Thanks, man. I was feeling pretty crappy after hearing Steve Jobs died today, same day I was posting all this stuff QQ. I'm going to go back to crying now.
/me drinks beer sadly
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Lack of a DVD drive option is terrible. Agree?
- Thread starter darkgoob
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Thanks, man. I was feeling pretty crappy after hearing Steve Jobs died today, same day I was posting all this stuff QQ. I'm going to go back to crying now.
/me drinks beer sadly
Sounds like you are unhappy with Apple's future road map. I figured out a while ago trying to fight Apple software and hardware isn't worth it. Use it like they designed it or use something else.
I'm not trying to minimize your frustrations, I completely understand. The only way to show Apple you don't like the way they are headed is to jump ship.
I'm not trying to minimize your frustrations, I completely understand. The only way to show Apple you don't like the way they are headed is to jump ship.
Watching Blu-Ray on a computer monitor is sorta useless, because most computer screens aren't big enough for you to notice or appreciate the difference... Unless your watching it up real close.
Bought my first Apple computer - a Mac Mini model 2010 - one week before the new model was released.
I am extreemly happy that I did this - it enables me to shove in a Windows Emergency Recovery CD and restore my Windows installation in less than 5 minutes.
[start rant]
Reading about the 23.97 frames issue in the Intel HD3000 GPU and about the heating issues (which I was expecting) makes me even more happy to have the 2010 model. IMHO the 2010 is a classic and the 2011 is a lemon. Similarly OS X / Lion not catering for third party SSD tells me enough about the Apple business philosophy.
Lets hope that now the founder has passed away Apple will stop moving into the big brother of George Orwell's "1984" direction. People hail him as a great visionary (and I will get a lot of flak but it will need to be said) but in the future to come people will see him in exactly the opposite light. Governments have always wanted to control the masses and SJ has made this possible with the iPhone and the iCloud. In due course all your liberties will disappear. Freedom to choose where you get your software, your music and video have already been taken away by forcing you to iTunes and Appstore. And this is only the beginning.
[end rant]
I love the quietness and sleek look with the all-in-one function of the 2010 mini (no external brick, no external DVD, able to use a corded mouse / keyboard / network, able to use a non-glare screen). Windows runs cooler than Snow Leopard / Lion.
[start second rant]
Regarding all this wireless stuff and even the move towards "connector less" charging (inductive): people do not realise the dangers and cancer increased risks by using this technology. And then even worse the effects it has on developping brains. Regarding mobile phones in general: they operate on a similar frequency as a microwave oven. Now do you stick every day your head in the microwave oven for 10 or 20 seconds? Why are you using a mobile phone then (and cook the brain)? Do you know that someone who carries always his phone on the same hip will have in that hip less calcium?
[end rant]
No, you weren't. You were ridiculed for suggesting that Apple should pay for your upgrade to a newer Office version and for not doing your homework (as in establishing whether your critical software would run on your new hardware).
Although I won't go to the length of the original post in this thread I will say that I agree that the lack of a drive in a desktop is kind of a deal breaker. I actually just replaced my Mac Mini from 07 with a late 2010 2.66 C2D with 500gb & 8gb of ram. I could have easily picked up a new Mini but I wanted the phsical drive without having to connect via usb.
The decision was easy too because for the kind of things I use my computer for this Mini will last me a very long time and I can still use it to watch my DVD collection as I really don't feel like sitting down and ripping several hundred DVD's. I will say that pretty much for the past few years and on though everything that I watch is for the most part downloaded. Weather that is from netflix, hulu, itunes, etc that is the way we have ventured and it won't change BUT DVD is not a dead media nor (IMO) will it ever die since the capacity is reasonable with the price next to nothing.
The decision was easy too because for the kind of things I use my computer for this Mini will last me a very long time and I can still use it to watch my DVD collection as I really don't feel like sitting down and ripping several hundred DVD's. I will say that pretty much for the past few years and on though everything that I watch is for the most part downloaded. Weather that is from netflix, hulu, itunes, etc that is the way we have ventured and it won't change BUT DVD is not a dead media nor (IMO) will it ever die since the capacity is reasonable with the price next to nothing.
I also agree with basically everything the OP said. I use optical media frequently on both my MPB and my '10 Mini. And I will until Apple starts selling LOSSLESS media via iTunes. Why the hell should I buy music that's compressed and sounds like crap compared to the same music on a CD? Same for movies... ESPECIALLY when it's basically the same price as physical media. Obviously, I'm in the minority on that. Most people can't tell the difference or are too stupid to realize there is a difference or have just been brainwashed into not bothering to wonder whether there is a difference.
