All MBPs will lose optical drive within a few months

[glossywhite]

We all know now that the MBPs will eventually lose the optical drive but I'm willing to bet my life that it will happen on the next refresh in as little as a couple of months.

The evidence?

Steve Jobs introduced the new MBA as having 7 hours of battery life but stressed the they were using much better, less generous battery tests so the jump is not from 5 to 7 hours, it's really DOUBLE the life of the old MBA.

Anandtech confirms this:

Notice how all the other numbers are close to Apple's advertised numbers. The 13" MBP comes in at 9:45 and is advertised at 10. The 15" MBP comes in at 8:11 and is advertised at 8-9 hours.

This shows that Anand's battery test is very similar to Apple's old test. Had the MBA used the old test, it could've been advertised at having 11.5 hours of battery.

I applaud Apple for using new battery tests that reflects real world usage but at the same time, they will look incredibly stupid if the new 13" MBP is advertised as having 6.5 hours of battery, a 35% drop. Apple would never do that. They would've only switched to new battery tests if they were confident they could at least match their old numbers on the new test.

So where would the new 13" MBP magically find 35% more battery? The only way would be to remove the optical drive. If people absolutely want one, they will tell them to buy a SuperDrive.

It fits in perfectly with Apple's MO.

1. They are famously known for removing technology the public still finds necessary (floppy, flash, etc.).
2. They refuse to support blu-ray because they believe optical media is obsolete.
3. They market the MBA as "the next generation of MacBooks" and have said "it's the future" and "all notebooks will look like this". Well, if the MBA is the next generation, why would anyone buy something last generation?

Apple will never release another notebook with a built-in optical drive. I'm sure of it.

Hey, Steve! wanna buy some jeans?

Are you actually on drugs? I'll go and get you a tissue, in order that you may wipe the egg from your face.

 

[glossywhite]

Apple can't sell OS X as a platform with iLife,iWork, Aperture , Logic and Final Cut. Maybe Logic and Final Cut, but still. There is lots of other software out there with no solid distro method that still need to be considered.

Imagine having to download Final Cut Studio, @ 50+Gb... LOL!

OP, you are crazy.

 

[Eddyisgreat]

We need figures about the usage of the ODD, only then we can say if it's fair to keep it inside or push it outside (USB).

I'm not arguing whether or not the external drive should still be in the machine. I'm an expresscard user; i'm used to junk hanging off the side of my MBP, even on the go.

I'm arguing the merits of the drive itself, the fact that this is the first time Apple has shipped an OS on a USB drive, the fact that there is no App store (yet) and we havn't seen how it would play out, we don't know who is going to be on board or how it'll work with proprietary DRM schemes, and I certianly realize that ISPs (in the US, atleast) are moving closer and closer to a per-byte billing future because vendors like and netflix keep making money off their backs and not paying the carriers for the privilege (their words not mine).

I'd like to see some statistics as well on the usage. I most definately will not have someone tell me that no one uses the optical drive , for anything, ever, at all, atleast not with out some evidence. People are jumping the gun clinging onto Steve J's words of "This is the future of the Macbook" and going all out with fantasies of a diskless future. It'll happen, but it's not going to happen tomorrow. Many growing pains to be had before "the cloud" cover (heh) gets here. Call me when Apple stops selling the external drive and stops advertising the remote disk feature. Until then, enjoy your optical disks.

btw,

Is it fair/statistically_justified to encumber EVERY MBP users with +53% weight just and +100% thickness just to save SOME users from the inconvenience of using a USB optical drive?

this is bs. Sorry. pbm has the optical drive by itself weighing at 1.00 which is probably a high estimate considering Apple has the external MBA superdrive at a mere .71 lb. The 13" MBP weighs 4.5 lb. +53% lol yeah right get out of here with that propaganda nonsense.

