How to make use of this remote disc or make it eject?!

Question

How to make use of this remote disc or make it eject?!

Am I missing something required for this finder-squatter, "remote disc?"

Is it a commensal creature or can I actually use it for something, like a Dropbox? And why would it include an eject button that doesn't do anything? Some hidden Easter egg practical joke?

Apple doesn't really seem to cover it from what I could find. I'd almost be glad to find out its malware/lolware at this point.

So what

exactly is the point of this thing and why isn't there anything in it ever? I'd like to rename it local empty folder if anyone knows how I can do that.
I know it's allegedly benign, as much as I'd like to think it's the strategically hidden dropbox of an international crime syndicate who have been so kind as to back up all my selfies.

Seems like having a drive that everyone ignores or hides is a bit of a vulnerability somehow and probably even a little insensitive.

Posted on Jan 10, 2017 3:46 AM

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Answer 1

Stuart423

Level 6

9,264 points

Jan 10, 2017 3:52 AM in response to IThoughtIBoughtAMac

The Remote Disc is there so you can use an external CD or DVD drive. Let's say you have a nifty DVD movie you want to watch. Your Mac doesn't have a DVD drive. Your friend has a computer with a DVD drive. You connect the computers, and can now access the remote disc drive by clicking on Remote Disc in your Finder window.

Not a plot or lolware...just a warm and fuzzy hug from Apple to let you do more stuff you might not have thought about.

Use the CD or DVD drive from another computer with your Mac - Apple Support

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Answer 2

Jan 13, 2017 12:58 AM in response to IThoughtIBoughtAMac

My friends don't use DVDs frankly I've never even seen one in my life. I don't like it and don't want it there.

Please no warm fuzzies from Apple I want a cold, hard piece of aluminum that does its job and doesn't tell me about its feelings or want me to ask it to tell me the weather after misunderstanding the last 7 questions I asked it only to try to text someone "I'll go mail fruit"

Really going down the Microsoft path it feels like here and my iPod nostalgia is wearing thin.

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Answer 3

Stuart423

Level 6

9,264 points

Jan 13, 2017 4:51 AM in response to IThoughtIBoughtAMac

You wrote: "...My friends don't use DVDs frankly I've never even seen one in my life..."

Hard to know how to address that. Hm. Anyway, there are millions of Apple users who do use DVDs and CDs, and the remote disc function has proved valuable for many of them. That said, if the icon offends you, I'd recommend not looking at it.

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Answer 4

Apr 17, 2017 10:31 AM in response to IThoughtIBoughtAMac

Remote Disk does not disappear if I deselect all the checkmarks in Finder Preferences > sidebar > Devices.

I think it's reasonable to expect it to respond to that... to reduce clutter.

The fact that it doesn't is exactly why it feels more like an unwanted 'add on' than an OSX feature

OSX Sierra 10.12.4

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