Adobe CS6 software...
get a USB 3.0 DVD drive
Don't waste your time using Apple's ancient and outdated "superdrive" - there's nothing "super" about it: USB 2.0, flimsy and short connecting wire, breakable wire with any use, and very slow response time! Like iWork, it appears Apple plans to let the so-called "superdrive" die a natural death, despite the need of many who use CDs and DVDs for a host of tasks. The notion that everything can be obtained "on-line" is as absurd as it is ridiculous! If you want a good DVD drive, just google USB 3.0 external drives, and you'll find that a number of companies that offer CD/DVD drives. What's the use of USB 3.0 on Apple computers if a peripheral such as a "superdrive" is still using yesterday's slower and outdated technology?
Don't waste your time using Apple's ancient and outdated "superdrive" - there's nothing "super" about it: USB 2.0, flimsy and short connecting wire, breakable wire with any use, and very slow response time! Like iWork, it appears Apple plans to let the so-called "superdrive" die a natural death, despite the need of many who use CDs and DVDs for a host of tasks. The notion that everything can be obtained "on-line" is as absurd as it is ridiculous! If you want a good DVD drive, just google USB 3.0 external drives, and you'll find that a number of companies that offer CD/DVD drives. What's the use of USB 3.0 on Apple computers if a peripheral such as a "superdrive" is still using yesterday's slower and outdated technology?
The Apple superdrive is overpriced and not super at all, but, as I, and others, have already said, there is no need for USB 3 on DVD drives.
Reading and writing from/to a DVD is barely fast enough to saturate a USB 2 connection. Therefore USB 3 is a waste of time and money. It's like putting a tractor on the freeway and expecting it to be able to reach 100 MPH. It's not going to happen.
I am not sure if you are serious or joking...
What on earth can a usb3 external slim cd drive do more than a usb2 external slim cd drive? It's not faster, consume more or less energy, I really don't understand. The cd/dvd drives are not limited by usb2 as far as I understand.
By the way, does anyone know when the thunderbolt floppy drives are going to come out since I really need a speed improvement over the current floppy drives I have...
An optical hard drive does not really count as basic functionality for most buyers.
I've used mine 3 times this year.
What basic functionality are you referring to?
well I have no tv so my computer is the only option. My question is can I use an external dvd drive and use in my older mac since the one in it is rather lousy?
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