 

[firestarter]

Dude, are you kidding me? The Air is selling good. It is NOT outselling the 13" MacBook Pro and it's definitely not outselling the white MacBook. Those are the two of the entire Apple line sans iPad that Apple are selling like mad. The Air has limitations and people know it. I guarantee you the first thing people look for when buying their next Apple laptop is features - and when they see that the Air, at the SAME PRICE as the white MacBook, does not have a CD drive, has less RAM and has a lower powered processor, they're thinking twice about buying it. Hell, I know people that refuse to buy Air just because it doesn't have a backlit keyboard - a blatant omission.

Optical drives can't be dropped until the iTunes app store is fully up and running - that won't be until well into next year.

In any event, let's assume for the sake of argument your statement is valid. That means as I said, The Pro can be left alone. If you don't want the optical drive, buy an Air. If you want an optical drive, buy the Pro. That's a much more business-smart approach than saying they're going to gut opticals across the board. FFS, they even put an optical in the Mac Mini Server - and guess what, it's required.

Firstly - a little factual correction. The mini server does NOT have an optical drive - the optical drive is removed and replaced with a second HDD.

Secondly - you seem to be taking this very personally, but it's not about you. It's about the market and the average user. There are so many benefits to loosing the optical drive, and the app store will finally make it achievable.

And if you want an optical that's fine. Buy an external.

 

[Nugget]

Imagine having to download Final Cut Studio, @ 50+Gb... LOL!

No, I think what others are imagining is just plugging in an external drive for the infrequent occasions when you need to install Final Cut Studio. Doesn't sound so crazy to me.

 

[gianly1985]

this is bs. Sorry. pbm has the optical drive by itself weighing at 1.00 which is probably a high estimate considering Apple has the external MBA superdrive at a mere .71 lb. The 13" MBP weighs 4.5 lb. +53% lol yeah right get out of here with that propaganda nonsense.

I was just comparing the MBA weight to the MBP weight.

MBA = 1300g

MBP = 2000g (roughly 1300 +53%)

They're roughly just as powerful and batterylife-y. "We have the tecnology" to do that.

Firewire, GigE, backlit keyboard, IR sensor, 8 gigs of ram don't sound very heavy.
The 2.5" drive, ok
Maybe 53% is too much, but an AIR-ization (including removal of the heavy glass) of the MBP could definitely save some weight and thickness. (while retaining all the perks of a MBP, like the ones listed above)

 

[firestarter]

No, I think what others are imagining is just plugging in an external drive for the infrequent occasions when you need to install Final Cut Studio. Doesn't sound so crazy to me.

Or ship it on a USB stick (which could also double as a dongle).

Most of FCP's vast size is libraries and media which most people probably don't use. That could always be downloadable at a later date. The core apps aren't bigger than 5GB I'd expect.

 

[iDave]

So what do you propose people do who buy said mythical machine only to find that internet access is required in order to get anything done? <snip>

You're placing bets on a transition that has a critical dependency - internet access, something not everyone has or wants. <snip>

You mean it's possible to use a computer these days without the internet??!

I sure wouldn't want to try.

 

[daneoni]

It's getting boring these types of threads. Apple has already removed the optical drive from a laptop...its called the MacBook Air.

Now for the love of all things sacred stop trying to castrate the other, regular, laptops which people still use in a regular manner...and yes...that includes reading/writing optical media. Sheesh!

 

[Nugget]

I keep coming back with other things, it's a domino effect and you're only looking at the first domino. There are too many ramifications for such a shock.

Whoa, there. Take a deep breath. Dial back the hyperbole a bit.

There will come a time when laptops and computers no longer have optical drives. There is simply no room for a debate on that issue. Optical drives are old, inefficient technology that draw lots of power (relatively), have delicate moving parts, and don't actually store that much data (especially just looking at DVD and not BluRay). They're not very good. They're not very nice. Their primary appeal is just that they're ubiquitous.

It is only a matter of time before they are no longer used. If that's a shock to you, you should brace yourself because it's a day that's coming.

