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    MacBook Pro with Blu-Ray?

    Discussion in 'Apple and Mac OS X' started by hendra, Dec 14, 2007.

  1. hendra

    hendra Notebook Virtuoso

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    When Apple is going to start selling MacBook Pro with built in Blu-Ray drive? I am very interested in seeing MacBook Pro with Blu-Ray. Not that I want to buy one but I want to use the drive and install it in my Sony SZ.

    Both Sony SZ and Apple use the same form factor for their internal DVD. It is 9.5mm thick drive and currently there is no 9.5mm Blu-Ray or HD DVD drive in the market. So, if Apple start selling MacBook Pro with Blu-Ray, I can buy just the drive and install it in my laptop.
     
    hendra, Dec 14, 2007
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  2. cashmonee

    cashmonee Notebook Virtuoso NBR Reviewer

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    Buying parts from Apple is not generally a financially feasible proposition. LOL! They charge A LOT for their parts usually. Also, if there are no 9.5mm Blu-Ray drives now, there likely will be when Apple releases a MBP with one.
     
    cashmonee, Dec 14, 2007
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  3. Sam

    Sam Notebook Virtuoso

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    Yeah, Apple parts are pretty expensive...as for when Apple will introduce Blu Ray, its hard to tell. Since it still isn't in the market now, I'm getting the feeling that Apple might not enter the HD market at all until the format war has a clear winner. But officially, yes, Apple does support Blu Ray. Maybe an option on the Mac Pro, but other than that, I'd probably not expect it until the format war is more stable.
     
    Sam, Dec 14, 2007
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  4. stealthsniper96

    stealthsniper96 What Was I Thinkin'?

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    can you live with a external one?
     
    stealthsniper96, Dec 14, 2007
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  5. hendra

    hendra Notebook Virtuoso

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    But do Apple manufacture all their parts? Who made the DVD drive for current MacBook Pro lines? I am thinking that since MBP is Intel based, there is no reason that PC based laptop manufacturers wouldn't use the same parts for their laptop lines. I am thinking of buying it from eBay once the drives become available.
     
    hendra, Dec 14, 2007
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  6. Sahin

    Sahin ---------------

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    THey have external hard drives.
     
    Sahin, Dec 14, 2007
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  7. circa86

    circa86 Notebook Virtuoso NBR Reviewer

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    here you go http://store.fastmac.com/product_info.php?products_id=338

    a little expensive for my blood, especially since playback of blu-ray disks still wouldn't even be possible would it? I personally can't wait for this technology to become mainstream, mainly as an archiving solution.
     
    circa86, Dec 14, 2007
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  8. ltcommander_data

    ltcommander_data Notebook Deity

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    That's only for the 17" MBP though. I think the 15.4" MBP uses a super slim instead of just a slim design in order to accommodate the keyboard. But, yeah, if their is a MacBook Pro update at MacWorld, I definitely expect to see this Blu-Ray option on the 17" MBP at least, seeing how well it complements the 1920x1200 high resolution option. It would be nice if Apple at least offered a Blu-Ray combo drive (Blu-Ray read/DVD write) as standard.
     
    ltcommander_data, Dec 15, 2007
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  9. circa86

    circa86 Notebook Virtuoso NBR Reviewer

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    they probably would if they didn't cost $1000
     
    circa86, Dec 15, 2007
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  10. cashmonee

    cashmonee Notebook Virtuoso NBR Reviewer

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    No, like every PC manufacturer, they use other companies parts. In fact, Apple does not make the computer at all, last I heard Quanta was making MBP.
     
    cashmonee, Dec 15, 2007
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  11. hendra

    hendra Notebook Virtuoso

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    I am not an Apple expert by any standard, but if MBP 17" is indeed use 12.7mm DVD drive, you can get one that works for Apple NOW and pay much less than $1000. I have seen 12.7mm HD DVD drive for as low as $150 and Blu-Ray drive for as low as $350. They don't burn to HD or Blu-Ray, just regular DVD (Single and Double Layers) but they will play HD or Blu-Ray DVD. The only thing is you have to find a Mac OS compatible version for the software that will play the disc. If there is no such a thing, perhaps you can boot to Vista or XP with bootcamp and install Power DVD Ultra.

    The drive shown at fastmac website looks like a re-branded version of these drives and ridiculously priced at $1000.

    Side Note: The only 9.5mm HD DVD drive I could find is Toshiba SD-U913A. http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/03/toshiba-shows-off-external-internal-hd-dvd-drive-prototypes But it never made it passed the prototype stage.
     
    hendra, Dec 15, 2007
    #11