Does anyone sell a slot loading blu ray drive?

That would fit in an Alienware 14/17/18? There's some solid deals on there on Alienware systems, but almost none of them include Blu Ray. Newegg's got a single tray loading drive, but I don't see any reputable places with slot-loading?

I assume all three (14/17/18) should be easy to swap optical drives?

 

Get an external one and buy an HDD caddy for the optical bay, then pop another drive in there. Preferably SSD, but HDD storage is fine, too. That's how I'd do it. It's not as inconvenient as it may seem. Internal ODD's are only beneficial if you're on the move a lot.

But if you don't want to do that, there's a parts list in the Alienware 14 Owner's Lounge thread - first page.

 

Thanks, but I'm fine with one or two hard drives, just want blu-ray as the internal optical drive, if someone sells an aftermarket one.

 

Sure they do. Here's just one example: UJ265 Panasonic UJ265 Slot Load 6x Blu-ray Burner. 2X BD-ROM 8x DVD-RO. Sony and Panasonic both make good slot-load Blu-ray drives.

 

Is there anything from a reputable dealer? A Newegg or an Amazon or something? Newegg seems to only have a tray loading model?

 

Oh, hey....Silverstone makes one?

Amazon.com: Silverstone 12.7mm SATA Interface Slot Load 6X Blu-Ray Writer with 8X CD/DVD RW Drive (SOB02): Computers & Accessories

I guess you have to remove the faceplate to install it in an Alienware?

Wish it was a Panasonic or Sony or Pioneer or something...

 

Being slot-load, it is somewhat of a specialty item, so it's not something a place like NewEgg would necessarily offer. Did you click the link to look at what I already gave you for the Panasonic? It's an Amazon vendor, LOL.

You might be able to leave the faceplate on with the Alienware 17 or 18. It may have enough space. The drive fit too tight against the chassis on the M18xR1/R2, but it might work out OK with the 18. I would try that first, but it's easy to remove the bezel if you need to. Use a paper clip to gently depress the plastic tabs that latch into the sheetmetal housing and slide it off. Be careful to avoid breaking it. You may want that bezel if you someday decide to move it to an external enclosure to make room for more HDD space like many of us have.

 

Oh cool, thanks for explaining how to remove that bezel! I feel stupid not knowing how lol

Regarding the vender, I know it's through Amazon but I just feel better with a bigger store, an actual Amazon or Newegg or whomever. Amazon actually does have one, that I can see, but it's silverstone, so I have no idea who actually made it (weird that Amazon would carry that and not a more normal-for-optical-drives brand!)

 

You can try Amazon or Ebay. They usually have those, and yes... I also prefer buying from a store like that one. It gives you some extra confidence (not saying that I've never had issues with something I've bought there because that would be a lie )

 

Just go eBay mate, there are piles of slot loading odd's on eBay.