How important is an optical drive to you?

A lot of people say that they no longer use an optical drive and Apple no longer include them in it's 2012 RMBP. Are optical drives in a notebook important to you?





poll

 

I though there was a poll about that some time ago, but anyways, here goes: not really important, i still happen to need one from time to time, but an external would be alright for the job.

 

You are correct. There was one last year. But Apple hadn't dropped theirs OD yet. I though it was on another site.

EDIT: Okay, great then.

 

Well, since it's been a year, i don't see a reason to delete it. It would be interesting to see if things changed since then and your poll is much more detailed. I honestly thought that we had a poll on that more recently, but i guess i was wrong.

 

I don't remember the last time I used a cd/dvd disk on my computer. My wife plays the Sims 3 on our iMac, but otherwise we don't use cd/dvd anymore. I don't have an optical drive in my Clevo.

Short: not important.

Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2

 

It's important to me as in when I need one I NEED one, but I do not often need one.

So I would be more than happy to give up the optical drive on a laptop for a SSD or HDD as long as said laptop was nice enough to include an external usb optical drive.

 

What is an optical drive?

 

Kind of the same thing for me, when i need the optical it's either because i need to access something that is on disc only or because i need to burn something to disc and it HAS to be on a disc.

 

Some things are still a bit difficult, most notably installing an OS for the first time. You'll have to make an installer USB on another computer. Renting high quality movies is next to impossible too.

 

Optical drives are such a waste of space in a laptop, why we haven't dropped the optical drive for something like a bay battery really baffles me or just overall make the chassis slimmer. I keep a Samsung USB optical drive just for emergencies but all the computers I have now support booting from USB so no need for Windows 7 discs anymore.

 

The market hadn't dropped the Optical drive because they love milking old technologies instead of transitioning to something better as soon as it becomes technologically viable (not to mention that 'cost effectiveness' for them plays a huge part too so they wait loads of time before the price goes down until they finally adopt it - although that has nothing to do with the premise that we can pull something off efficiently or create far higher efficiency from the get go as is - the market doesn't care about that).

I don't use the Optical drive.
Its plain and simple outdated technology that should have been discarded some time ago, and at the very least offered with laptops as an external solution and not an integrated one.

 

I get occasional use, primarily for blu-ray movies, although there are the odd times when I use it for DVD data.

 

Work has blocked USB Drives and any peripherals - so my only means of moving large files is CD/DVD - so for my case it is important.

 

The last poll was about 50/50, right now it looks like the need for an internal optical drive is starting to go the way of the dodo as far as the NBR members are concerned. Still, there aren't that much votes yet, so nothing is certain.

 

I keep one external ASUS USB ODD for ease of reformats, some random software and driver installs, and... that's pretty much it. I have no use for an internal ODD, and would much prefer that the space inside and along the edge be used for other purposes: a better cooling system, a larger battery, additional USB, eSATA or graphics output ports, etc. Pretty much anything would be more useful than the ODD.

In the current-generation Thinkpads, which support mSATA, I see even less reason for an ODD: you can already support a SSD + HDD combination.

I do like the trend of eliminating the ODD, in both UltraBooks and more conventional laptops. Hopefully the trend will continue in the next generation of PCs.

 

I dont use it, I dont need it, I will probably buy a notebook without it next time.

For me its a waste of space, and since my storage needs are low (I dual boot in a 120gb SSD and there is 25gb left in each OS, and 6gb left in the files partition), and the hardcore part goes to the NAS so that everyone can get those... No need at all.

 

very very very rarely do i ever use it. all my video/drivers/software is online. I think in the past 3-4 years i have had to use it once on my desktop to install the drivers for this dirt cheap webcam i picked up. I to would rather see it dissappear in favor of 2nd hdd, bigger battery, better cooling (for better dgpus), just thinner+lighter comps. Hopefully when im in the market again for a laptop, there will be more of a selection without odds. that future is looking more likely because of ultrabooks and just the general trend of thinner and lighter

 

I like the way you think. And I certainly hope that in the coming years laptop manufactures will offer the ability to make that choice the way that workstations have. Incidentally, are there any companies that offer that space for a spare battery? I don't think so?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________



Anyway, to everyone, even though I'm one of the few holdouts here of the optical disc I think it still has much use. That's especially true since creating and transporting media is what I'm all about. To that end, optical media has no equal.

There's also one things many people seem to forget: the importance of having a back up should one system fail. I don't believe in ever putting ALL my eggs in one basket; and the availability of an alternate solution is imperative since it keeps one industry or organization from usurping complete control over your data.

