What are the main reasons to still own an optical drive?

[Arishok N7]

My new case only has 4 5.25 inch bays. Just wondering if I should just ditch my optical drive? I know optical drives are dying fast. I just want to know some of the main reasons to still own one. Are there things you have to use a disk for?

 

[Mattib 050]

All I used mine for was installing windows. I actually took it out afterwards because it made the front of my case look weird.

 

[snowctrl]

The best way to have an optical drive is to get an external one, or if you have an internal one already, put it in an external case - seriously how often do most people use one, except to install things occasionally?

Housing it externally has the advantage that you can move it between machines etc

 

[The_Freeman]

There Really good coffee cup holders

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

Looks cool in my CASE.

I install one , but it's not hooked up to the system.

 

[Arishok N7]

Looks cool in my CASE.

I install one , but it's not hooked up to the system.

I like that. Haha

 

[DSzymborski]

I still have CDs remaining to rip and I never know when I'm going to want to play a really old game I have on disk. Also useful as I use my blu-ray burner to backup things. Handiest method for installing Windows. Otherwise, it's not going to get used all that often really.

What's the worry of "only" 4 bays, though? It's not as if there are a ton of things that use the full-size drive bay anymore.

 

[LavyDunois]

There Really good coffee cup holders

Yeah, that mostly.

 

[vagrancyx]

I still have mine installed although I never really use it. I ended up ordering 3 adata 8GB usb 3.0 sticks so I'll probably make some bootable USBs for windows/office/etc to have laying around and just take it out.