Super Drive: Is it true . . .

[JasG]

Is it true that I can't plug the thing into another optical-drive less laptop, like a Toshiba or IBM netbook?

 

[easy-mac]

Sorry, you can't even use it with any other Apple products besides the Mac Mini (server only i believe) and the 24" Cinema Display because it requires a special high powered USB port. I doubt netbooks or laptops from other manufacturers would have this, and if they did, not sure the firmware would be available to make it work.

 

[halledise]

Is it true that I can't plug the thing into another optical-drive less laptop, like a Toshiba or IBM netbook?

get yourself a LaCie (or similar) LightScribe writer.
cheaper the the SD and far more versatile.

you can use it on any machine you care to …

 

[Huubster]

because it requires a special high powered USB port.

This is a false assumption circulating on the net which somehow can't be eradicated.

Obviously Apple has purposely built the MBA SuperDrive in a way to make it incompatible with other devices.
The truth:

http://tnkgrl.wordpress.com/2008/06/24/macbook-air-superdrive-for-all/

Apple's reasoning is a mistery to me.

 

[striatedglutes]

This is a false assumption circulating on the net which somehow can't be eradicated.

Obviously Apple has purposely built the MBA SuperDrive in a way to make it incompatible with other devices.
The truth:

http://tnkgrl.wordpress.com/2008/06/24/macbook-air-superdrive-for-all/

Apple's reasoning is a mistery to me.

Wow... nominated for awesome post of the month!