It seems that simply omitting the optical drive would allow them to make it thinner and lighter. I'm getting a little tired of all the threads whining that the MBA isn't up to specs with the MBP, or that the MBP is too heavy. Why can't Apple simply satisfy both kinds of customers?
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Why doesn't Apple build a 13" MBP without the optical drive?
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A "Pro" machine without an optical drive is ridiculous. There's more people who need that drive, then people who complain about it.
I rarely use my optical drive.
It's a waste of space in laptops. An external drive would allow you to install the apps you need, rip the CD and backup to CD/DVD recordable but it simply doesn't need to be in a notebook full time taking up space.
iMagine a Macbook Pro 13" with discrete graphics, ExpressCard and two SATA 2.5" drive bays!
Your flexibility would be great. Want data redundancy? Run two drives in RAID 1.
Want tiered storage? Buy a SSD for your boot drive and a HDD for your larger storage.
Want external RAID eSATA ExpressCard.
But no..instead you have some 5" relic that is slower than molasses in winter taking up precious internal space. Pffffffffffffft
Optical drives are the new floppy. Make'em external and take the $60 cost and apply that towards better GPU or another drive bay and expansion slot.
This isn't rocket science.
It's a waste of space in laptops. An external drive would allow you to install the apps you need, rip the CD and backup to CD/DVD recordable but it simply doesn't need to be in a notebook full time taking up space.
iMagine a Macbook Pro 13" with discrete graphics, ExpressCard and two SATA 2.5" drive bays!
Your flexibility would be great. Want data redundancy? Run two drives in RAID 1.
Want tiered storage? Buy a SSD for your boot drive and a HDD for your larger storage.
Want external RAID eSATA ExpressCard.
But no..instead you have some 5" relic that is slower than molasses in winter taking up precious internal space. Pffffffffffffft
Optical drives are the new floppy. Make'em external and take the $60 cost and apply that towards better GPU or another drive bay and expansion slot.
This isn't rocket science.
I professionally use my laptop 12 hours a day and have never used my optical drive. I bet many people on this MBA forum do the same. Hence your assumption is false.
They do. It's called a MacBook Air, I believe.
No, the MBA has less RAM, hard drive options (i.e. no 256 SSD) shorter battery life, and other shortcomings.
They do. It's called a MacBook Air, I believe.
conceptually different computers. The MBA isn't just about getting rid of the optical drive but it doesn't have networking ports either.
Correct. Those who know they can live without an optical drive attached to their machine 100% of the time know that the Air is for them. I think what the OP wants is the MBP (13") without the optical drive and let it be called the new Air.
I like the lack of ports on my Air and the form factor. I bought it to be almost forced to be truly mobile with it and I am indeed truly mobile with it. Rarely do you see me attaching my superdrive accessory add-on or anything else to it for but the power cable. It is great for long flights to and from CA and the likes.
I wouldn't mind trading the Air for a new 13" MB though but there is something about the design of the Air that appeals to me.
I'm all for ditching the optical drive in favour of other functionality like additional space.
However (as always) I thinks its too much of a niche/specialist wish at the moment and in too much of a limbo between the air and an optical drive macbook. I don't think the average 'non macrumors' consumer would understand or welcome it. Until then its optibay for the extra space/raid. Shame there's no way to swap the drive for discreet graphics for the 13" macbook.
However (as always) I thinks its too much of a niche/specialist wish at the moment and in too much of a limbo between the air and an optical drive macbook. I don't think the average 'non macrumors' consumer would understand or welcome it. Until then its optibay for the extra space/raid. Shame there's no way to swap the drive for discreet graphics for the 13" macbook.
How is his assumption false when your just "betting" that your correct? And are all Mac owners members of this forums?
If you don't use your optical drive, it doesn't mean everyone else is the same as you.
Your assumption is not only false, but meaningless.
I think assumptions are neither true nor false. Without having any substantive data about how many consumers use their optical drive and how many Pro use their optical drive there really isn't much to go on.