I found this thread because I was exploring the possibility of installing a 2011 Mini guts into a 2010 case and adding a internal optical drive (Blu-ray for running via VM). 2010 cases can be had on eBay for $60. Yes, I could buy an external drive. But that defeats the point of a Mini. I have all my digital media (which was created almost exclusively from my optical media) stored on a 10-TB Drobo drive served to my home theater via my Mini. I use a MBP as my main computer, though I'm planning to shift the Mini to use as my main computer (where I'll still need an optical drive) and use my jailbroken ATV2 to serve media to my home entertainment system via Plex (once Plex fixes the PMS 5.1 DTS bug in their upcoming release). Using VM on the MPB with an external Blu-ray player the only way I can currently watch Blu-ray movies on the HTPC since I don't have a PS3 or a component Blu-ray player. I don't want all that clutter with the TV.
I guaran-damn-tee you, if Apple made a Mini with Blu-ray, they'd sell millions of them! As much as I was saddened by SJ's passing, maybe now, Apple will realize Blu-ray isn't going anywhere for 10-15 years or more, at least not until most of America gets fiber-optic with zero bandwith restrictions. Until then anyone who wants 1080p or 3D will be sticking with Blu-ray. And to the poster that said 720p is good enough on a 46" TV? Are you frikkin' kidding me???? Buy some glasses dude.
Think about it this way -- 1080p is only the beginning. 1440p isn't that far off. Optical media technology is still going through puberty. Blu-ray capacity will increase dramatically in the not-too-distant future. Is media technology supposed to stop improving because most of America is bandwidth limited? Unless Apple is going to personally invest in America's (and the world's) infrastructure, they're ultimately shooting themselves in the foot by trying to force to the cloud. 50 years from now, we'll all be there probably. In the next 10-20, only those who are willing to accept sub-standard quality content will be exclusive cloud-dwellers.
Apple used to be like the organic farmer, with Microsoft being the corporate food mill. Anyone who thinks Apple's dumping of optical drives is about saving consumers money or space is delusional. It's SOLELY about forcing people to their cloud, where they control everything and dictate what people think they need all for the purpose of maximizing profit.
Who's the corporate food mill now?
SOYLENT GREEN IS PEOPLE!!!!
I found this thread because I was exploring the possibility of installing a 2011 Mini guts into a 2010 case and adding a internal optical drive (Blu-ray for running via VM). 2010 cases can be had on eBay for $60. Yes, I could buy an external drive. But that defeats the point of a Mini. I have all my digital media (which was created almost exclusively from my optical media) stored on a 10-TB Drobo drive served to my home theater via my Mini. I use a MBP as my main computer, though I'm planning to shift the Mini to use as my main computer (where I'll still need an optical drive) and use my jailbroken ATV2 to serve media to my home entertainment system via Plex (once Plex fixes the PMS 5.1 DTS bug in their upcoming release). Using VM on the MPB with an external Blu-ray player the only way I can currently watch Blu-ray movies on the HTPC since I don't have a PS3 or a component Blu-ray player. I don't want all that clutter with the TV.
I guaran-damn-tee you, if Apple made a Mini with Blu-ray, they'd sell millions of them! As much as I was saddened by SJ's passing, maybe now, Apple will realize Blu-ray isn't going anywhere for 10-15 years or more, at least not until most of America gets fiber-optic with zero bandwith restrictions. Until then anyone who wants 1080p or 3D will be sticking with Blu-ray. And to the poster that said 720p is good enough on a 46" TV? Are you frikkin' kidding me???? Buy some glasses dude.
Think about it this way -- 1080p is only the beginning. 1440p isn't that far off. Optical media technology is still going through puberty. Blu-ray capacity will increase dramatically in the not-too-distant future. Is media technology supposed to stop improving because most of America is bandwidth limited? Unless Apple is going to personally invest in America's (and the world's) infrastructure, they're ultimately shooting themselves in the foot by trying to force to the cloud. 50 years from now, we'll all be there probably. In the next 10-20, only those who are willing to accept sub-standard quality content will be exclusive cloud-dwellers.
Apple used to be like the organic farmer, with Microsoft being the corporate food mill. Anyone who thinks Apple's dumping of optical drives is about saving consumers money or space is delusional. It's SOLELY about forcing people to their cloud, where they control everything and dictate what people think they need all for the purpose of maximizing profit.
Who's the corporate food mill now?
SOYLENT GREEN IS PEOPLE!!!!
No one is being forced to do anything, and no one is stopping anyone from adding an external drive.
You might want to see someone about that paranoia. Even if that's the plan, there's no need for it to affect you or anyone else.
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??? Because you made a claim that something is ubiquitous there's no compelling reason to back up your claim with real data other than to satisfy my curiosity? I'm flattered by your dedication to enlightening me but it was your argument that having an integrated DVD in a computer is an ubiquitous technology, that I'm questioning in the first place. If your claim is going to have any credibility at all you do have a burden of providing quantifiable proof, otherwise your claim is nothing more than an opinion.