The only thing we're really discussing in this thread is whether or not that time is now, next year, or two years from now. When will the tipping point be where fewer people need an onboard optical drive than do not?

When that balance shifts you're going to see them evaporate from the marketplace very rapidly. The alternative to an onboard optical drive is not necessarily the internet (as you presume) but also includes external drives (which are way cheaper than $100, btw) and other forms of physical media.

Based on past transitions we should expect that Apple is more likely to lead that change than follow. Apple's position regarding BluRay is an excellent indicator of this, plus how they handled the move to USB and the loss of floppy disks in the past.

For me, I stopped needing an on-board optical drive several years ago. I've used the drive in my MBP only two or three times ever. I wouldn't miss it at all if it weren't there.

 

[Chase R]

Now for the love of all things sacred stop trying to castrate the other, regular, laptops which people still use in a regular manner...and yes...that includes reading/writing optical media. Sheesh!

The real question, though, is how many people actually use the optical drive on a regular basis?

 

[gianly1985]

Who else like this little thingy:

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2061425/ODD Support.pdf

http://www.engadget.com/photos/samsung-se-s084d/#3077893

Since it's tray-loading, it also reads 8cm discs. Costs around 40$-50$.

What's the matter with forcing a bunch (how many?) of people to use these cute little devices, just like some people were forced to use USB floppy drives.

 

[iDave]

I can see MacMall, Amazon and others bundling optical drives with new Macs. "'Get a free printer, optical drive or more memory for no extra charge."

 

[drjsway]

uVerse is a joke except for people who watch heavy TV, in which case the iTunes argument is moot anyway.

I have U-Verse and download more than 1TB a month. 24mb/s for $55. How is it a joke? Are you not aware you can cancel the TV service on U-Verse and only use Internet?

Before I had U-Verse, I used DSL, before that Cable. I've been a heavy user for seven years and never run into problems with a cap.

I live in Los Angeles, BTW.

A digital download does not have extras.

Thus, you are NOT getting the full experience unless you go physical. Why is that hard for some of you to grasp?

THEN GET AN EXTERNAL DRIVE! Stop forcing other people to carry around 1/2+ pound of weight every day because you love your DVD extras.

Best Buy is 3 minutes away. The benefits of living in a major metro.
It's not my fault you chose to live in the sticks.

You make fun of someone else for "living in the sticks", yet you, in your "major metro", can't even get good internet service.

Anyone who thinks ISP advertised "unlimited" plans don't have caps are fooling themselves.

I'm not even going to argue this one. Everyone I know has unlimited internet and stream HD video hours and hours every day.

Compare that to the alternative. I'm driving down the road. I'm 2 hours from getting home but I've got nothing to do between that time and I want to watch a movie to kill the time off. Do I: (A) sit in Starbucks for 8 hours like a nerd trying to download a 2GB file? Or (B) stop by the Best Buy that's 3 minutes away, pick up the DVD + Digital Copy, copy it onto my machine and start watching immediately with no delays? Plus have a copy for my big screen when I get home? The choice is obvious, dude.

I'll sit here and stream NetFlix and Hulu over 3G on my iPad/iPhone while you go to Best Buy to pick up your DVDs with your extras.

Then I noticed nobody spoke to the price argument. I'm waiting on pins and needles to hear someone justify to me why a nerfed digital copy costs the same or in some cases MORE than the physical copy that comes with a digital copy. I know why nobody responded: it's because IT MAKES NO SENSE and anyone buying into that is a sucker, I'm sorry.

Because the value is not in the DVD or extras, the value comes from the movie itself. The only reason they're including a DIGITAL COPY is because DVD sales are plummeting (and have been for years).

If Apple is waiting for everyone in the country to get FIOS or stop watching DVDs, they'll be waiting at least a decade. Apple tries to make the best product for the majority and the majority of the people do not use their optical drives enough to need it built-in.

