no cd drive in new macbook?

What everyone seems to miss is that this isn't the first time Apple has done something like this... and guess what? Everyone survived. Apple dropped the floppy drive with the introduction of the iMac to much of the same criticism... Does anyone here still use floppies?

My first computer was a Power Book 100 with an external floppy drive. Back to the roots?

Not everyone has an ultra broad band connection at home. It took me about a day to download Lion and, when it turned out to be buggy, the remote repair (took me a night to download) did not work. I missed the CD already.

There are one hundred reasons why I need a DVD drive: what if I want to watch a DVD or copy one I have shot myself? If I want to have the maps of my garmin edge 800 on my laptop I can only install it by CD. The download will put the map on the device and I always would have to carry it around. How will I copy my favorite tunes on CD to listen to it in the car?

Maybe one day won't need CD drives anymore, so far it is a MUST!!!

Woldi wrote:

Recovery partition did not work and it took forever. Superdrive is not an option and looks like all models will be without CD drive in the near future.

That was not a very helpful comment!

If I encountered a situation where I needed to restore, I would use my time machine backup to do so. You simply have to backup your data - consider this mandantory. If the drive is dead, replace it if possible. If it is the newer solid-state drive, where the end user cannot replace, send back to Apple for repair, and then restore from your backup.

I hate it so much! I've got the previous model but last month when my Dad and I were looking forward to buy my siblings a new MBP as well, we noticed that the latest model didn't have the CD Drive so he bought the previous model. As some other said, if you want lightweight then just buy the MB Air. I hope Apple notice that and re-include it on the next computer model. Because I guarantee you that sales went down.

Thank you for your well-tempered and thorough posting. We bought the 15" laptop with retina display, not knowing there was no drive. Microsoft doesn't allow software downloads so we're stuck.

Is there a USB external drive we can buy, to your knowledge, that allows download of software that

will allow us to spark it up from which we can drag and drop the MSOffice installation files?

I was trying to upload my existing MSOffice for Mac, not buy a new one. I was surprised at their policy and they reiterated it a couple of times -- disks only for non sales. Thank you for this, though.

I was looking for a way to save a .caf file onto an audio disk from my IPad to give someone as a wedding present. It is music I have composed so it is very personal. I have failed miserably and so far have been unable to convert it to something my windows PC can recognise, so I will have to send it by email and hope their computer can open it!

The arguments presented in the threads above each has their place. It is the same argument as the one comparing books and kindles or digital art and authentic watercolours hanging on your wall. There ought to be a place for both. People have and always will have a desire for tangible possessions, not all the time, but we like options, and being able to use media in a variety of places gives us flexibility. I understand that technology moves on but it isn't necessary to throw the baby out with the bath water.

Gosh, I have been an Apple user since 1985. I cannot believe how downhill Apple has gone and how fast! I completely agree with your posting. I hope the new executives are bright enough lightbulbs to look at the posts on here.

Wow, I am finally getting rid of my old, first model MPB, that has been a workhorse. I want the drive. I don't want to lug around an external, my toddler's stuff, lunch, ugh... what an absolute pain in the butt and something else to worry about. Is this now the top of the line Air? I see no visible difference, so they might as well merge. With Steve gone, the companies heading the wrong direction. How sad.

My husband replaced mine (2007) two years ago, for the same reasons. Now my toddler has gotten the best of my keyboards (3 replaced) dents, etc. And she broke the CD drive. I decided it's time. And the new one's stink. I don't care about the Retina display.

Retina display is pretty. Seriously ... very clear with good colors. Not worth my extra $$ before they were the only option, but not something I would call "worthless".

And have you compared weight ... retina is lighter.

And the new systems are da&n fast. An iOS developer showed how his new Retina system built and activated an iOS emulator in 4 seconds. His old aircraft carrier (17 inwhich he still carries as well) took 30 seconds to build and activate the emulator. Very impressive speed.

So we can spend $1300.00 on a NEW MacBook AND we get to buy an external drive for $250! How amazing! I purchased a refurbished 2012 Macbook pro with a larger hard drive and the disk drive, and I only spent $950 total. This is a complete rip off. I can't believe Apple has finally made a product that makes my life more difficult.

stevenfromcolchester wrote:

hi I'm new to mac book and have just got an usb dvd drive

but when i plug it into my new macbook pro nothing happen

what am i doing wrong

help please

Does it light up? Does it appear in Disk Utility? Does it work on another computer?

Ciao.

Do you, or does someone else know, why they trashed the optical drive, and how many people are actually negatively affected by it?

I'm still running on my 2008 MacBook Pro, but I'll need a replacement soon, and I'll definitely need a drive.

I work with music producers and upcoming bands/artists, and so many of them bring me demos, mixtapes, etc. on CDs.

Bringing a computer everywhere I go is not my favorite, but is definitely necessary, but now I'll have to bring my new MacBook and the external drive?

Like you said, and others, the "don't buy it" line doesn't help me, and others like me.

I've been working off Macs for so long, having to learning a new operating system, new programs, etc. would be a hassle too.

I like to think that I am fairly tech savvy, but still, external drive or Windows, or is there a better third option?

What do you think?