Apple may be phasing out the optical drive in its desktop computers.
iMac, Mac Pro Rumored to Drop Optical Drives : Read more
iMac, Mac Pro Rumored to Drop Optical Drives : Read more
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Leaving optical drives out of laptops saves a lot of spaces and weight, but is there really a big advantage to leaving it out of the iMac? Guess you can make the edges a bit thinner if you don't need to include the drive...
They are right, that very few people need optical drives anymore, but having at least one of those ancient contraptions in your household might still be worth it.
btw: Isn't the bigger news that they are still updating the Mac Pro? Weren't there rumors that they wanted to kill it?
They are right, that very few people need optical drives anymore, but having at least one of those ancient contraptions in your household might still be worth it.
btw: Isn't the bigger news that they are still updating the Mac Pro? Weren't there rumors that they wanted to kill it?
[citation][nom]otacon72[/nom]So they're going to phase out the optical drive, charge the same price, then sell an external optical drive with some proprietary plug for $300. After what happened to Honan I'd trust Apple to keep my data safe....right.[/citation]
You mean like this one? http://store.apple.com/us/product/MD564ZM/A?fnode=5f
Oh wait. It's $79, and uses USB.... Hate on bro. You're a pro.
You mean like this one? http://store.apple.com/us/product/MD564ZM/A?fnode=5f
Oh wait. It's $79, and uses USB.... Hate on bro. You're a pro.
theabsinthehare
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I only used the ODD in my latest build to install Windows for the first time. In fact, I unplugged the sata/power connector even though the drive still sits in the case because it's been 3 years and it hasn't been used once. Installing the OS is faster from a thumb drive anyway.
Vladislaus
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[citation][nom]phatboe[/nom]US MS users should laugh if Apple goes through with this. With the way MS is doing business these days if Apple goes though with this MS will surely follow.[/citation]
Didn't knew that MS made computers. Also when was the last time Apple sold a computer with a FDD? Windows 8 still supports them.
Didn't knew that MS made computers. Also when was the last time Apple sold a computer with a FDD? Windows 8 still supports them.
ohim
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[citation][nom]scannall[/nom]You mean like this one? http://store.apple.com/us/product/MD564ZM/A?fnode=5fOh wait. It's $79, and uses USB.... Hate on bro. You're a pro.[/citation]
oh look a DVD drive that costs 79$ which usually should cost 20$ tops, get real.
Profesional movie makers/ photographers need DVD/Blurays to give to their customers their work, doing this has no sense.
oh look a DVD drive that costs 79$ which usually should cost 20$ tops, get real.
Profesional movie makers/ photographers need DVD/Blurays to give to their customers their work, doing this has no sense.
theabsinthehare
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[citation][nom]freggo[/nom]"Given broadband speeds today"... Let's face it, thanks to no competition we are still way behind the rest of the world when it comes to 'high speed' internet.[/citation]
Yeah, but Google is trying to change that with its gigabit fiber.
Also, keep in mind that the countries that do have very fast broadband speeds are very small. Most countries are the size of a single state or two of ours, so it's a lot easier to lay down the fiber necessary for those high speeds when there isn't as much ground to cover, yet about the same number of competing companies.
Yeah, but Google is trying to change that with its gigabit fiber.
Also, keep in mind that the countries that do have very fast broadband speeds are very small. Most countries are the size of a single state or two of ours, so it's a lot easier to lay down the fiber necessary for those high speeds when there isn't as much ground to cover, yet about the same number of competing companies.
theabsinthehare
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[citation][nom]ohim[/nom]oh look a DVD drive that costs 79$ which usually should cost 20$ tops, get real.Profesional movie makers/ photographers need DVD/Blurays to give to their customers their work, doing this has no sense.[/citation]
The cheapest USB dual layer burners are $30. Regardless, nobody says you *have* to pay $79 for the Apple branded version; you can buy the $30 Lite-On external if you want, and it will work just fine. If you buy name brand, you pay a premium. Hell, the HP brand external USB burner is $60, why aren't you hating on them too?
Professional movie makers/photographers are not the majority of computer users. If they need that extra Bluray burner necessary for delivering their portfolios to clients, then I'm sure they have the extra money to buy an external burner. However, the other 80% or whatever of normal users don't need it.
The cheapest USB dual layer burners are $30. Regardless, nobody says you *have* to pay $79 for the Apple branded version; you can buy the $30 Lite-On external if you want, and it will work just fine. If you buy name brand, you pay a premium. Hell, the HP brand external USB burner is $60, why aren't you hating on them too?
