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Really No Opt Drive?

U rlly cld hve pst'd w less ltrs.

Anyway, as far as the 2012 iMac thread goes, the optical drive will probably be still included, as it hardly takes away any space in an iMac. Just look at the MacBook Pros.
 
Apple doesn't do things purely for size reasons, but also for philosophical or design reasons.

Why not save a few dollars in manufacturing costs and sell superdrives at vastly inflated prices to the few people who need an optical drive?

The MacBook Pros haven't had a redesign in 4 years. No one seriously believes there's ever going to be a non-Retina redesign or that the optical drive models will still exist a year from now.
 
I kinda hope they get rid of the optical drive. This will force software developers to sell their stuff online... I have no need for an optical drive really.
 
G51989 said:
You don't, but lots of people do.
Click to expand...

Precisely. More and more as time goes on, I use the optical drive in my iMac less and less. But I'm glad it's there because on occasion I do have a need for it. I don't mind having it on a desktop computer since it's large and has plenty of room for one. I can easily live without one built into a laptop and if I really needed one on the go, I can always get an external portable drive to go with it.
 
I rarely use my OD, but wouldn't mind having one for the few times that I need it. OTOH, if removing it would substantially improve cooling or allow for other improvements, I'd prefer that.
 
opt drive

I hope that there is one. I have software on disks that I bought. I do NOT want to have to buy them a SECOND time,in download format, tyvm.
 
emjaymert said:
I hope that there is one. I have software on disks that I bought. I do NOT want to have to buy them a SECOND time,in download format, tyvm.
Click to expand...

Apple wants you to buy an over priced external drive. Or buy your software from them again.
 
For the Air that rarely needs access to a CDROM/DVDROM I don't mind spending money on an external for if and when I need it on the go. I appreciate a smaller form factor as optical discs will most likely be used 3-4 times out of the whole year.

For a stationary computer as the iMac where form factor, physical size, and weight is much less of a concern I prefer to have a CDROM built-in into the AIO computer and prefer not having things lying all over the area. On the larger screen I often stream movies and sometimes play DVDs through rentals. Even for some of the larger games I prefer having a physical install disc over having to download 10+ gigs over steam.
 
While its not dead yet I feel like apple feels they have the right to kill it. On the other hand I don't think they will spend the money on removing and redesigning without also adding retina and that isnt coming so the drive will live on.
 
Just get a $25 cheapo external optical drive from Amazon, eBay, Newegg, wherever.

Forget the over-priced Apple drive.

Not a big deal.
 
there's no practical reason for apple not to include one, but I can imagine them not, as it will save/make them money (through selling separate ones) and they're really trying quite hard to get rid of them. They do like to include new, not necessarily widely used technology and get rid of old stuff. Although it can seem annoying and unnecessary at the time, it is a good thing, otherwise tech would be much slower in moving forward, IMO. 🙂

EDIT: I hope they work some way of getting previously purchased software free on the app store. Hope, but don't expect...
 
I don't think I have any software on physical media any more, but I've got music and movies which, from time to time, I want to either rip to my Mac or at least play on it.

EDIT: I don't buy CDs any more, but I still have a lot of discs that I've never ripped.
 
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