 

[revelated]

Firstly - a little factual correction. The mini server does NOT have an optical drive - the optical drive is removed and replaced with a second HDD.

I meant Mac Mini, not the server.

Secondly - you seem to be taking this very personally, but it's not about you. It's about the market and the average user. There are so many benefits to loosing the optical drive, and the app store will finally make it achievable.

No, I don't take the concept personal. I take personal the frequent bowing down people are doing to Steve Jobs like some deity who can do no wrong. Listen to yourself. You're eating his vaporware up like it's nothing. "the app store" this and "the app store" that. Something that hasn't been proven. Something that depends on internet access - and as I validly said, NOT practical for those who are stuck to dialup. It's not practical. And to your other point which is quite frankly a broken record waiting to be destroyed:

And if you want an optical that's fine. Buy an external.

Get this. I want the optical IN the machine. I do not want an external piece of equipment just to run CDs or DVDs. That's why I bought the MacBook Pro - because it's IN the machine and should stay there. This nonsense of "the next MBP is going to remove the optical!!!! Bow to Jobs!!!!" needs to stop, dude, seriously. STOP WITH THE DREAM WORLD. Think logically. Think practically. Think business. It's really simple.

No optical? MacBook Air.
Optical? Any other MacBook.

Choice. Choice for the consumers. Choice for the businesses. Choice for those who want the choice. It's a different ball game now than it was in the 90's. The only way - the ONLY way - Apple can go from here is to add a Blu-ray drive. Why? Because that's what the competition is pushing.

Stop forcing other people to carry around 1/2+ pound of weight every day because you love your DVD extras.

You're not forced. Buy an Air if you don't want the weight.

 

[firestarter]

No, I don't take the concept personal. I take personal the frequent bowing down people are doing to Steve Jobs like some deity who can do no wrong. Listen to yourself. You're eating his vaporware up like it's nothing. "the app store" this and "the app store" that. Something that hasn't been proven.

App store not proven? You are joking, right? There have been billions of app downloads on the iOS app store. What reason do you have for thinking the OSX one will be any different?

And I really couldn't give a rats ass what Steve Jobs thinks - I prefer downloadable apps over CD based apps myself!

Get this. I want the optical IN the machine. I do not want an external piece of equipment just to run CDs or DVDs. That's why I bought the MacBook Pro - because it's IN the machine and should stay there. This nonsense of "the next MBP is going to remove the optical!!!! Bow to Jobs!!!!" needs to stop, dude, seriously. STOP WITH THE DREAM WORLD. Think logically. Think practically. Think business. It's really simple

.

I'm afraid you're going to end up disappointed. As others have pointed out, the drive is definitely going - it's more a case of when, not if.

And again, why does that have anything to do with Steve Jobs? I want to see the back of optical drives... If Steve agrees with me then that's fine.

 

[drjsway]

I take personal the frequent bowing down people are doing to Steve Jobs like some deity who can do no wrong. Listen to yourself. You're eating his vaporware up like it's nothing.

Get this. I want the optical IN the machine. I do not want an external piece of equipment just to run CDs or DVDs. That's why I bought the MacBook Pro - because it's IN the machine and should stay there. This nonsense of "the next MBP is going to remove the optical!!!! Bow to Jobs!!!!" needs to stop, dude, seriously. STOP WITH THE DREAM WORLD. Think logically. Think practically. Think business. It's really simple.

Why all this about Steve Jobs? We just don't want a optical drive built in. A MBA is not a MBP replacement. No full speed CPU, discreet GPU, ports, etc.

Get this: I DON'T WANT the optical IN the machine

 

[gianly1985]

Get this: I DON'T WANT the optical IN the machine

Sign me in.

I use the ODD 3 times a year.

Instead, I'd like to have an hybrid storage solution without voiding the warranty with optibays.