Professional movie makers/photographers are not the majority of computer users. If they need that extra Bluray burner necessary for delivering their portfolios to clients, then I'm sure they have the extra money to buy an external burner. However, the other 80% or whatever of normal users don't need it.
ohim
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Well not everybody uses a webcam on a pc, yet you have it there, and wasn`t apple all about cable less pc? All in one pc type of thing ? why remove something just to add it as a cable stuck device to your computer ? optical drives are not really that obsolete just yet.
guardianangel42
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IF they really do this, they guarantee that they will be completely incapable of selling to upper end corporations and governments.
Why? Do any of you know how Stuxnet got onto the closed-network domain containing the Iranian nuclear devices? Thumb drives. Did any of you know that the US Gov't completely banned the use of thumb drives because China had preloaded spy programs onto them?
If you're in a position where people desperately want to know what you know or want to muck up what you're doing, thumb drives are off limits.
So that means that with any business- or government-capable mac computer techs would have to buy an accompanying USB disc drive.
That just doesn't make sense.
Why? Do any of you know how Stuxnet got onto the closed-network domain containing the Iranian nuclear devices? Thumb drives. Did any of you know that the US Gov't completely banned the use of thumb drives because China had preloaded spy programs onto them?
If you're in a position where people desperately want to know what you know or want to muck up what you're doing, thumb drives are off limits.
So that means that with any business- or government-capable mac computer techs would have to buy an accompanying USB disc drive.
That just doesn't make sense.
theabsinthehare
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[citation][nom]ohim[/nom]Well not everybody uses a webcam on a pc, yet you have it there, and wasn`t apple all about cable less pc? All in one pc type of thing ? why remove something just to add it as a cable stuck device to your computer ? optical drives are not really that obsolete just yet.[/citation]
Everyone I know that owns a computer with a built in cam uses it. Apple never said anything about going cable less. They attempt to make the build as simple as possible for the majority of users. Power users, who are not the majority, tend to have lots of external devices and the cables that go with those.
Optical drives are that obsolete. We used them for four reasons:
Installing the OS, which is now done via thumb drive for base installs, or via download for upgrades on Macs; Entertainment CDs/DVDs, but now you can get your movies and music cheaper digitally via numerous stores, and even physical copies of movies now come with digital versions; Installing software, but all software can also be acquired digitally faster and cheaper; Physically sharing files, but not only is it easier to share online now with upload sites like ge.tt and mediafire, and all the cloud services, but flash drives are dirt cheap. You can get a 32GB flash drive for nearly the same price as a single dual layer bluray disc.
Can you think of any other uses? I can't.
Everyone I know that owns a computer with a built in cam uses it. Apple never said anything about going cable less. They attempt to make the build as simple as possible for the majority of users. Power users, who are not the majority, tend to have lots of external devices and the cables that go with those.
Optical drives are that obsolete. We used them for four reasons:
Installing the OS, which is now done via thumb drive for base installs, or via download for upgrades on Macs; Entertainment CDs/DVDs, but now you can get your movies and music cheaper digitally via numerous stores, and even physical copies of movies now come with digital versions; Installing software, but all software can also be acquired digitally faster and cheaper; Physically sharing files, but not only is it easier to share online now with upload sites like ge.tt and mediafire, and all the cloud services, but flash drives are dirt cheap. You can get a 32GB flash drive for nearly the same price as a single dual layer bluray disc.
Can you think of any other uses? I can't.
[citation][nom]guardianangel42[/nom]IF they really do this, they guarantee that they will be completely incapable of selling to upper end corporations and governments.Why? Do any of you know how Stuxnet got onto the closed-network domain containing the Iranian nuclear devices? Thumb drives. Did any of you know that the US Gov't completely banned the use of thumb drives because China had preloaded spy programs onto them?If you're in a position where people desperately want to know what you know or want to muck up what you're doing, thumb drives are off limits. So that means that with any business- or government-capable mac computer techs would have to buy an accompanying USB disc drive.That just doesn't make sense.[/citation]
Well, your partly right. First of all, stuxnet did not penetrate via thumb drives. It has code that allows it to find Iran over the network. It does however have the ability to infect thumb drives to spread of computer to computer once inside. It also can update itself through P2P networks. It was a very specific and targeted worm.
Secondly, Most government agencies and financial institutions use security software that disables usb ports and optical drives. It is apart of their data loss prevention strategies. They do it all the time.
Well, your partly right. First of all, stuxnet did not penetrate via thumb drives. It has code that allows it to find Iran over the network. It does however have the ability to infect thumb drives to spread of computer to computer once inside. It also can update itself through P2P networks. It was a very specific and targeted worm.
