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External is sufficient

Its really all about weight...+/- 5lbs vs +/- 2.5lbs. I will take the latter with a $30 external DVD drive any day, which I have only used once in the two months since its delivery.
 
I came from a 15" MBP. The only thing I miss from that is the screen and vid card but not the DVD drive. I plan on going back to the pro next revision and it better NOT have a disc drive!
 
My current laptop has a DVD drive, I only ever use it when installing an OS. And when I finally figure out how to install Windows via USB I hope wont even use it then.

I'd much prefer a lighter machine without a DVD drive but require at least 15" with a built in number pad, so I'm still waiting on apple.
 
My current laptop has a DVD drive, I only ever use it when installing an OS. And when I finally figure out how to install Windows via USB I hope wont even use it then.

I'd much prefer a lighter machine without a DVD drive but require at least 15" with a built in number pad, so I'm still waiting on apple.

Make an ISO image Windows, then Bootcamp assistant will guide you through through putting it on a USB.
 
no don't miss it at all as I've an older MBPro that I can always burn or import from as needed

get used to it going forward as the next iteration of MBPros will be w/o optical drives

It's a bit of a shift but it's not as difficult as it seems. In the days of 250 Mbit internet connections, gigabit ethernet and wireless N; optical seems a little silly.

250 Mbits !!! - I'd love to live where you live - we're lucky to get 2.5 - 4 Mbps and this is on ADSL2+ :eek:
 
I came from a 15" MBP. The only thing I miss from that is the screen and vid card but not the DVD drive. I plan on going back to the pro next revision and it better NOT have a disc drive!

Yeah, it's unlikely that they will continue the DVD drives. They can omit them and lower the price, as they have shown with the new Mac Mini's.

But you never know. They could do some skewed market research that give them crazy data and get afraid to move ahead. :D

Who knows what's going to happen with this company. Should be amusing.
 
I have the Superdrive for my Air, but only used it to install software when I first got the notebook. After that I've had no need for it - although I can foresee future use when I buy updated software.

I certainly don't take it around with me, or miss having a drive in my day to day work.
 
Haven't needed it yet. And I cannot remember the last time I used one on the old laptop either.

The only things I've installed on the MBA I purchased as downloadable images and most stuff I will take an ISO image of and keep on the NAS anyway using the desktop.
 
I miss my optical drive all the time; that's why I have keep an USB drive with me.

I burn DVDs and such.
 
I can't for the life of me think of a single thing a disc drive would give me today.

simple fact of the matter, Everything that you could put on a DVD disc can easily fit now on a USB memory stick. I have no use anymore of burning a DVD of data to transfer to other computers.

Game wise, anything that comes in DVD format, for the most part also comes online via download. Steam is a wonderful tool, especially since now a lot of the games I can buy once, and download for either my PC or my Mac.

Movies are all streamed for the most part. Netflix, Roger's on Demand, other sources. I haven't bought or rented a physical copy of a movie in the better part of 2 years.

The only time I've needed a disc drive in the last few years were painful windows installs on Netbooks and desktops. Every thing else i've used memory sticks for (or network shares)
 
Make an ISO image Windows, then Bootcamp assistant will guide you through through putting it on a USB.

I"m getting an imac in a couple of days... upgrading from a G5. Can I make an ISO image of Windows on that old of a machine? Not looking for a step by step, if I can do it I'll go learn how!
 
I"m getting an imac in a couple of days... upgrading from a G5. Can I make an ISO image of Windows on that old of a machine? Not looking for a step by step, if I can do it I'll go learn how!

Ya you can make an ISO anywhere, however, Bootcamp will want you to put that ISO on a USB in order to install windows. It needs that bootable media for the installation process.
 
yes i do miss my optical drive. I just got my MBA few weeks ago and i want to install Office 2011 in it. I'll have to borrow my friend's optical drive.

I also missed my Ethernet port since my wireless router broke yesterday.

those are temperary so i think i'll be ok later on.
 
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mac jones said:
I you miss these you are insane.

but space is a problem. I bought a Lacie TB drive. Problem solved.

You spent $400 on an external hard drive and I'm the one that's insane?
 
I do miss it somewhat. Only because theres a new CD out that isn't on iTunes yet. Of course I also bought an external drive when I bought the MBA and haven't even removed the shrink wrap yet.

The only reason to go with a Pro over the Air is if you need the graphics card. That I **really** do miss. Illustrator and photoshop are noticeably slower on the Air.
 
I do miss it somewhat. Only because theres a new CD out that isn't on iTunes yet. Of course I also bought an external drive when I bought the MBA and haven't even removed the shrink wrap yet.

The only reason to go with a Pro over the Air is if you need the graphics card. That I **really** do miss. Illustrator and photoshop are noticeably slower on the Air.

Which reminds me of one of the best things about didtching optical media, never having to peel the frack'n shrink wrap off a jewel case again.
 
Not at all. I'd like to see them remove it from the MBP line as well.

The ultra thin, light, external USB optical drive I have is there for the rare times when I need it. That's a much better solution than a captive drive within the laptop I never use.
 
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You spent $400 on an external hard drive and I'm the one that's insane?


:D, good catch. And yes, I am insane BTW. :) (and broke)
 
I honestly do not remember the last time I used an optical disc drive....
I have the Apple Superdrive but never used it. It could be broken and I would't even know.
 
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