I want a MacBook Pro with a 128gb/256gb SSD Stick (the ones seen in the new MBAs) for the OS and an HDD bay to house a 1tb 2.5inch HDD. This is already happening on high-end iMacs (SSD+HDD option), Apple is aware that FOR THE TIME BEING (small SSD capacities, high price) the hybrid solution is the way to go.

Put the optical outside, make room for more battery and an SSD on a stick D), let me put a monster 1tb drive inside (the toshiba MK1059GSM is pretty cheap now, around 110€), and that's a great 13" MBP.

No Optical Drive + bigger battery (or slimmer design) + 256gb SSD on a stick + 1tb HDD + 8gb ram + FW800 + GigE + IR sensor + Backlit keyboard + mini-Toslink out (missing in the Air) + 1440x900 screen + 1.7kg (3,74lbs) weight

That would be something.

 

[gianly1985]

You're not forced. Buy an Air if you don't want the weight.

Read the blue part above, it's not the same as just buying an Air.

 

[DVD9]

I'm all for distributing software on convenient USB flash sticks, as long as the price goes down accordingly and the software vendors use less packaging. But that doesn't negate all of the vendors who can't or won't go that route and I say the optical drive should stay in the Pro. People who don't want the drive - as mentioned by Tilpots and me in an earlier post, GO BUY A MACBOOK AIR.

So what do you propose people do who buy said mythical machine only to find that internet access is required in order to get anything done? What do you suppose would happen if people went to stores and asked for a particular piece of software only to find their computer won't support the media?

Why, because the Air doesn't have an optical drive?

One could only assume that the MBA and the MBP serve two different purposes...........

EXTERNAL OPTICAL DRIVE

You can buy an external drive right now, today, for less than $35 delivered to your door. Apple can buy them for $15 each and include one in the box with the laptop.
--

 

[WelshBluebird]

The majority of ISPs DO NOT have bandwidth caps.

I'd like to know what world you live in. Because they do.
They may not have a strict cap, they may just slow down some traffic etc. But most ISP's DO HAVE caps and limits.

 

[Blues003]

revelated, it's not a question of 'If' Apple will remove the external drive. It's a question of 'When'.

Secondly, about your logic of 'If you want a ODD buy a MBP, if not buy an Air': what if I want to run graphic-intenstive apps? Don't you think a good GPU would be needed? One that would IMPLY not having the ODD (for space purposes), like an Air, but also have the processor power of MBPs ?

External Drives are cheap, light, and in many cases better than the SuperDrive (BluRay support, for example). Get used to that idea.

 

[GGJstudios]

You're eating his vaporware up like it's nothing.

.... but vaporware IS nothing!

 

[Hellhammer]

Best Buy is 3 minutes away. The benefits of living in a major metro.
It's not my fault you chose to live in the sticks.

Good for you. I bet that most of us don't live next to Best Buy or other stores.

Thus the reason America is the fattest nation in the world.

So you're saying that 100m of walking is count as exercise? I do my training elsewhere, 6 times a week at gym. Time is too precious to be spent on the bus or car to get a freaking movie.

RedBox, dude. $1. 24/7.

No such shops in Finland.

Or you can buy the version that includes a Digital Copy and LEGALLY have the copy that you can take on the plane instead of breaking the law.

I couldn't care less about it being "illegal". If I own the movie, I can do whatever I want to it.

You're missing the point. Just because you live next to Best Buy and RedBox etc doesn't mean that we all do. Even if I lived next to video store, I would still take ODD-less MBP any day.

 

[Eddyisgreat]

EXTERNAL OPTICAL DRIVE

You can buy an external drive right now, today, for less than $35 delivered to your door. Apple can buy them for $15 each and include one in the box with the laptop.
--

XZOMG YELLING IN BIG RED BOLD LETTERS

Had you read the freaking thread you'd note that I am fully on board with Apple moving the drive out of the machine. I couldn't care less, really. I'm just not convinced that the yet-to-be-released App store is the silver bullet everyone's looking for.