Poll: Could you live without an optical drive?

[Apple...]

In light of the new "can the Air be your only macbook" discussions, I'd like to make a case for dropping optical drives all together.

- Software is often downloaded, OSX comes on a stick now.

- Movies are downloaded. 1080p blu ray quality itunes downloads will happen, it's only a matter of time. And unless you have a 46+ inch TV that you sit relatively close too, you will be ok with 720p for the near future. (Also, real movie lovers will probably have a standalone Blu Ray player, therefore no need for one in your mac.)

- Dropping the optical from the macbooks will save room/weight/money.

- Those who really need it, can use an external drive.

Apple will most likely never have blu ray in any line up, has probably considered it dead on arrival.

Also, having a bookcase full of discs is very 1998.

+ 1. Goodbye, optical! I've been waiting for Apple to get rid of the feature on the MBPs. Hopefully it will happen soon...

 

[Yebubbleman]

sigh...

to everyone that wants an optical drive and thinks it's worth everything you'll be giving up considering what they can do with that space.... lettuce be reality, you guys are idiots. cereal

You're an idiot, at best, if you believe that they'd use that space to do anything but make it slimmer. They don't need to ditch the optical drive in order to give us things that we want, like quad-core, flash, better battery life, bigger battery. They need to make it 0.2" thicker and then problem solved, those of us who want the optical drive can have it, and those who don't are still presented with the option of getting a MacBook Air instead. The idea that the optical drive is standing in the way of quad-core, flash, a second hard drive bay, bigger battery, longer battery life, instant-on, and whatnot is absolute idiocy.

 

[Yebubbleman]

Also, I don't know how many of you have actually weighed the laptop slot-load optical drives. I fix Macs as a side-job, and they really don't weigh much at all. Removing it does nothing but make it thinner, and frankly, they're thin enough.

 

[Apple...]

Also, I don't know how many of you have actually weighed the laptop slot-load optical drives. I fix Macs as a side-job, and they really don't weigh much at all. Removing it does nothing but make it thinner, and frankly, they're thin enough.

Never!

 

[aicul]

who care about plastic pancakes anyway

 

[cmzwirner]

I dont want an optical drive. They can use the extra space for a better discrete video card on the 13". Maybe they can put a better battery in there, but i think they should go with a video card, seeing that integrated graphics for sandy bridge will be equivalent to a 9400m. That would be a significant downgrade.

And i really dont care about SSD's, since they dont actually increase performance. I dont care if an application takes 10 seconds to open instead of 1. Id rather pay $600 less for a 5400RPM drive that can hold alot more.

And the macbook pro 13" (hopefully) will not be replaced with the MBA. I need a compact laptop that is pure performance. I dont care about thin-ness, and weight. Im not a noodle arm, and .5 of an inch doesnt mean anything to me.

 

[63dot]

Drop the optical drive, but wait at least a year to 18 months. I think most people are like me and don't live on the bleeding edge.

As a Microsoft technician, all software is available to me at very low cost via download through the new Microsoft Academy, but for all others, most Microsoft stuff is only on DVD, or largely marketed that way.

Other companies still offer their stuff mainly on DVD or CD, though there may be download options.

I think by the middle of 2012, we won't be having this discussion and the optical drive will be like a 3.5" inch floppy. But the computer using world is not yet in a position to abruptly drop the optical drive.

When the optical drive is dropped, Apple will do it first just like they were one of the first to drop the floppy. So far transitions, like going away from floppy, adding USB or Firewire, or dropping ethernet cables in favor of going wireless, have been slow transitions.

 

[pyroza]

The only people I see who don't want optical drives anymore are Mac users, and I don't understand why. There is still lots of software only available on a disc, and not everyone has access to the high speed internet required to stream Blu-Ray quality movies, download gigs worth of games, etc. Getting rid of an optical drive would also alienate those who travel a lot and watch DVDs on their laptops. I watch many DVDs on my laptop because I live in a dorm and I don't need another device taking up space.

Edit: and what about those who have large media collections and want to rip them to their computer? Yes, you could download your music and movies, but it's not practical if you have a large collection.

 

[63dot]

The only people I see who don't want optical drives anymore are Mac users, and I don't understand why. There is still lots of software only available on a disc, and not everyone has access to the high speed internet required to stream Blu-Ray quality movies, download gigs worth of games, etc. Getting rid of an optical drive would also alienate those who travel a lot and watch DVDs on their laptops. I watch many DVDs on my laptop because I live in a dorm and I don't need another device taking up space.

Edit: and what about those who have large media collections and want to rip them to their computer? Yes, you could download your music and movies, but it's not practical if you have a large collection.

That is so true. I would qualify to say that some of the hipster CS majors and gaming freaks also are so bleeding edge that they don't feel the need for optical drives.

The one thing I see in common with high end PC users and Mac users is the all too often snobbishness of being on the bleeding edge. My friend's gaming computer can download stuff so fast and when they and all their friends have the fastest internet in order to be masters of the online gaming universe.

They are only thinking of themselves when they diss us poor folk who haven't reached the technical heights they have.

