I use it at work to read files on my laptop but the last time I used it at home was to install Office '11 a month or so ago.
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I would indeed buy the new MBP if it came out tomorrow (assuming they update from the 330M). The optical drive issue isn't that big of a deal to me. I just think the space could be utilized more effectively than a disc drive that only gets used when someone wants to install a game or program or rip a CD. Oh and I still buy CD's. I've never bought a song off iTunes.
What really bothers me is that Apple may keep a DVD drive in there, and likely not even upgrade to Blu-ray support. So not only are they wasting valuable space, but they're doing it with outdated tech that is in the process of being surpassed by a format that rest of the consumer electronics industry and consumers see as useful.
The DVD drive being there is only slightly more useful than a floppy drive, since consumers are moving away from DVD and on to Blu-ray. If given the option between internal Blu-ray or removal of the optical drive and still no Blu-ray support through external drives, I'd take the former. I hate the idea of paying $2000 for a computer outfitted with old tech. Steve hates Blu-ray so the possibility of the former happening is slim to none.
Slightly more useful than a floppy? Floppy disc = 1.44mb, Dvd = 4gb
I bought a Floppy Disc drive because the cnc machines at our school use them. Even the brand new ones, because it cost too much to equip them with the usb functionality...$2000+ for it. A DVD is not practical in a machine shop, this is why they use floppy disc.
Fixed that for you. In the Windows world there are plenty of gaming laptops. Even though Mac laptops are not the best gaming platforms there are some of us who like to use one for a game or two.
Cheers,
It doesnt need fixed, if you ask a pc gamer they are not running the games you are.
I run steam, Diablo 2, and Starcraft 2. The pc gamers are running COD, Crysis, etc...which the mac wont do.
^^^ Your original quote says a laptop is NOT for gaming.
I believe such a blanket statement is misleading and corrected your statement making it more accurate since many people use laptops (even Mac laptops) for gaming.
You proved my corrections to be accurate since you yourself use a laptop for gaming.
Cheers,
I wasn't referring to the size, but the number of times a normal person uses it. Over the next year even more people will migrate from DVD to Blu-ray, so the DVD drive will become even more useless. It's eventually going to be similar to what it was like to have only a CD drive in your computer back in the early 2000's.
And for the video "pros" who want to keep it. What are you planning on doing when your clients really start expecting you to be delivering them Blu-rays instead of DVD's? You're internal DVD drive will be just as useless for you as it is for the rest of us.
This thread is kinda dumb, but so am I for posting a thoughtful reply!
I use it almost daily. I'm a sound engineer, and any engineer can hear the difference between a ripped CD and a downloaded, compressed MP3 from iTunes. Also, in entertainment and such, I may (and often do) need to get an unpublished or raw track to program into a show. An external superdrive is not really an option.
I use it almost daily. I'm a sound engineer, and any engineer can hear the difference between a ripped CD and a downloaded, compressed MP3 from iTunes. Also, in entertainment and such, I may (and often do) need to get an unpublished or raw track to program into a show. An external superdrive is not really an option.
Continue delivering DVDs. You can still deliver HD content on a DVD and also Blu-ray players can read DVDs.
You can deliver a lot less HD content on a DVD. 4.7GB vs. 25GB. I'm aware that Blu-ray players can play DVD. They can also play CD and my PS3 even plays SACD.
I'm aware of capacities but if one was to produce content like a TV ad, music video or other short sequences, there's no need for it to be burnt to BR for obvious reasons when the content wouldn't even come close to filling a DVD.
When working on large projects, such as major movies etc, one probably wouldn't use a MBP (well I hope not) but instead be working in a proper production suite with rather sophisticated MAM and workflow solutions and distribution will be handled by another department.
Really can't see what the fuss is about with Blu-ray and the MBP.
I agree that gaming laptops look tacky - but we all have fancy white light(s) on the lid of our laptops
Talking of which, a few months ago I thought my machine had an LCD fault as the centre of the screen had a faint shadow visible - it turned out that I was seeing the sunlight coming through the apple logo!
On the subject of the thread, I have used my drive about four times in the last month:
Once to check/repair my boot drive
Once to install Windows
Once to install Phoenix (a RC aircraft simulator)
Once to watch a DVD in bed whilst I was ill with flu
Under normal circumstances I rarely use it - perhaps once a month if that. The main use is to install software that comes on CD/DVD, and this of course is a one-off usage. I develop software so most of my tools are either built in (thanks to the *nix heritage), or downloaded.