There are still times when you need to have the data physically available. Imagine what would happen should your wired/wireless systems fail? And although there are alternate flash based media, none are as versatile or a economical as the disc.

One last thing, there still a few of us that actually buy our computers expressly for the purpose of organizing, creating and distributing media. I am one of them.

 

external optical drive. BAM! problem solved


.... but if u dont like that option, the 2nd battery/hdd/gpu should be standard with an "upgrade" for an ODD

 

Almost never used. Only use one for burning CDs for my car and for playing CnC Generals (doesn't play well with Daemon Tools Lite :/).

Ripped out the DVD drive in my laptop and replaced it with a Ultrabay caddy + SSD.

 

I get your point for alternative source for backups. But these days when you can get 16gb USB flash drives for less than $10 USD, it is hard for me to consider burning backups to 750mb (or whichever the correct size is for those) dvd discs, however cheap they are in bundles. Also, an additional HDD/SSD makes pretty good backup as well. And if two-three backups (HDD/SSD, wireless/cloud, USB thumb drive/external drives), aren't enough, an external optical drive would do the trick. I guess of all the options available, I would put backups via discs last or near last of all alternatives.

But to each his/her own

Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2

 

I like to have them. I can see where it would be obsolete to some, and will probably be to me in the near future, but I still have use for one.

 

My first laptop (made by some company named ABS almost ten years ago) had a simple removable optical drive that could be replaced with a second battery.

I don't know why more notebooks offer similar functionality.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

 

Thinkpads have this functionality built-in ("Ultrabay"). I pulled mine out and replaced it with a HDD caddy (with my Intel 320).

Other laptops can do that too, but it requires a little hardware hacking.

 

If laptop makers would agree to a standardized bay interface where you could easily swap out the optical drive for a battery, 2nd hard drive, usb/thunderbolt hub or other components, it would be a compelling feature for desktop replacement laptops. And we wouldn't even need this poll. But the trend unfortunately is for manufacturers to more tightly control what you buy. They don't seem to like consumer choice anymore.

 

That's not completely fair. Dell and some others have done a lot to adapt their products because of consumer feedback. And a lot of the components are pretty much interchangeable nowadays.

Still, there's no denying the fact that when it comes things like the display and certainly the battery, there's not much argument to justify the need for those to be proprietary. And even worse, the notion that some have that it should be sealed in, is unconscionable.

 

My N61 came with bluray drive, it became a waste of money and space since external HDD works way better for storage. I took the drive out and want to install OBHC ever since. But i still keep the disc drive around because i know one day i'll need it somehow.

I also agree to make that entire slot space an universal slot that can install whatever the user need on occasion; battery, disc drive, hard drive, etc kits.

 

A lot of the proprietary aspects of laptop have to do with the form factor though - if everyone was fine with thick, bulky laptops, then everything could be standardized.

 

But almost all laptops today already use the same optical drive so the bay size is already standardized. If laptop makers were actually serious about a multi-purpose bay they would need a standardized interface. Slimline SATA doesn't support SSD or batteries so it would need to be an interface that accepts all of this. Internal thunderbolt? The multi-purpose bay would need screwless insertion/removal, ideally hot swappable, and a common interface. The peripherals themselves could ideally have changeable faceplates. Then this whole optical drive argument is moot since those who don't like it can put in an ssd or battery or leave it empty. Again this applies to desktop replacement laptops not ultrabooks.

It can be argued that a usb drive would work but have you tried connecting a usb drive on an airplane or small coffee shop table? In these cases it is better if the part was internal instead of dangling.

 

And these poll results from a somewhat technical audience are why optical drives will not die as an option in laptops. 25% say "meh, don't need it, don't want it" while an overwhelming 75% still think they need it or actually use it.

I've been hoping for this for ages. It only makes sense. Have lots of options between SSD/HDD, extra battery life, ODD, or even if designed properly, added cooling.

That is my problem. At home, external USB drive is fine. But having to lug around an extra drive for optical playback can be problematic not to mention risk of damage. Those things are sensitive. If only there was a cheap alternative to ODD's like a flash chip of some sort. But it's still hard to beat the cost of a pressed piece of plastic. Unless they can manufacture it under $0.50 it won't make much sense, although I think we're getting there. I'm sure they can make a 4GB piece of silicone for pretty cheap. If you can sell a 4GB SD card for $4, I'm sure manufacturing/material cost for it is close to $1.