In our Microsoft Academy, all versions of Windows were initially available to us via disk, and later downloads. To me, this seemed fair since I could use those free disks to techies at the school. The "snobs" were not happy that the download site was not up and ready right away for the Academy students and working technicians/engineers.

 

[Yebubbleman]

Drop the optical drive, but wait at least a year to 18 months. I think most people are like me and don't live on the bleeding edge.

As a Microsoft technician, all software is available to me at very low cost via download through the new Microsoft Academy, but for all others, most Microsoft stuff is only on DVD, or largely marketed that way.

Other companies still offer their stuff mainly on DVD or CD, though there may be download options.

I think by the middle of 2012, we won't be having this discussion and the optical drive will be like a 3.5" inch floppy. But the computer using world is not yet in a position to abruptly drop the optical drive.

When the optical drive is dropped, Apple will do it first just like they were one of the first to drop the floppy. So far transitions, like going away from floppy, adding USB or Firewire, or dropping ethernet cables in favor of going wireless, have been slow transitions.

While I oppose the dropping of the optical drive, this may be the only sound argument I've heard for it.

 

[63dot]

While I oppose the dropping of the optical drive, this may be the only sound argument I've heard for it.

Thanks, I think?

At least we are neighbors. Central coast here.

 

[Yebubbleman]

The only people I see who don't want optical drives anymore are Mac users, and I don't understand why. There is still lots of software only available on a disc, and not everyone has access to the high speed internet required to stream Blu-Ray quality movies, download gigs worth of games, etc. Getting rid of an optical drive would also alienate those who travel a lot and watch DVDs on their laptops. I watch many DVDs on my laptop because I live in a dorm and I don't need another device taking up space.

Edit: and what about those who have large media collections and want to rip them to their computer? Yes, you could download your music and movies, but it's not practical if you have a large collection.

THIS! Seriously, I'm a Mac user and I'm not for it. MacBook Air, sure, that thing is meant to be ultra-portable. Mac mini server? What do you need the optical drive in that for if all it is doing is serving anyway? Every other Mac has no reason why the optical drive should be taken out, and anyone who uses the "so they can fit a discrete GPU" or "so they can add quad-core" or "so they can have dual-hard drives" or "so they can have more SSD options" is a freakin' idiot.

 

[NicoleRichie]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_2_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8C148a Safari/6533.18.5)

Access to one is needed, but I do not need it in my MB.

 

[wirelessmacuser]

I haven't needed one in ages. Even though my MBP has one it remains unused. I have an ultra-thin, feather light, USB powered external optical that's an ideal alternative. I bet as soon as a PC mfg drops it, Apple will follow. Rarely does Apple lead.

 

[miata]

Although an internal SuperDrive is an anchor for me, one nice thing about having it is that you get lots of flexibility with two drive bays should you pull the SD. You can have a pair of SSD or HDD drives in a really fast RAID 0 set-up -- or you can combine an SSD with an HDD to get the best of both worlds.

I hope that if Apple does eliminate the internal SuperDrive on the MBPs that they still provide a 2.5" expansion bay. Otherwise, it would not be a "Pro machine." I'm guess that Apple will remove the SuperDrive, add the compact MBA still SSD for boot disk, and have an option for a second SSD or HDD for additional capacity. Heck, Apple could make a lot of money off of BTO options with that configuration.

 

[Yebubbleman]

one nice thing about having it is that you get lots of flexibility with two drive bays should you pull the SD. You can have a pair of SSD or HDD drives in a really fast RAID 0 set-up -- or you can combine an SSD with an HDD to get the best of both worlds.

They do not need to remove the optical drive to achieve this. See the Late 2010 MacBook Air's SSD implementation.

I hope that if Apple does eliminate the internal SuperDrive on the MBPs that they still provide a 2.5" expansion bay. Otherwise, it would not be a "Pro machine."

...Unless burning DVDs is a part of your profession as it is for A LOT of us out there.

 

[Yebubbleman]

How many of you people who are so gung-ho on losing the optical drive would be just as content with a MacBook Air than a MacBook Pro sans an optical drive (who are not delusional about Apple actually doing something useful with that reclaimed space)? I'll bet that number is actually fewer than those who would greatly miss the optical drive.

 

[Schtumple]

How many of you people who are so gung-ho on losing the optical drive would be just as content with a MacBook Air than a MacBook Pro sans an optical drive (who are not delusional about Apple actually doing something useful with that reclaimed space)? I'll bet that number is actually fewer than those who would greatly miss the optical drive.

I make short films, an avid amateur photographer and musician, I need the MBPs power, I don't need the optical drive, an optibay is currently in the mail, I'd rather have 1tb of storage than a drive I'll use all of 3 times...

Of note, with my last MBP I was always tempted to get the optibay, over 2 years I used the cd drive less than 20 times, then it packed up and I had to buy an external one anyway, so what's the point in having an internal one?

 

[Moodikar]

Wireless DVD and Harddrives

I'd like to think DVDs may get one more step before becoming extinct.

How about wireless DVD/Harddrive combo. Like time Capsule but for DVD burners/players.