I may have posted that comment before I got a chance to read your quantifiable data, but having done so I'd like to respond. I have a hard time buying a Nielsen report from 2006, over 5 years old, as being relevant information given the pace at which technology and media consumption have changed. If you believe that the delta between DVD usage and streaming media hasn't changed over the last 5 years your sadly out of touch with the times.
It also seemed to me that the Nielsen study was focused on DVD consumption in general, not DVD usage on a computer. Apple didn't pull dedicated DVD players out of anyones living room and I would hazard a guess that most of these DVD aficionados can still watch DVD's the same way most of us did back in 06, on a dedicated DVD player.
While the NY Times article you cited was more current you did fail to mention a fairly relevant point the article made, that in addition to a lack of high speed internet options in many of these rural areas there was also a relatively small base of computer owners. If you don't own a computer does it really matter if it has a DVD player or not?
And when was the last time you checked, 2006? The accepted format is dependent on the clients needs, not on any single convention such as paper, optical, or online. If online access meets the clients needs why would they want to wait for a DVD? Services such as SmugMug and Zenfolio are able to offer free accounts to casual users because of the amount of business they have in offering professional accounts.
Again, the method of delivery should be tailored to the clients needs not to requirements imposed by the photographer. Have you even offered any of your clients an online option or is your convenience more important than the clients needs. Saying your customer expects a certain method of delivery is meaningless if you haven't offered them any options.
Once you give the client a DVD of the pictures you wash your hands of it? So if your client looses or damages the DVD their SOL because its too inconvenient for you to store copies on a sever? If find that completely unacceptable and a flagrant disregard of customer satisfaction. As to the client not wanting their pictures on the internet, No one is suggesting you post their pictures to a public Flikr account. Do you encrypt the DVD you give them incase it falls into the wrong hands?
Spot on I have no interest in video
I pay $150 a year for unlimited storage with a SmugMug Pro account. Keep in mind that the account gives me features beyond simply allowing potential clients online access to my work The account also acts as a digital storefront for selling my work.
and here is a good example of what I ment by your recurring them. For a lot of us, some of you yes, but your phrasing implies that the majority of pro photographers need to have DVD in their workflow, and I simply do not believe that to be the case.
Is there a technical reason that scanned film must be burned to DVD rather than offered to the client via the internet? I could see file size as being a factor but certainly not a limitation. Here again though you are defending your ubiquitous technology argument with by providing us with another example limited to a relatively small segment of Mac users
Unfortunately I learned many of my social skills while serving in the USMC, so if I''ve come across a bit to blunt at times you have my apologies. While I'm not buying your ubiquitous technology argument, and your not buying my defense of the SuperDriveless Mini, I have enjoyed this debate.
gotta agree with the OP... Ive been giving thought to upgrading from my 2007 macmini, was actually on the Apple website configuring it when I realized it had no DVD/CD drive in it. This is a major fail. It means one more thing to buy, one more thing to connect, more cables, etc...Not that big of a deal in the great scheme of things, but it is silly, needless and gets away from the minimalist approach apple seems to like.
DVD's and CD's are not dead yet, and blu-ray is going strong also. I buy my music on CD's whenever I can, as a matter of fact I just bought a 73 disc box set of my favorite artist (this is not available as a download).
This is all about increasing Apples bottom line, withholding features to force people to go through iTunes and the app store to purchase things they may want.
While I do think there will be a point in time where media on CD's and DVD's will be pretty much obsolete, that time is still at least a decade away.
DVD's and CD's are not dead yet, and blu-ray is going strong also. I buy my music on CD's whenever I can, as a matter of fact I just bought a 73 disc box set of my favorite artist (this is not available as a download).
This is all about increasing Apples bottom line, withholding features to force people to go through iTunes and the app store to purchase things they may want.
While I do think there will be a point in time where media on CD's and DVD's will be pretty much obsolete, that time is still at least a decade away.
Because the thread isn't on a disk, it's downloaded and now 5 pages, do try to follow along
This is from post #123 that I answered for another and it still holds strong
If you don't like it, don't click on the thread. No one is forcing you to read the thread.
I love these "Apple needs this because I want it guys". Gimme a break.
Was it maybe a year early to totally remove the optical drive from the Mini? It could be argued that it was. Really though, it enabled Apple to lower the price of the line by $100. For those users who absolutely fear being without one, they can get one and will still have saved money over the previous generation. For users like me, who don't have a need for an optical drive, I'm pleased that I am not paying for the inclusion of hardware that is unnecessary for me.
As for Blu Ray.... #!&$ Blu Ray. I have freed myself from the clutter of optical media and will not be going back to it for any reason. Despite what Blu Ray proponents would like us to believe, it is simply not a widely accepted format.
The advent of HDTV and movies on demand, the eventuality of 1080p HD video content from providers like iTunes or Amazon and the fact that the average person doesn't even know the difference anyway, Blu Ray is irrelevant.
