Does anyone HOPE they pull the superdrive from the next MBP revision?

[Dalton63841]

I keep seeing this come up. Why do people not understand why others want large hard drives?

Probably because the most intense thing most people do on their computer is Facebook...

No offense to anyone here. I tend to think of forum-goers as one of 2 types:
1)People who broke something and want to fix it themselves but need help.
2)People who want to get more out of their device.

However the vast majority of computer users never do anything more intense than post on their "Wall".

 

[WelshBluebird]

Probably because the most intense thing most people do on their computer is Facebook...

I wouldn't really say watching video on my laptop is that intense, yet it takes up a lot of room on my hard drive.

 

[Eddyisgreat]

Will there be a major uproar if Apple does not remove the OD from the non-air MacBooks in 2011? At this point it's all speculation, I don't think there is any real hint or evidence of the internal superdrive being removed from any Mac that has it now.

There isn't. People are hanging onto three things:

A) The Mac App Store
B) The Macbook Air's Software Reinstallation files on USB
-and the icing on the cake-
C)

It’s our new MacBook Air and we think it’s the future of notebooks. It’s like nothing we’ve ever created before.

It was at this moment that people all over the globe (well, atleast this board) begun to rally together and call for the death of the ODD in all MBPs citing it's uselessness. Later in the keynote Jobs says:

“We think all notebooks will be like this one day.”

which only solidified it and was a shot in the arm to the bloodthirsty villagers.

 

[croooow]

However the vast majority of computer users never do anything more intense than post on their "Wall".

But I see that comment ("Why do you need so much storage in your laptop?" or "Just use an external drive, why does the HD need to be so big?") directed at people on this forum, not casual/facebook users.

 

[croooow]

...It was at this moment that people all over the globe (well, atleast this board) begun to rally together and call for the death of the ODD in all MBPs citing it's uselessness. Later in the keynote Jobs says...

I guess Steve's comments during the 2010 MacBook Air introduction are the hints that I said wasn't there, I forgot about that.

 

[Hephaestus]

Yes! Out with SuperDrive and give us a Super BluRay Drive! What's the point of having these HD displays if we can't watch BluRay and enjoy true HD? Don't anyone even bother saying HD iTunes content because thats SUB HD rubbish and cannot hold a candle to Blu Ray.

 

[croooow]

...give us a Super BluRay Drive!...

Don't hold your breath!

 

[thejadedmonkey]

Nope! I hardly use my ODD, but when I do, I'm thankful I have one. Removing the ODD would be a horrible decision, as it would basically force all creative professionals to use a desktop or switch to Windows, if they wanted to burn CD's.

Anyone who thinks the superdrive should be pulled from the MBP should just get an air and quit whining.

 

[deeddawg]

What's the point of having these HD displays if we can't watch BluRay and enjoy true HD? Don't anyone even bother saying HD iTunes content because thats SUB HD rubbish and cannot hold a candle to Blu Ray.

Yes, but end users watching Blu Ray disks on their laptops doesn't put money in the pockets of Apple's shareholders. Renting or buying video from iTunes does.

 

[netdog]

I think they've waited way too long already to get rid of it.

When they axed the floppy, it was a much more radical move. When they axe the optical disc, we're all just going to say, "It's about time."

 

[omenatarhuri]

Anyone who thinks the superdrive should be pulled from the MBP should just get an air and quit whining.

You do realize that this is a stupid statement?

Most people want it removed so they could have SSD + HDD, better GPU/CPU and/or bigger battery. MBA has none of these, so stop whining and giving bad solutions to people.

 

[phonk]

Nope! I hardly use my ODD, but when I do, I'm thankful I have one. Removing the ODD would be a horrible decision, as it would basically force all creative professionals to use a desktop or switch to Windows, if they wanted to burn CD's.

Anyone who thinks the superdrive should be pulled from the MBP should just get an air and quit whining.

Not true. Most "creative professionals" work in an environment where they'll find optical drives to share (mac pro/imac/pc) or where it wouldn't be any problem to store an external drive. Most of the time you share your work via lan or usb sticks / external hdd anyway. You only have to use DVDs if the media have to leave your office (send it to a customer). Plugin the external drive to burn a DVD wouldn't be a problem at all. Especially when you profit from the absence of the drive (better battery life / better gpu / etc) all the time.

 

[Eddyisgreat]

Most people want it removed so they could have SSD + HDD

Already doable with Optibay. Has been that way for several years.

better GPU/CPU

Why do you assume Apple will incorporate a better GPU/CPU instead of something else like additional ports on the opposite side of the machine.

and/or bigger battery.

Why do you assume they'll add in a bigger battery rather than remove the ODD and hard drive then instead add a 256 Gb flash module, shave off a few millimeters and call it a night?

All those who want the SSD + HDD combo should be glad the ODD is still there because they can do exactly this, today, right now in 2011.
Everything else is assumption. There are gonna be a lot of angry folks on the scene when Apple removes the ODD but doesn't 'swap in' whatever else they want.

 

[deeddawg]

At the end of the day, Apple will do what it believes will best accomplish its goals. I suspect that catering to the needs of every single user is not necessarily it. If they keep an ODD on all models, that will disappoint/anger some users. If they eliminate the ODD from some or all models, that will disappoint/anger some users.

Fact is some people make extensive use of an ODD, some people have no need for it. There's not a solution that will make everyone happy.