Secondly, Most government agencies and financial institutions use security software that disables usb ports and optical drives. It is apart of their data loss prevention strategies. They do it all the time.
wolley74
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[citation][nom]theabsinthehare[/nom]Everyone I know that owns a computer with a built in cam uses it. Apple never said anything about going cable less. They attempt to make the build as simple as possible for the majority of users. Power users, who are not the majority, tend to have lots of external devices and the cables that go with those. Optical drives are that obsolete. We used them for four reasons: Installing the OS, which is now done via thumb drive for base installs, or via download for upgrades on Macs; Entertainment CDs/DVDs, but now you can get your movies and music cheaper digitally via numerous stores, and even physical copies of movies now come with digital versions; Installing software, but all software can also be acquired digitally faster and cheaper; Physically sharing files, but not only is it easier to share online now with upload sites like ge.tt and mediafire, and all the cloud services, but flash drives are dirt cheap. You can get a 32GB flash drive for nearly the same price as a single dual layer bluray disc. Can you think of any other uses? I can't.[/citation]
You want to know why DVD drives are still around? I would love to see the average download speed in the US, because i know it isn't remotely close to 32 MB/s, which is pretty fast for "obsolete" tech
You want to know why DVD drives are still around? I would love to see the average download speed in the US, because i know it isn't remotely close to 32 MB/s, which is pretty fast for "obsolete" tech
DRosencraft
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A discussion like this began in another article about the Cloud. The fact is, there are many people who don't have internet, let along high-speed internet, to rely on downloading everything all the time. Granted, anyone who buys a Mac probably shouldn't have such worries. But it would seem to me that Apple is prematurely pigeonholing themselves into a corner. Many people aren't going to want to buy an external drive to attach to their desktop. Most instances of companies trying to make the push full on to all digital software haven't sold that product all too well. Sony did it with the PSPGo and that tanked had for them.
I do believe that, based on the lax update schedule they've had for the MacPro and iMac, this is their attempt to kill that line altogether. Taking out the optical drive will save them nothing relative to the price of the system as a whole. If they do something like this and sales tank, they then have a legitimate excuse to point to say there's no interest in desktops anymore, we're done with those. I'll admit it's a real conspiracy theory, but that certainly seems like the direction this is heading.
I do believe that, based on the lax update schedule they've had for the MacPro and iMac, this is their attempt to kill that line altogether. Taking out the optical drive will save them nothing relative to the price of the system as a whole. If they do something like this and sales tank, they then have a legitimate excuse to point to say there's no interest in desktops anymore, we're done with those. I'll admit it's a real conspiracy theory, but that certainly seems like the direction this is heading.
damianrobertjones
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[citation][nom]phatboe[/nom]US MS users should laugh if Apple goes through with this. With the way MS is doing business these days if Apple goes though with this MS will surely follow.[/citation]
It's comments like this that make me worry for the world. MS DOES NOT MAKE desktop computers so why would they drop something that they don't do?!?
It's comments like this that make me worry for the world. MS DOES NOT MAKE desktop computers so why would they drop something that they don't do?!?
theabsinthehare
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[citation][nom]Wolley74[/nom]You want to know why DVD drives are still around? I would love to see the average download speed in the US, because i know it isn't remotely close to 32 MB/s, which is pretty fast for "obsolete" tech[/citation]
If you're implying this is faster than sharing files over the net, then you can't just compare the read/write speed to network bandwidth. You have to spend time acquiring the discs, writing them, and then actually physically getting them to whomever.
The most that's ever going to fit on a DVD is 8.5GB. The average bandwidth in the U.S. is 5.8Mbps. That means the average person in the U.S. can download a DL-DVD worth of info in a little over 3 hours. For someone with a moderate connection such as myself (and probably most Apple users, since they are willing to pay a premium for things) the bandwidth is something more like 24Mbps, cutting that download time to 48 minutes. So, how much time are you going to cut out by burning a disc instead, and is the money spent on the discs and transport to the recipient worth it?
Also, if speed is really the issue, USB 2.0 flash drives are twice as fast as burning a disc at 60MBps, and USB 3.0 nearly 20 times as fast at 0.5GBps, all without the risk of a bad burn.
If you're implying this is faster than sharing files over the net, then you can't just compare the read/write speed to network bandwidth. You have to spend time acquiring the discs, writing them, and then actually physically getting them to whomever.
The most that's ever going to fit on a DVD is 8.5GB. The average bandwidth in the U.S. is 5.8Mbps. That means the average person in the U.S. can download a DL-DVD worth of info in a little over 3 hours. For someone with a moderate connection such as myself (and probably most Apple users, since they are willing to pay a premium for things) the bandwidth is something more like 24Mbps, cutting that download time to 48 minutes. So, how much time are you going to cut out by burning a disc instead, and is the money spent on the discs and transport to the recipient worth it?
Also, if speed is really the issue, USB 2.0 flash drives are twice as fast as burning a disc at 60MBps, and USB 3.0 nearly 20 times as fast at 0.5GBps, all without the risk of a bad burn.
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