I'd like to know why this was excluded from the design of the new iMac. I am also woefully short on USB ports on the back to plug in the cables, etc I need for my many items such as my older Apple gear, etc.
The USB ports should be on the side or front where they are reachable.
Also, what is the best anti-virus software for the iMac?
Thanks group (and Apple),
iMac, Mac OS X (10.7.5)
I can't talk to the lack of a DVD player, that is Apple's call. As far as AV software none is recommended or needed.
There are no viruses that can attack Mac.OS X. So, anti-virus programs are selling a cure for a disease that doesn't exist. And they are renowned for borking Mac systems.
A Mac can pick up malware but not if you just use common sense. You really have to actively invite some malware in for it to happen. That means downloading and knowingly giving your password for it to download. Mac provides all the protection you need with SIP (System Integrity Protection).I About System Integrity Protection on your Mac - Apple Support
Ars Technica
http://arstechnica.com/apple/2015/09/os-x-10-11-el-capitan-the-ars-technica-revi ew/8/
Keep your security set to “App Store and identified developers” Don’t download software from third party sites.If you use torrents, don't. Torrents are a good way to pick up malware because it can hitchhike in on a download package and you’ll never know it.
Safari pop-ups are different and easier to deal with. In Safari 9.1 and later just close the window. For earlier versions force quit and hold the shift key while restarting Safari.
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT203987
Finally, do not get fooled by products that claim to clean, virus check or optimize your Mac. If you do happen to download malware you can use MalwareBytes to get rid of it. Malwarebytes was developed by one of our own colleagues here in ASC. It gets rave reviews and is about the most proven anti-malware software for Mac.
Optical drives in Macs disappeared 5 years, ago!
They were, usually, the first component to fail inside of iMacs.
The internal heat and less than ideal vertical orientation of these drive made them an early failure point.
Most iMac users had these optical drives fail within 3-5 years.
Electronic components don't like excessive heat and mounting an optical drive in a vertical position made the disc wobble inside of the optical drive like helicopter blades, eventually causing some sort of internal damage.
They were not a reliable internal component of the iMac.
You can find third party external optical drives to uss with new Macs.
eengland wrote:
Geez, right? It doesn't need to be lighter, I'm not planning to carry my desktop around. It'd be nice, since these machines are allegedly designed for creatives, to be able to play the cd's my colleagues in the music industry send me. Just a thought. ◔_◔
If you'e not carrying anything around, an external optical drive should work just fine. I have one for my MBP that fits in the outside of my carrying sleeve with hardly a bulge.
You can also submit your feedback to Apple here:
However, I suspect the likelihood of optical drives coming back is only slightly higher than the likelihood of SCSI ports coming back.
Geez, right? It doesn't need to be lighter, I'm not planning to carry my desktop around. It'd be nice, since these machines are allegedly designed for creatives, to be able to play the cd's my colleagues in the music industry send me. Just a thought. ◔_◔
Yeah probably not coming back I guess. There are some things I just assumed Mac would have as an "arts" computer co and I suppose a way to play a cd is one of those things. I guess you can't take things for granted. Thanks for your reply. Just made the switch so.
Optical media is going the way of the floppy disk. And I think you'll find a Mac is a computer and what makes it an "arts" or "business" or any other kind of computer is the use you have for it, not the machine itself.
Where would you put an internal optical drive in the new slimline design of the iMacs today?
Apple removed the optical drive from inside of iMacs to make them thinner and lighter.
Apple, also, removed the internal oprical drive because of recurring reliability issues and premature failures of the internal optical drive all due to both heat reiated issues and its less than ideal vertical orientation inside of an iMac.
Apple put that optical drive inside of its own external enclosure that you can purchase separately, now, here.
http://www.apple.com/shop/product/MD564LL/A/apple-usb-superdrive?fnode=5f
As far as USB ports go, the newer Aluminum style iMac, since 2009, always had only 4 USB ports.
If you need more, you will need to purchase the myriad of USB hubs available to expand the number of USB ports you need.
Don't use antivirus software or hard drive "cleaniing"/"optimising" software, either!
Good Luck!
Who sends cds when you can email tracks? Dropbox? iCloud? Soundcloud?
People who cut ads and want the whole package available to their colleagues, coaches, and booking agents. And other situations that arise as a professional musician.
Because Apple has decided that there is such a small number of people still using optical drives that they are no longer including them. If you need an optical drive then you are going to have to buy an external one.
Apple hasn't included an optical drive on any Macs for quite a while.
No ports on the front is the "pretty" factor.
Do not use any AV software of any kind. They don't help block anything new, and what it does catch (almost all as email attachments) are Windows malware. They can't do anything to your Mac, so simply delete them if you get one.
The optical drive linked to by MichaelPM is a very nice unit, but you're paying a lot of money for a simple DVD/CD drive due to the milled aluminum housing. There are tons of choices at Best Buy or Amazon for external drives at the $25 - $40 price range that will work just as well. I bought one for $20 (on sale) at Best Buy years ago and it's still working perfectly.
Re: AV software, Sophos has a free one designed for Macs. Not sure how robust it is though.
The "pretty" factor is a lame excuse for people who actually use their iMac.
My old iMac had a built in optical drive and it works great, to this day. I upgraded the HD to a rather expansive 4 Tb. So I just assumed my new iMac would have the same design. I'm disappointed in the design team, in a sense, that they felt this was a worthy sacrifice. I would have preferred a thicker machine and more useful features than having a "pretty" computer. Sigh, oh well.
Thanks mates.
Forget using Sophos or ANY antivirus software.
Antivirus software is NOT needed if the Mac you are running is only running OS X. Antivirus apps interfere with normal performance and operation of a Mac because they program too many controls (program extensions) into the main OS X system software negatively impacting/impeding general performance of a Mac.
Here are some of my tidbits of advice on how to avoid viruses in the future, if you encounter a virus, again.
Some anti-virus solutions can slow down your Mac, but to be honest, the best anit-virus app is you, the user and your brain.
Don't visit questionable websites or website you are unsure about.
Don't use Torrents or engage in "Torrenting"
Don't install pirated software or software downloaded from a questionable or unknown websites or untrutsted sources.
Java is still a vulnerability concern, if you do not need it, don't use it.
Use a browser filter and pop-up blocker
Don't open email attachments from email addresses that you do not recognize.
Install security updates when they become available
Educate yourself as to what threats are common and active.
In effect, use your own brain as the antivirus filter.
Follow that advise and in MOST cases, you will be fine and won't risk your Mac to potential Trojans, malware or viruses.
If you feel you need some baseline virus protection that is minimally invasive on the Mac OS X system, think about purchasing, downloading and installing
ClamXAV
http://www.clamxav.com/
Zofmui wrote:
Re: AV software, Sophos has a free one designed for Macs. Not sure how robust it is though.
All AV software for macOS is completely worthless.
My old iMac had a built in optical drive and it works great, to this day.
Seriously? Optical disks are virtually obsolete these days.
So I just assumed my new iMac would have the same design.
You would think you'd have the good sense to actually look at the specs before spending a fair chunk of change on a new machine...
Why isn't there a CD drive in my new iMac?