Apple will do what it thinks is best for Apple's goals, and I would be surprised if they didn't make a choice based on extensive market research involving all levels of users.

I like the solution Lenovo/IBM has had for quite a while in the Thinkpad line -- the ODD is removable and replaceable with a SATA drive bay or 2nd battery.

 

[rlhamil]

Doesn't anyone watch movies on
their laptop in an airplane anymore?
I'd imagine that it'd be a lot less hassle to just have the laptop on the tray table, rather than laptop+external drive!

 

[omenatarhuri]

Doesn't anyone watch movies on
their laptop in an airplane anymore?
I'd imagine that it'd be a lot less hassle to just have the laptop on the tray table, rather than laptop+external drive!

Have you heard of the 'Internet' or 'digital distribution'? Or perhaps in-flight movies to be old-school? Nowadays most of the time you can choose from a collection which is quite nice.

 

[Eddyisgreat]

I like the solution Lenovo/IBM has had for quite a while in the Thinkpad line -- the ODD is removable and replaceable with a SATA drive bay or 2nd battery.

The classic powerbooks were also modular. I think at this point in time, S. J. would take a kick to the face rather than retrofit a modular design on the unibody enclosure they worked hard to develop. Just look at the MBP's lack of docking port. Thinkpads will always have high honors from me for durability and accessability but they won't win any beauty contest; a stark contrast from Apple's philosophy.

 

[s15119]

I'd be fine w/out a drive on my next MBP, especially if I could replace it with a nice big hard drive. I do use the drive quite a bit, mostly for ripping - so an external drive would be fine.

 

[deeddawg]

I think at this point in time, S. J. would take a kick to the face rather than retrofit a modular design on the unibody enclosure they worked hard to develop.

Agreed. I don't see it happening. Sort of too bad as it would solve some of the issues inherent in moving away from onboard ODD's which I believe will eventually happen given sufficient time.

Thinkpads [...] won't win any beauty contest; a stark contrast from Apple's philosophy.

Very true! Sort of the anti-Apple of the laptop world.

 

[tjb1]

I'd be fine w/out a drive on my next MBP, especially if I could replace it with a nice big hard drive. I do use the drive quite a bit, mostly for ripping - so an external drive would be fine.

Yeah MCE and MaxUpgrades both sell kits to add a hdd inside and include enclosures for the superdrive. Buy it and stop joining this troll fest.

Everyone seems to think they remove the superdrive they are going to include a battery or gpu when 90% of you wont even use it or need it. But what happens when they take it out and make the computer smaller? Now you have no bigger battery, no better gpu, and now you cant add a hdd because you all bitch about the odd.

 

[skiltrip]

Doesn't anyone watch movies on
their laptop in an airplane anymore?
I'd imagine that it'd be a lot less hassle to just have the laptop on the tray table, rather than laptop+external drive!

Yeah, any non-essential dongley things are a headache. It's bad enough I have an external firewire drive, and an iLok dongle hanging off my MBP. I don't want a DVD burner hanging off of it too. Not to mention the loss of 50% of my USB ports as a result of it.

 

[joepunk]

I would except a driveless MacBook Pro 15/17" as long as Apple includes more usb, firewire800 (or whatever is next), lightpeak, etc ports. I still use a disc drive for burning images and videos and I could live with an external option like they have for the Air.

 

[langis.elbasunu]

a few things should be noted here:

1.the apple usb powered superdrive is actually smaller than one single bluray disc case.
2.I am a pro user and do plenty of work in the field and would gladly have the internal SD pulled in order to speed up my machine or give me more battery life in the field.
3. seriously.......smaller than 1 single bluray disc case.
4. I do understand the plight of some pro users that have to deal with clients that expect stuff like blurays being burned instantly in the middle of the woods in south dakota in the winter.
5. People really take like a bag full of dvds on a plane with them? lulz
6.smaller than a single bluray disc case.

 

[The Captain]

No. I can go and buy maxed out MBP from Apple and only play solitaire on it and I have exactly the same right to tell Apple what updates I want and what I want to see dropped. The term "pro" is merely a marketing term, Apple listens the majority of the market, not the "pro" people if they are the minority of the market.
I have exactly same rights to go and buy MBP, no matter what my use for it is, as the "professional" user has. Macbook Pros aren't really anything so unique that you would lose your job if Apple changes it to the majoritys liking. If I want to buy MBP just to "look cool" that's my own business and you can't tell me to buy anything else whether you like it or not.

I don't have any statistics, but I would bet that majority of MBP owners are not people who you would call "pro" users, thus, we'll see changes to the direction of what these people like, not the "pro" users.

Oh and by the way, external optical drives tend to be better than the cheap internal one on the MBP.

Excuse my grammar.

I never said you don't have a "right" to buy a MacBook Pro, but your "right" does not make you "correct" for everyone.

Just like you have a "right" to buy a Ferrari, that doe not mean that Farrari's race drivers should respect your opinion when you demand the next gen Farari's be slower, taller, and have a hatchback because you only use it to haul firewood in the back yard.

 

[MVallee]

Since buying my MBP in August I don't think I have ever inserted a DVD/CD at all. All I use are externals and flash drives so if it were missing, I'd be ok as long as they had a external CD drive for the odd time you might need it.

Might as well get it out of there like they got rid of the floppy drives.