Do you want an optical drive on your next laptop?

Don't forget Average Jill. She is very important to notebook makers... (If I remember correctly women are more likely to be looking for a notebook)

 

Always. I love having the capability of watching movies in perfect FHD on my screen.

It's not that much of a sacrifice, since it's always removable. Plus, I could always pop an SSD in the drive bay (and I will).

Mr. Mysterious

 

An extra battery is the only thing that I would reasonably give up an optical drive for. I still use my DVD drive (though never when I'm not at home, so I suppose an external would be an acceptable substitute).

 

Blu-Ray FTW! While I do stream a lot, there's no comparison to blu-ray, not to mention requiring massive storage and time to rip a blu-ray. Plus most movies don't stream at 1080p only 720p. Not a huge deal on a laptop screen, but hook up to your 60" TV and it makes a world of difference.

Until I can actually choose every single movie available streaming at 1080p, and not be affected by my internet cap, then I'll eliminate my ODD. Until then, it stays.

 

You don't need 1080p on a notebook.
Can you tell the difference? Yes. Does it make a difference? No.

 

For the near future the only way to transfer data with work computers is CD/DVD - therefore kind of a must have.

 

USB drive...? Or does your company policy not allow it? I know my dad has never once used the CD drive on his work-issued T60. He uses exclusively email and flash media to transfer data.

 

I think that we're heading towards that way even if it doesn't take place within the next year.

That's why I'm very happy to see a 13.3 laptop like the Sony SA released that comes with an integrated optical. I do think it is one of the last 13.3 laptops that will come with a built in optical.

I know some consumers out there will question what value for money they're getting for their purchase if their computer comes without things like integrated optical.

 

Company forbids and has blocked all USB ports for data transfer. So, essentially stuck with e-mailing or back-ups via CD/DVD. Servers maintain another back-up, but still need to be on the network. Does not help much when travel...

 

What does that mean? Does USB 3.0 make a difference? Does 5.1 make a difference? Does HDMI make a difference?

Even if 720p didn't make a difference to * YOU* show me any place I can get any new release videos in 720p let alone 1080p. You can't and won't.

 

I'd rather not have a OD in my laptop. Good thing my laptop's OD can be taken out very easily, however I have nothing else to put in there. I'd like to put a second HDD/SSD or battery though, or just reduce the form factor in future laptops.

 

1920x1080 is vast improvement over 1366x768. It allows for actual simultaneous multitasking. It does make a difference in productivity. In gaming and movies? Not as much, although I can keep away from anti-aliasing at this resolution.

 

1600x900 is good. I'm saying 1920 is not much of an improvement compared to that. Obviously, 1366 is for blind people and old people.

 

1600x900 isn't sufficient, in my opinion. I used 1680x1050 before hand, I refuse to downgrade... especially with the loss of 324 thousand pixels. Anyway, back to the original subject. I do not particularly want an ODD in my next notebook. If it has one, while still maintaining my other requirements, I will not hesitate to purchase it.

 

For me no because the only time I use my optical drive is to rip CDs I buy to flac. If I were to get a new laptop, I'd simply use my old one for this purpose.
Windows installs I do from USB and all software is digitally distributed these days that I never bother using the installation disc.

 

I like the ODD I am ripping CD's right now actually but it would be nice if mroe laptops had an option to change it for something.

GentechPC offers an option for the G73 I bought to install a SSD or HDD in the optical bay for you and then give you the old ODD in a USB enclosure. This is the route everybody should take so you dont lose the ODD and can still use it when needed.

 

My current notebook doesn't have an optical drive and neither will my next notebook. The form factor just doesn't appeal to me an I rarely use it.

 

LoL I meant female and male demographics. I guess I should have used a more neutral name.

 

Politically Correct Cameron?

Average Adrian?

Just Jaden?

 

LoL Sure pick one and we'll run with it!

 

I think you're preaching to the choir. My sig shows 1680x1050. In the context of watching video, 1920 is unnecessary. For "work," it's nice to have once you get to 15" and up. It's the future anyway, because Mac fonts are extremely blurry at low resolutions.

See above.

 

Correct. You don't need 1080p on a notebook screen, but when you connect your notebook to the FHD TV, it does really make a difference (and this is how I'm watching 3-5 movies each week, so it's important for me).

 

Exactly. Some people just can't see beyond their own uses and that other people have greater need. Even so, on a laptop screen that's 1920x1080, 1080p video just looks awesomely crisp and clear compared with 720p.

 

I dont need 1080p video play back, but the resolution for the other 98% of my computer use is great and made a huge difference. When i watch a movie on any laptop rarely is it HD let alone FHD.

 

Seriously ppl. Read. 1920 for video playback is not necessary on notebooks. Other uses, yes.

 

Sigh. When will people stop projecting what they find OK, and realize it doesn't always satisfy everyone else. I have seen both 720p (streamed) and 1080p (Blu-Ray) and there is a noticeable difference. But that still doesn't address the availability of 720p content anyhow. It's 1080p on blu-ray or you have slim pickings from any streaming video out there for 720p even. Show me a way to access every new and existing movie available in crisp 720p for <$15/mo and I'll be sold. Otherwise your argument makes no sense.

 

For a desktop-replacement type laptop, yes, I want an ODD, preferably a BR-ROM. For an ultralight or a netbook, no, I would prefer the smaller footprint/lower weight.


As for the whole resolution argument, I'm not understanding the arguments going back and forth. Are we talking about content that's natively 720p and then upscaled, or 1080p content downscaled to fit a non-FHD screen?

 

I'm not prescribing a one size fits all solution. I'm adding my two cents much like anyone else. Now, if it sounded like I said my way was the only way, then I'm inclined to say that you are the one who is projecting. But for the sake of not wanting to have a stupid argument about something that doesn't matter, I'll just say it was my fault.

Now, if I were really trying to shove my preferences down everyone's throat, there wouldn't be any optical drives at all. Nor would there be any more 1366 resolutions on anything 12" and up. And my opinion still stands that 1080p vs. 900p on a notebook for watching video won't matter for most people, even if I personally prefer the higher resolution because, as someone previously mentioned, there are many other applications where higher resolutions are useful.