There's nothing stopping you from buying an external BD drive and plugging it in to your Mac. I'm happy with not having to foot the bill to have it included in mine.
Was it maybe a year early to totally remove the optical drive from the Mini? It could be argued that it was. Really though, it enabled Apple to lower the price of the line by $100. For those users who absolutely fear being without one, they can get one and will still have saved money over the previous generation. For users like me, who don't have a need for an optical drive, I'm pleased that I am not paying for the inclusion of hardware that is unnecessary for me.
As for Blu Ray.... #!&$ Blu Ray. I have freed myself from the clutter of optical media and will not be going back to it for any reason. Despite what Blu Ray proponents would like us to believe, it is simply not a widely accepted format.
The advent of HDTV and movies on demand, the eventuality of 1080p HD video content from providers like iTunes or Amazon and the fact that the average person doesn't even know the difference anyway, Blu Ray is irrelevant.
There's nothing stopping you from buying an external BD drive and plugging it in to your Mac. I'm happy with not having to foot the bill to have it included in mine.
To reply to your title question....
"Lack of a DVD drive option is terrible. Agree?"
No.
1. A DVD drive is optional with Apple albeit a stand alone device.
2. A third party DVD drive can be bought from any large electronics / domestic appliance retailer.
3. Buy a MacBook Pro or a Mac Pro which still retain an optical drive. Furthermore, there is no evidence to suggest that future generations of MacBook Pros (if any!) will not have a DVD drive.
Therefore, whilst your concerns are valid regarding the sharing of materials with family members etc. who do not own computers (I also share that situation) of any form, shape or size, your claim to the inclusion of DVD drives in a piece of hardware is quite frankly besides the point. Solutions for your needs are available - even from Apple, furthermore, it only requires you to slot in one (just ONE) USB cable for the device you have. Having current options for you to resolve your issues is the real point isn't it?
I wonder, would you like to see a DVD drive on an iPhone too? Now, that would be fun!
"Lack of a DVD drive option is terrible. Agree?"
No.
1. A DVD drive is optional with Apple albeit a stand alone device.
2. A third party DVD drive can be bought from any large electronics / domestic appliance retailer.
3. Buy a MacBook Pro or a Mac Pro which still retain an optical drive. Furthermore, there is no evidence to suggest that future generations of MacBook Pros (if any!) will not have a DVD drive.
Therefore, whilst your concerns are valid regarding the sharing of materials with family members etc. who do not own computers (I also share that situation) of any form, shape or size, your claim to the inclusion of DVD drives in a piece of hardware is quite frankly besides the point. Solutions for your needs are available - even from Apple, furthermore, it only requires you to slot in one (just ONE) USB cable for the device you have. Having current options for you to resolve your issues is the real point isn't it?
I wonder, would you like to see a DVD drive on an iPhone too? Now, that would be fun!
Just wait till you bump up against your ISP's cap and either get dropped or charged a large overage fee. Look at new customers for a iPhone, who aren't grandfathered in an unlimited plan.
I see this point made by almost ever person who praises streaming over Blu-Ray. And none of you seem to realize that 1) you are that "average person" who is apparently incapable of discerning HD video quality from low-res and 2) you're actually not average. I've never met a single person in real life incapable of discerning the difference between DVD and Blu-Ray video. Sure, not everyone cares enough to pay the cost difference, but they can certainly see that quality difference and would prefer it, costs aside.
I have always just assumed that you streaming pundits are either hard-of-seeing or consume your content exclusively on tiny computer/tablet screens where the quality difference truly is irrelevant. The rest of us have large flat screens and home theaters. We didn't buy that equipment just to buy/stream low quality video. Discs are still the only source of quality.
new to apple products so i guess this is my unique perspective on the subject.
I bought the mac mini fully aware it had no drive, no big issue i just bough the additional super drive to sit on top. Works well, allows me to rip any CD's or DVD's. Could they have included it, i'm sure they could have and just made it a bit taller as i think it used to be when it first came out - i like the look of it and it ain't that bad with the superdrive sitting on top
I bought the mac mini fully aware it had no drive, no big issue i just bough the additional super drive to sit on top. Works well, allows me to rip any CD's or DVD's. Could they have included it, i'm sure they could have and just made it a bit taller as i think it used to be when it first came out - i like the look of it and it ain't that bad with the superdrive sitting on top
Funny, my first computer (an Apple ][e) had the duodisk drive as a separate box. It actually made it easier to replace if it crapped out than an all in one solution like the later ][c.
I am so use to external hard drives (and hopefully thunderbolt ssd drives) at this point I don't see the lack of an included dvd drive as a big deal.
I am so use to external hard drives (and hopefully thunderbolt ssd drives) at this point I don't see the lack of an included dvd drive as a big deal.