Blu-Ray for MacBook Pros - Finally, a 9.5mm Slot-Load Blu-Ray Drive!

[Prodo123]

So I was searching whether or not people have developed such a drive yet, and lo and behold I found this listing on Ebay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/9-5mm-SATA-...ad-drive-Apple-Macbook-Pro-Dell-/180883494492

It is apparently a Panasonic UJ267 which was recently launched and the seller confirms it works with Unibody MacBook Pros. (no love for the rMBP which scraps the ODD)

This drive seems to be newly released, as a quick search for the UJ267 returns with no information on the drive.

The listing also seems valid. I'd love to see a video of it working but for now anyone looking for an internal Blu-Ray drive should keep an eye out for the Panasonic UJ267. Maybe cheaper alternatives could come but at the moment the UJ267 seems to be the only choice.

Also, keep in mind that Mac OS X does NOT support Blu-Ray discs.

I wonder if Apple will contradict themselves and include a BTO option for this drive, which would be awesome.

 

[TheMacBookPro]

You can actually play Blu-ray movies with a piece of software called the Mac Blu-ray Player. (http://www.macblurayplayer.com)

I am unsure as to whether or not it would work with this drive though.

 

[Prodo123]

You can actually play Blu-ray movies with a piece of software called the Mac Blu-ray Player. (http://www.macblurayplayer.com)

I am unsure as to whether or not it would work with this drive though.

These software are often buggy.
Only a native kext support can bring true Blu-ray movie watching to Macs.

 

[dan23osu]

There is now a review of the drive here: <a href="http://www.lowendmac.com/ed/bashur/12db/blu-ray-drive-for-mac.html" target="_blank">Low End Mac UJ-267 Review</a>

 

[iKIKO]

so is there a efficient and real way to play blue rays on a mac ? im very interesting about this. just yesterday noon, i went to an office depot and they had an external blue ray burner, i would love to watch some of my blue rays on the new ipad

 

[simsaladimbamba]

There is now a review of the drive here: <a href="http://www.lowendmac.com/ed/bashur/12db/blu-ray-drive-for-mac.html" target="_blank">Low End Mac UJ-267 Review</a>

When making a link, first write down what the link should say, like "This is a review of that drive", then select the text like you would copy it, press the

button, insert the URL and press OK.
That is how a link works on vBB.

Or if you want to use tags, look here: https://forums.macrumors.com/help/bb-codes/

 

[Trey M]

Man after all this time blu-ray natively is finally a reality. Pretty cool...but $300 for a drive is a lottt

 

[JTToft]

Also, keep in mind that Mac OS X does NOT support Blu-Ray discs.

- Sure it does. You can read a blu-ray in Mac OS X just fine. There just isn't any proper software to play blu-ray movies.

You can actually play Blu-ray movies with a piece of software called the Mac Blu-ray Player. (http://www.macblurayplayer.com)

- I'd rather not play anything than have to put up with that.
In my opinion, using Windows in Bootcamp is a far better solution for Blu-ray playback.

 

[ericrwalker]

man after all this time blu-ray natively is finally a reality. Pretty cool...but $300 for a drive is a lottt

$399.95

 

[kfscoll]

Another option for Mac Blu-ray playback software is DVDFab Media Player. It works pretty well and it's still in beta right now so it's free. External USB BD burners are also cheap as can be -- here's a good one that works great with OS X.

 

[Sir Al]

Another option for Mac Blu-ray playback software is DVDFab Media Player. It works pretty well and it's still in beta right now so it's free. External USB BD burners are also cheap as can be -- here's a good one that works great with OS X.

Wow, that Samsung drive supports writing to quad layer BD-R discs, that's 128GB per disc!

 

[Prodo123]

Wow, that Samsung drive supports writing to quad layer BD-R discs, that's 128GB per disc!

Just saying, no one will use a quad-layer BD-R.
Not to mention that only a handful of people actually write to BD-Rs to begin with...

 

[Sir Al]

Just saying, no one will use a quad-layer BD-R.
Not to mention that only a handful of people actually write to BD-Rs to begin with...

I just think it's cool it can do that.

 

[Polska]

Another option for Mac Blu-ray playback software is DVDFab Media Player. It works pretty well and it's still in beta right now so it's free. External USB BD burners are also cheap as can be -- here's a good one that works great with OS X.

I have to say, 60 dollars for a Blu-Ray software player is a lot in my opinion. Seems to be a standardised price since two softwares that I found cost the same price. Nobody knows one a bit cheaper than this?

Thanks!

 

[kfscoll]

I have to say, 60 dollars for a Blu-Ray software player is a lot in my opinion. Seems to be a standardised price since two softwares that I found cost the same price. Nobody knows one a bit cheaper than this?

Thanks!

RIF - beta versions of DVDFab Media Player are free for 30/60 days. Updates happen more frequently than that so you should be good to go for quite sometime.

 

[gentlefury]

This is a case of too little too late! Not only is blu-ray nearly dead...the slot for the player is just about dead...LOL

 

[kfscoll]

This is a case of too little too late! Not only is blu-ray nearly dead...the slot for the player is just about dead...LOL

I sure hope Blu-ray still has some life left. As far as video and audio quality go, there's no match (yet) for BD. Downloads aren't there yet.

 

[Prodo123]

I sure hope Blu-ray still has some life left. As far as video and audio quality go, there's no match (yet) for BD. Downloads aren't there yet.

Oh Blu-rays are here to stay for a while. I don't think anyone would prefer downloading a 50GB movie over a single Blu-ray disc...

 

[dba415]

Bluray quality is just better than what you get with downloads. I dont know of any home theatre afficionado who does not have bluray and says iTunes is sufficient. Plus owning a physical copy feels better

 

[FastEddiebags]

Bluray quality is just better than what you get with downloads. I dont know of any home theatre afficionado who does not have bluray and says iTunes is sufficient. Plus owning a physical copy feels better

I'd have to agree. Also there are plenty of people that still use red box therefore blu ray is needed. Downloading a 1080p movie takes a good amount of time but renting a dvd takes only minutes ( plus the drive)

 

[pbmagnet4]

This actually seems like something I would purchase. BR is going to be around for the long haul, and although 400$ may seem to be alot, I plan to keep my cMBP for at least 4-5 years. At a little less than 100$ a year or 8.50$ a month. They also sell a read only version that is 150$ cheaper which looks promising, but the real moneys worth to get out the 400$ one is being able to rip the BRs.

 

[Beta Particle]

This is a case of too little too late! Not only is blu-ray nearly dead...the slot for the player is just about dead...LOL

Nearly dead? Blu-ray is doing better compared to DVD at this stage in its life than DVD was doing compared to VHS, and has consistently been doing so for years now.

It's not like there are any viable alternatives showing up, download quality is terrible, pricing is high, and the market is tiny outside of USA due to licensing deals.

 

[dba415]

Plus, you underestimate how many people just like to spend money on things and are not savvy enough to download movies on a computer and then have it play on their HDTV somehow.

Blu-ray players are cheap, you can buy one for $30 on amazon right now. It's easy, and people know how to use it, and I like having a shelf with all my movies on display, feels good.

 

[cube]

I want PROPER Blu Ray player software.

I have an external Blu Ray burner that I never use that I bought years ago because it was the last chance to get one with HD DVD ROM support, even if I don't own any HD DVDs.

 

[deerfaced]

$399.95

Everyone knows when looking at technology (especially when speaking to your other half) - you round down... so $300 is actually the correct price to discuss.