The issue I see with the new MacBooks is that they cannot be upgraded. So if I bought a model with a 128GB drive I would be stuck with that. Am I correct? Also why has apple downgraded on disk space? I see that the traditional models with DVD ROM drives are being discontinued and no longer being made. Is this correct? I have a mid 2009 MacBook that has been upgraded to run Yosemite but at times it gets sluggish, and launching Office 2011 for the first time is slow.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
If I were to buy a new MacBook
- Thread starter jwolf6589
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
I had a 2009 macbook for about a year (i bought it used to see if I wanted to switch to mac or not, it cost me like $240)...after that I "upgraded" to a 2011 macbook pro and I love it!
I could not afford to buy a new one and even if I could I do not like that you cannot upgrade it at all. I am going to upgrade the RAM and install an SSD and bigger harddrive on this one soon.
I could not afford to buy a new one and even if I could I do not like that you cannot upgrade it at all. I am going to upgrade the RAM and install an SSD and bigger harddrive on this one soon.
But why make Mac units without a DVD drive? I have a ton of movies and no TV so I watch them on my MacBook.
The rest of the sentence is: but replacement SSDs can only be found on eBay as parts of another machine. No third party makes new, factory sealed replacement SSD drives for the current crop of retina machines.
----------
I'm not sure I recall the last time I actually used a DVD drive. I moved into my house nearly a year ago. Had a blu-ray player back at my appt. It's still in the boxed I moved it with.
I stream or download all content I watch, physical disks are going the way of the dodo.
But only by buying a used SSD taken from another machine, and you're going to have to buy it somewhere like eBay.
----------
External optical drives are cheap and plentiful. I use one several times a month, which is probably a lot more than most people. It's very easy and convenient and I'd rather not have to have the physical space and weight built into my laptop.
Perhaps you can pay for a very very large HD so I can store all my DVD's.
----------
In that case perhaps I better buy this unit fast.
http://m.macmall.com/home#/p/dpno+9232227/7628870
As stated above, most people simply don't use optical discs on their computer on a regular basis. Apple still sells a USB DVD drive that will allow you to play movies.
----------
Before you buy it, remember that model was first released almost exactly 3 years ago and hasn't been upgraded since. If you really want one, consider an Apple refurbished model, for $829. http://store.apple.com/us/product/F...133-inch-macBook-pro-25ghz-dual-core-intel-i5
I wouldn't. Paying nearly a 1000 bucks for 3 year old technology (including no retina screen). If you really want an optical drive, then go and buy an external model.
You are attributing your individual scenario to a product aimed at the mass market. The majority do not need an optical drive any longer. You can get an external drive which will solve your problem.
As for the SSD size, buy the laptop with the size you need.
Or you could just buy a windows machine.
Then you can configure it with all the old legacy hardware you desire, USB 2, Firewire, optical drives, vga connections, HDD drives the whole kit and kaboodle. It will be just as slow and probably worse to use than your 2009 macbook but it will be cheap.
There is a reason Apple swapped to SSD's and that is they make the experience of using a computer (just about any computer) much much more pleasurable due to the speed with which everything is accessed. Yes they are more expensive and so capacity is reduced but that is a small price to pay for the much better user experience. In short the SSD drive is the best thing to happen to computers in the last 10 years by miles.
I agree if you want to keep using this stuff on a laptop you'd better get in before they are gone on them all, as everyone is going the same way with optical drives.
To be honest if your 2009 does what you want stick a Cheap ssd in it (maybe a 256gb crucial BX100), move your HDD to an external USB enclosure for storage and you'll be good for another 2-3 years for about
$105. (it'll be faster than new with that SSD in it).
http://www.amazon.com/Crucial-BX100...F8&qid=1431952737&sr=8-1&keywords=256gb+bx100
http://www.amazon.com/Storite-Sata-...&qid=1431952781&sr=8-3&keywords=USB+HDD+caddy
Then you can configure it with all the old legacy hardware you desire, USB 2, Firewire, optical drives, vga connections, HDD drives the whole kit and kaboodle. It will be just as slow and probably worse to use than your 2009 macbook but it will be cheap.
There is a reason Apple swapped to SSD's and that is they make the experience of using a computer (just about any computer) much much more pleasurable due to the speed with which everything is accessed. Yes they are more expensive and so capacity is reduced but that is a small price to pay for the much better user experience. In short the SSD drive is the best thing to happen to computers in the last 10 years by miles.
