Who needs a CD drive?

[macbook123]

So I'm just wondering what is the percentage of Apple Macbook and Macbook Pro users who need the internal CD drive. I personally need it only every 3 months or so, and could happily live with having an external drive. Looking around on the market, this would make it possible to make an Apple laptop of 4 ponds or less in a 0.8 inch or less chassis. So let's do this very simple binary poll: who'd prefer to have an ultra-portable laptop to one with a CDROM/DVD drive?

 

[ero87]

i think a modern laptop with no cd drive woudl be very, very silly.

and i wouldn't want the macbooks to be any thinner, i find a little sturdiness comforting.

 

[djscouserboy]

It'd be ok until you needed to re-install the OS (which admittedly isn't very often !)

Personally, my Macbook is my only (and hence, main) computer. I use DVDs with it all the time travelling so I personally wouldn't want to live without it.

 

[ero87]

It'd be ok until you needed to re-install the OS (which admittedly isn't very often !)

Personally, my Macbook is my only (and hence, main) computer. I use DVDs with it all the time travelling so I personally wouldn't want to live without it.

i'm always frightened when people talk about the necessity of "reinstalling the OS"... I have no idea where my OS disc is. Doesn't everyone just throw all that stuff into some corner and play with the computer?

thankfully my iMac's been rock-solid (knock on wood )

 

[vendettabass]

well if apple started selling movies over iTunes in the UK, I wouldnt' have to rip my DVD's!

 

[Yoda47]

I use my CD drive all the time

 

[Asar]

no cd drive? whats next? no keyboard, everything is just by voice? lol. just kidding. but i need my cd/dvd drive, its a great part of my macbook.

 

[Josias]

How would Apple now compete with the gaming market, and also personally I really like installing programs and watching DVD's. I guess NeoOffice would do, but you can't get MS Office: Mac without an optical drive. Also, I like the sturdiness of the MB. It's thinner than a **** (well that sounded gay), and still very small. People who whine that they can't carry an MB are just not very strong...

 

[capoditutti]

Your Poll question is a bit of a strange one, as you're offering the MBP without the drive built-in as a tasty alternative to something you think the other users may be annoyed with too..

I'd rather have the optical drive, as there are many apps i use/media i enjoy, that currently are on dvds/cds. I'd need a 1TB hard disk, and an OSX version of VirtualCD/DVD, and more Ram as standard, before i started considering moving around with a MacBookPro that doesn't have an optical drive built in.

Also, how did you calculate those weight loss figures - the optical drive isn't all that heavy...

 

[Zwhaler]

I wouldn't be complaining about a very powerful computer that is only one inch think. If it were 3 times that, then I could see your argument, but a CD Drive-less computer aint gonna happen, mostly because no one (with the exception of you and maybe 3 other people) would buy it.

 

[phungy]

I need to use it for classes/ripping DVDs/CDs.

 

[Liza]

Even with two external HDs, I still like to back-up my Word and Final Draft files onto a CD.

My MacBook is extremely light and portable the way it is -- never a problem!

 

[Koodauw]

I burn CDs all the time. I dunno, maybe im still stuck in 2000?

 

[Pressure]

<Falls flat on face, laughing only like a monkey can>

I need my MB/MBP just as it is, despite the heaviness+bulkiness that comes with the internal drive.

Sure, if you can find a lighter and thinner 15.4" that matches the specifications of the MacBook Pro, let us know <giggles out of the room>

 

[Jiddick ExRex]

Would be cool if an 12" MBP surfaced with no internal optical drive and ultra thin. Yum yum.

 

[Bunsen Burner]

Absurd. The 15.4" MBP is neither heavy nor bulky.

BB

 

[wiraone]

The only times I use the CD/DVD drive on my MBP were when I need to reinstall the OS, and when installing softwares which come in CD/DVD (Microsoft Office + Norton AV). Rarely need to use the drive in my normal day-to-day computing.

 

[yellow]

How much weight does a SuperDrive actually contribute to the overall weight of a MBP/PB?

It just so happens that I have a disassembled PB next to me, and I pulled out the SuperDrive. Wish I had a scale.

 

[tominated]

cd/dvd drive ftw! i play lots of games so it is vital (and i'll need it for installing xp/vista so i can reinstall them)

 

[Sawtoothdude]

honestly I think removing the optical drive is a terrible idea. millions of people install software using discs every day and it would be foolish to take away an easy method of software transportation. what if the person has no internet and doesnt want to lug around an external drive or has no other computer to hook the Laptop upto. I say optical drives should stay with the laptop.

 

[imacintel]

I actually don't ming the slight increase in thickness of my 12 inch PB.

 

[iW00t]

I'd appreciate that CD drive for that occasional game of Civ IV that I play from time to time...

Which unfortunately does not work without the DVD due to copy protection