The MBA does point to a future where the optical drive is optional. I'd invite discourse from many on how and how many times they use their optical drive. My own personal experience is :
1. I rip my CD and then listen to the digital file.
2. I rarely backup to CD anymore once USB Flash went above 4GB (faster and easier)
3. Much of the software I install can easily be downloaded and activated via a license key.
Digital files are a more green solution. I'm looking to eradicate polycarbonate discs as storage. Don't we have enough in landfills across the globe?
Optical drives take up a huge amount of storage. If many of us are not using them often enough Apple should consider making them optional for notebooks.
The MBA is a step in this direction but it also reduces port count and what a ideal (IMO) MBP does is maintain the port count and in fact increase it.
They do. It's called a MacBook Air, I believe.
In the words of Simon Williamson, "Beautifully f*cking illustrated."
i'm sure the 13"MBP will lose the optical drive within the next 12 month. That is the reason we get SD card slots now. Apple will sell OS X on SD cards starting in a year and then slowly phase out the DVD.
I'm not sure that you get two drive bays or an express card slot though. i also don't expect a discrete GPU. nvidea will double the speed of their 9400 and apple will go with that.
There will be a 8-10hr battery life and a OLED display and USB3 and maybe 4G/wimax buildt in.
The optical drive is an archaic piece of legacy hardware that could be easily dispensed with. I've never used mine. It seems a total waste of space and mass to be dragging around a large device that never gets used.
I'd be in favour of the DVD Superdrive disappearing but that won't happen. Anytime soon we'll be awash in Apple-borne BluRay hype and the friendly slotloader will become a new hot item.
Apple's well aware that the optical disk is a dying technology: not only did they exclude it from the Air but they also didn't build a DVD drive into the AppleTV where it might've been more obviously useful. I think it's a case of Apple (quite correctly) not trusting the consumer to know what's good for them. Everybody wants a disk drive because everybody has a disk drive. Everybody exchanges files by solid-state USB drives but films and software still come on disks. Until this abates the wide majority will still reflexively recoil from a device that lacks an optical disk drive - indeed they'll complain it's a cynical move to force them into buying an external unit at additional cost.
I'd be in favour of the DVD Superdrive disappearing but that won't happen. Anytime soon we'll be awash in Apple-borne BluRay hype and the friendly slotloader will become a new hot item.
Apple's well aware that the optical disk is a dying technology: not only did they exclude it from the Air but they also didn't build a DVD drive into the AppleTV where it might've been more obviously useful. I think it's a case of Apple (quite correctly) not trusting the consumer to know what's good for them. Everybody wants a disk drive because everybody has a disk drive. Everybody exchanges files by solid-state USB drives but films and software still come on disks. Until this abates the wide majority will still reflexively recoil from a device that lacks an optical disk drive - indeed they'll complain it's a cynical move to force them into buying an external unit at additional cost.
No one's saying that having an optical drive around isn't necessary the question is:
"Do I need an optical drive in every computer?" wouldn't a single external USB drive allow me to install CD/DVD based program an all my computers?
Doesn't a network afford me the benefit of device sharing?
How is it that we have access to such fantastic technology yet we as computing users are still blind to the benefits of a network and device sharing and new methods for distribution (digital)
How have we become so "dumbed down?"
As long as that network is not a wireless one, perhaps. Otherwise, still too slow.
1. Will they also attach an USB card reader for MBA and 17" MBP? Optical drives are popular enough for the lack of one to be circumvented by remote install, but it isn't really the case for SD readers.
2. What happened with Nehalem licensing battle (nVidia can't make chipsets for Core i7 yet, or did I miss something)?
3. I don't see 4G coming so soon. There's still no 3G in MacBooks.
I use a Mac Pro in my professional life and burn CDs/DVDs every day. The world is not ready for an optical drive-free pro machine yet, whether its a desktop or a notebook.
What has you burning CD/DVD every day? The needs of a desktop are different than that of a notebook. Many people prefer to carry around a lighter notebook but they still want battery life and a reasonable amount of connectivity.