New iMac has no optical drive

[bendted]

I mean, really? I have the current gen, and the upcoming one is a work of art with compelling new features, but they really went too far by eliminating the optical drive. They said they had to in order to slim it down (5mm thin!). Would this be a deal breaker if you were looking at a new desktop?

http://www.apple.com/imac/

 

[bankside]

I can't remember the last time I put a DVD in my computer. I said the same thing when they came out with the original iMac a million years ago and it had no floppy drive. I thought it was a mistake, then I asked myself when was the last time I actually put a floppy disk in my laptop. When was the last time I even brought the floppy disk part of the laptop with me? Couldn't remember then either.

 

[GamerBear]

I guess this means that you can't import music from audio discs, also means unable to play Games on it they want you to go digital. Is that why iTunes removed so many cool features from their older builds like backing up your iTunes library to DVD or CD? They want you to buy their music on a shitty format off the iTunes Store.

Will they make this new iMac cheaper, of course not.

 

[bankside]

80 bucks. Detachable superdrive.

 

[Corny]

nah .. I am quite an apple critic but the sooner we get rid of optical drives, the better

 

[bendted]

Will they make this new iMac cheaper, of course not.

Same price as mine ($1200) for their cheapest model. But, faster processor; more RAM; a hybrid SSD/conventional drive; twice the GB storage (now 1T); a better screen resolution not to mention 40% lighter in weight and some other techno-garble I don't understand. So, a big improvement for the same money...sans the optical drive of course.

 

[maxpowr9]

nah .. I am quite an apple critic but the sooner we get rid of optical drives, the better

My skepticism makes me conclude that Apple doesn't want to pay the royalties to Sony for having a blu-ray drive. Course the iPad mini has a Samsung screen and related hardware but don't tell the fanboys that.

 

[quipmstr]

Heat is the greatest danger/life shortener in high end electronics. Eliminating an optical drive cuts down on the wear-and-tear. Besides, thumb drives can hold as much as optical drives and you can add an optical drive.

 

[Corny]

My skepticism makes me conclude that Apple doesn't want to pay the royalties to Sony for having a blu-ray drive. Course the iPad mini has a Samsung screen and related hardware but don't tell the fanboys that.

Probably that, too. But they want to stop that. But they also have others stuff to pay for
http://www.phonearena.com/news/Apple-has-lost-their-legal-claim-to-the-iPhone-name-in-Mexico_id36199

 

[JB3]

My skepticism makes me conclude that Apple doesn't want to pay the royalties to Sony for having a blu-ray drive. Course the iPad mini has a Samsung screen and related hardware but don't tell the fanboys that.

The iPad Mini has LG and AU Optronics screens.

 

[andysayshi]

Apple made it plain two years ago that they would never adopt Blu Ray and were moving away from optical drives. The vast majority of their customers simply don't want them.

If you need them, you can access an optical drive on another machine over a network, or you can buy an external USB optical drive. The Apple drive is $79, or a generic brand model can be found from $30 and up. An LG external Blu Ray drive is around $90.