This is taken from blog [linked below] and details the problem with optical drives which has become apparent at Snow Leopard's release.
Article link: MacBook Optical Drive Optical Drives problems outted by Snow Leopard
Article link: MacBook Optical Drive Optical Drives problems outted by Snow Leopard
In general, MacBooks are engineering marvels. They can be praised for solid construction, excellent industrial design, ease of use, and (now), the retention of a decent array of connections. However, they fall prey to several engineering failures. One is air circulation; MacBooks are prone to run hot. But, whereas a LITTLE extra heat wont kill a laptop nor a companys image, the mass breakdown of optical drives certainly will. Sadly, Apple have so far ignored the widespread breakdown of its laptop optical drives - a problem which afflicts both new and old MacBooks.
Apples Discussions forums has a 14-page long thread which is dedicated to the problem. While my laptop was fixed under warranty, I was without a computer for a week, an option which many cannot afford.
As hinted at above, my two year old MacBook Pro suffered in inexplicable and sudden optical drive break down. Blank media of any sort could not be read, nor could it be written, and sometimes, regular optical media wouldnt even mount. My wifes 2006 original white MacBook wont mount, read or write any optical media, and the other MacBook in our home is even worse - it simply spits disks out.
Optical media is being superseded on a daily basis, of course - giving way to digital downloads, flash media, and wireless transfer. However, the vast majority of non-pirated software is still installed from optical disks.
While our house sits at a 100% optical drive failure, real-world results are more favourable. But, with the debut of Snow Leopard, many Apple laptop users are finding a problem they didnt even know existed: dud optical drives. At 29$, Snow Leopard is a great upgrade for any Intel-based Mac and for those who havent used their optical drives in a long time, an fulcrum which will expose another of Apples negligent engineering decisions.
The issue isnt Snow Leopard; the new OS merely gives people a reason to use their dusty drives again. Unfortunately, the new OS is given a run through the mud as users who havent used their optical drives in ages, find that their laptops have a problem.
Apple, who shove slim optical drives into slim, poorly shielded enclosures have yet to respond to the thousands of users who face fixing their laptop under warranty, or in the worst cases, have to replace the drive with their own money.
When viruses which infected Windows computers were found on a few iPods, Apple blamed Microsoft. When the logic board on my laptop failed, they blamed nVidia; and this time, though Apples optical drives come from a variety of manufacturers, there is bound to be a scapegoat. Problems with
MacBook optical drives have persisted since the first model in 2006, however, the current thread which was started on 24 February, has yet no answer. Perhaps Apple are waiting for all problematic laptops to simply run out their manufacturers guarantee and quietly dispose of the matter from customers pocketbooks.
Apples Discussions forums has a 14-page long thread which is dedicated to the problem. While my laptop was fixed under warranty, I was without a computer for a week, an option which many cannot afford.
As hinted at above, my two year old MacBook Pro suffered in inexplicable and sudden optical drive break down. Blank media of any sort could not be read, nor could it be written, and sometimes, regular optical media wouldnt even mount. My wifes 2006 original white MacBook wont mount, read or write any optical media, and the other MacBook in our home is even worse - it simply spits disks out.
Optical media is being superseded on a daily basis, of course - giving way to digital downloads, flash media, and wireless transfer. However, the vast majority of non-pirated software is still installed from optical disks.
While our house sits at a 100% optical drive failure, real-world results are more favourable. But, with the debut of Snow Leopard, many Apple laptop users are finding a problem they didnt even know existed: dud optical drives. At 29$, Snow Leopard is a great upgrade for any Intel-based Mac and for those who havent used their optical drives in a long time, an fulcrum which will expose another of Apples negligent engineering decisions.
The issue isnt Snow Leopard; the new OS merely gives people a reason to use their dusty drives again. Unfortunately, the new OS is given a run through the mud as users who havent used their optical drives in ages, find that their laptops have a problem.
Apple, who shove slim optical drives into slim, poorly shielded enclosures have yet to respond to the thousands of users who face fixing their laptop under warranty, or in the worst cases, have to replace the drive with their own money.
When viruses which infected Windows computers were found on a few iPods, Apple blamed Microsoft. When the logic board on my laptop failed, they blamed nVidia; and this time, though Apples optical drives come from a variety of manufacturers, there is bound to be a scapegoat. Problems with
MacBook optical drives have persisted since the first model in 2006, however, the current thread which was started on 24 February, has yet no answer. Perhaps Apple are waiting for all problematic laptops to simply run out their manufacturers guarantee and quietly dispose of the matter from customers pocketbooks.
