Mac mini non-server model

[Ryox]

I understand when the server model came out a few years ago, it ditched the optical drive to fit in another hard drive in its place.
Now since the last generation or so the normal mac minis have no optical drive either.

My question is, is there anything in the place of the optical drive that is no longer there in the normal Mac minis? Have apple taken out the optical drive just for kicks and not put anything in its place since the case is the same size as before they haven't shrunk it any smaller.

In which case what was the whole point of taking the optical drive out if you're just going to leave large space for nothing inside the machine?

 

[fa8362]

Because it costs them money, generates heat, uses power, and they don't want you to have it.

It's not coming back. The new iMacs don't have it either.