I'm also hoping that movies Studios start putting movies on USB sticks (perhaps USB3 memory jump drives). They can make a USB VCR or even have the technology built into TVs so all you do is pop in a USB key (like they currently do for photos).

People still like buying movies and having a hard collection but the USB key would beat any moving discs that can get scratched as well as players that break over time since it does wear with spinning. Finally, having USB allows for full1080p quality that's digital. No moving parts!!!

DVD is a pain an Blu-ray is not much better. USB sticks would be the future if someone starts the band wagon!!!!

 

[ADAADW]

MBP + Final cut?

Just a thought about why i don't think they'll be taking the drive out this time around. With this "BIG" update to final cut coming and like wise other big pro software packages, it would take an awful long time to download possible hundreds of GB's of program data off the net. Therefore i think the dvd drive will stay for a while longer as a way to get these large software packages on the MBP.

 

[Yebubbleman]

I make short films, an avid amateur photographer and musician, I need the MBPs power, I don't need the optical drive, an optibay is currently in the mail, I'd rather have 1tb of storage than a drive I'll use all of 3 times...

Of note, with my last MBP I was always tempted to get the optibay, over 2 years I used the cd drive less than 20 times, then it packed up and I had to buy an external one anyway, so what's the point in having an internal one?

It's very true that Apple's optical drives suck, though I see that to be a separate issue entirely and I'm happy that SOMEONE touched on it in bashing the optical drive. Though I burn movies, software, DVD videos (as you can't really submit a personal portfolio on an SD card slot or in e-mail), and data discs all the time, plus I want the freedom to reinstall my OS and software (most of which still comes on discs) whenever I want to whether or not I've brought along an external or not. Sadly the best external optical drives aren't all that portable and if we're talking about the MacBook Pro, then an external optical drive will be just as annoying if not moreso due to it being yet another thing to lug around. The 13-inch MacBook Pro presently gets 10 hours of battery, so in theory, I can only carry around the laptop and not need anything else. The need for an external optical drive would defeat that.

 

[Yebubbleman]

Just a thought about why i don't think they'll be taking the drive out this time around. With this "BIG" update to final cut coming and like wise other big pro software packages, it would take an awful long time to download possible hundreds of GB's of program data off the net. Therefore i think the dvd drive will stay for a while longer as a way to get these large software packages on the MBP.

True that. Also things like games. I could download StarCraft II, though that takes all day, whereas using the installer that comes on the retail DVD and then patching is still substantially faster. Also Boot Camp. Again, I can't fathom all of the people speaking for the removal of the optical drive representing the true majority of ALL Mac users, let alone ALL MacBook Pro customers.

 

[shyam09]

True that. Also things like games. I could download StarCraft II, though that takes all day, whereas using the installer that comes on the retail DVD and then patching is still substantially faster. Also Boot Camp. Again, I can't fathom all of the people speaking for the removal of the optical drive representing the true majority of ALL Mac users, let alone ALL MacBook Pro customers.

true.. but can someone explain the MAC OS App Store ..
im not 100% sure, but at the Back to the Mac event during the demo of this.. didn't the person say that it would be almost instant (idk) or short in time? can someone correct me..please? ill go look at the video though..

EDIT: i lied.. installation is easier not the downloading haha.. after it downloads you can open it right up.. but yeah then an OD would be handy.. but based on teh app store im sure its apple moving towards a non-OD machine in the future.. maybe not this upcoming gen.. but the one after depending on the use of the app store and which gains more money- the OD or the App store./.?

 

[miata]

They do not need to remove the optical drive to achieve this. See the Late 2010 MacBook Air's SSD implementation.

I'm not sure what your point it. I was pointing out that the MBPs today give you the option to have two internal SSDs or HDDs. The MBAs have no open bay where you can upgrade storage. If the MBPs did use the MBA style SSDs I hope they also provide an upgradable bay option as well.

...Unless burning DVDs is a part of your profession as it is for A LOT of us out there.

Burning DVDs is not my profession, but I have a few external drives including one with a Blu-ray burner. I plan on burning DVDs and BDs for many years to come. But, that doesn't mean that I want to take my SuperDrive with me everywhere I go.

 

[miata]

How many of you people who are so gung-ho on losing the optical drive would be just as content with a MacBook Air than a MacBook Pro sans an optical drive (who are not delusional about Apple actually doing something useful with that reclaimed space)? I'll bet that number is actually fewer than those who would greatly miss the optical drive.

One of the values of the MBPs is that they are expandable and upgradable via RAM, drive bays, and Firewire 800 interfaces.

I looked very seriously at the MBA and found a number of serious short-comings including:

- no RAM upgrades -- and 4 GM max
- no internal storage upgrades -- and 240 GB max
- no Firewire
- no ethernet

In addition, there were a lot of creature comforts I would have had to give up with the MBA including:

- backlit keyboard
- battery status LEDs
- sleep LED

The MBP 13 is the only one that has a big problem with the optical drive. Because of it there is not space for the i5/i7 CPUs and a decent GPU solution.