 

havent used one in a long time...

dont want an optical drive in a notebook. i would go for the external for the rare occasion

 

Should we talk about how reliable and time wasting is this optical disk technology? I like the Sony Z, SVZ maneuver, turning the optical and dedicated graphics into an accessory (PMD) it's kind of like saying: "Yeah we got one of those around too it's in the box somewhere". They seem to be wasting the laptop's battery for no good reason except probably gaming. Leave it out of the next laptop but don't charge an arm and a leg for it just 'cause you know some people might need it once every other year.

 

Reason I, and many others, use it is for blu-ray movies. Yes there is a huge difference between the streaming HD crap shoved at us and Blu-Ray HD even on a 15 or 17 inch screen. As far as data, no, no reason for me, but lots of people still use them. optical drives don't use a sip of energy until it's called on or the eject button is pressed. Well, possibly a small fraction of a Watt just to monitor for wake signals.

 

There is one from this year but it is indeed an interesting question. I, for one, would like to see more laptops that are both compact/slim and powerful.

A 15.6-17", 7970M/680M packing laptop that would be relatively thin as a result of dropping the ODD and perhaps even ditching the HDD for a more space friendly, mSata alternative (up to 256GB of SSD storage and growing) would be very attractive to me. By using a Zenbook/MacBook battery layout one could place a pretty large heatsink enveloping the entire rear end. Throw in a premium, anti-glare FHD IPS panel and round it all off with solid build quality and you would have... a laptop that would cater to a small market. A man can dream, can't he?

 

Wait, wasn't Sony the co-developer of the optical disc:

Sony and Philips developed the first generation of the CD's in the mid 1980's with the complete specifications for these devices.

The first mass-market Blu-ray Disc rewritable drive for the PC was the BWU-100A, released by Sony on July 18, 2006

You can, but you can't "drive the kids to little league in it."

 

Very important: DVD drive only

 

Useless.

Every single DVD disc has been ISO'd over to my USB, easy as that (haven't got that much haha)

So.. somewhat useless, oh wait, completely useless, although Blu-Ray movies kinda require a drive as moving them onto a USB/HDD eats up insane amounts of space!

 

Some new softwares like the Autodesk suites now come in the USB-stick format (not on disc anymore). (And then there's always the common digital download version from the software manufacturer's online stores lately. Books are paperless lately too )

 

Useless? LOL, where is this poll going..like ban the bra?

I need a way to get all my CD's and movies into an ISO or lossless format and cd's are still a safe way to flash things. I use the WDTV server, Couch Potato series

Agree, BD disks eats hard drive space so I'm happy to keep the disks for the movies that are worth it in that format. Streaming movies suck, and way more than bandwidth IMHO.

Let's not burn the drive yet...

 

Personally, the way i'm interpreting the results is that most people still have use for an optical drive, but that some would do fine with an external. The NBR crowd is different from the average Joe Bloe though. The way i see it, the integrated optical drive is going the way of the dodo, slowly but surely, but will remain as an external for some time after you don't see them in mainstream notebooks anymore.

 

Pulled mine for caddy. Use external ODD if I need it, which is very rare. The HDD I put in the caddy backs up my SSD. I also use 2 external HDDs to backup again. One at the office, one at home. So I have one backup on my Lappy, one at home and one at work.

My external ODD is very light and fits into my bag with no impact on size or weight.

 

That external idea is doable but it does add one more piece of complexity. Still, replacing the bay does negate the staunch support of thin and light mavens.

I also suspect that most students will still find uses for the OB. Both as a all-in-one entertainment device on campus, and practical study tool especially for visual arts majors.

Anyway, I have an additional external more robust OD that I keep on my desk at home. It's technically portable, but is hardly light since it weighs over 2 lbs.

 

Same, only brothered to make my ripped out BD drive USB was because car only eat disc and switching the audio is not exactly cost- effective. I still have my stack of 50CD-R (10-20 left) from around 3-5 years ago.

Have 2 more laptop ODD hanging around ripped out doing nothing.

 

My external ODD is about 1/2" thick and probably weighs less than a McDonalds Quarter Pounder. Yeah, for students, I would think a BR or DVD would play a big part in entertainment life, but modern externals are so light and small that the size and weight impact can be very negligible. In fact, my external ODD is smaller and lighter than the ODD that came in the bay (BR).

 

The whole problem with an external ODD, and any external peripheral for that matter, is it's likely to get lost, broken, stolen, etc. I've already had two external ODD's break/stop working on me and all they did was sit in my laptop bag. They are sensitive devices that can break much more easily if tossed around in your bag than securely fastened inside your laptop.