I agree if you want to keep using this stuff on a laptop you'd better get in before they are gone on them all, as everyone is going the same way with optical drives.
To be honest if your 2009 does what you want stick a Cheap ssd in it (maybe a 256gb crucial BX100), move your HDD to an external USB enclosure for storage and you'll be good for another 2-3 years for about
$105. (it'll be faster than new with that SSD in it).
http://www.amazon.com/Crucial-BX100...F8&qid=1431952737&sr=8-1&keywords=256gb+bx100
http://www.amazon.com/Storite-Sata-...&qid=1431952781&sr=8-3&keywords=USB+HDD+caddy
Last edited:
That's fine as long as you don't care about having a retina display. As others say you're in the minority. The inclusion of an internal DVD drive not only adds additional weight and bulk but more moving parts.
I very rarely have the need for a DVD drive and when I do I just use the external Apple SuperDrive I bought for my previous laptop which was a MacBook Air. Even my current Mac Mini does not have a built in DVD drive but again I just use the external SuperDrive when I need to.
As for internal storage I had a very slow standard 5400 RPM HD in my MacBook Air and I have an almost as slow standard 7200 RPM HD in my Mac Mini. Having now replaced the MacBook Air and made my new 2015 13" MacBook Pro my primary computer I can't believe what I have been missing. It's blazingly fast in comparison.
Yes I have gone from 750GB capacity in the Mac Mini ( which I still own and use ) to 512GB in the new MacBook Pro but it's been well worth it. Not to mention in the process it has made me get rid of applications and files I no longer use or need.
Yeah at first I freaked out too that they didn't include a DVD drive. Right around the time the removed them, I found myself already using the one on my computer less and less and less. With netflix, amazon, spotify, and all that, I am usually covered.
I do make lossless RIPs of CDs, but an inexpensive dvd drive can be had for less than $40 on Amazon to cover my bases.
Also, you could not only get an external dvd drive, but you can get a pretty inexpensive external hard drive for storing your DVDs.
I have to agree that I think you are in the minority nowadays, and this is coming from a guy who used his DVD drive religiously.
I do make lossless RIPs of CDs, but an inexpensive dvd drive can be had for less than $40 on Amazon to cover my bases.
Also, you could not only get an external dvd drive, but you can get a pretty inexpensive external hard drive for storing your DVDs.
I have to agree that I think you are in the minority nowadays, and this is coming from a guy who used his DVD drive religiously.
I am sorry but I do not subscribe to cable, or any other streaming service and use DVD's to watch movies. I do not even own a regular TV. So in my case the internal DVD is a seller. Oh and bye the way there are still plenty in my boat.
----------
Retina display whats that? Well I bet a dollar that the display will be much better than that on my mid 2009 Macbook.
No need to get defensive man. You came here asking for advice and people are trying to help out.
Get the machine you think works for you.
You don't even know what a Retina Display is? No wonder you're still hung up on a built-in optical drive. I'd recommend going to an Apple Store or Apple reseller and seeing one in person. That's the only way to really understand the differences.
An external DVD drive costs around 40 bucks. You plug it into a USB port, and there you have it, a DVD player.
Everyone in the thread's been telling you this, and you seem to ignore every one of those comments.
A DVD drive should not be a selling point, barely anyone uses them anymore. And should you ever need one, an external works just as well/fast with nothing more than a USB cable to plug in.
Here, I even found you one for a whopping $23
http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Elect...1432084695&sr=8-1&keywords=external+dvd+drive
Just get whatever suits you. I am one of the people that doesn’t need DVD. I am not subscribe to cable or other streaming service. I watch movie by downloading them. Lol
You don’t know what Retina display is? Lol… I guess that explains why you need a DVD drive. Do you happen to use floppy drive or VCR too?
Last edited:
All the people in your boat have mostly moved on to retina and use a super drive (external dvd drive, like $80) when needed.
Your DVD's are dinosaurs and a hinderance.
Do yourself a favor and google cough cough kodi cough cough, then cough cough navi-x cough cough followed by cough cough project free tv cough cough and learn how to install them in kodi.
Because DVD drives take up almost half of the internal volume of the old mbp. For something so rarely used, it is a waste. External DVD drives are $30.
There is a big world outside of people who stream everything BUT people who use optical drives can easily make do with an external. If you keep your old Mac, you can stream from it to your new one.
Last edited:
Agreed. I am one of those people when it comes to movies/shows. I seek out blu-rays b.c I see a difference in quality....especially night scenes.