It seems that Apple wants to enter the subnotebook and thin and light laptop market and it just might do so with the so-far rumored slim-line MacBook.

Most companies, in order to improve battery life, lessen weight and make a more portable package eliminate what might be the least used part of a laptop, the optical drive.

There are few users who actually need a DVD drive while on the move which is the way most laptops are used in the first place and there is always the option of using an external DVD drive, if needed.

9to5 Mac indicates this makes sense and it does.  I can think of few instances that I actually used the DVD drive while I was not at home.

But, Apple may do a few other things as well like offer up a SSD (Solid state drive) instead of a standard hard drive, at the very least, there is a good chance that could be an option.  It may bundle the laptop with an external DVD drive or provide that as an additional option for built-to-order models.

The increasing popularity of download-only programs and huge flash drives have all but eliminated the need for actual discs in the mobile world.  Desktop users will make use of optical mediums for many years to come but it is becoming increasingly less important to laptop users.

Dare I say that optical discs are going the way of the floppy for laptop users.

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Related:

Apple’s Macs get wireless booting thanks to MacBook Air

No MacBook Pro Slimline prepped for OS X Leopard release

Apple MacBook laptops contain flawed hard drives

Apple’s MacBook Air not approved for flying; causes owner delay in airport security

Cnet: Who is Apple’s MacBook Air for?

Stumble It!

Entry was posted on Sunday, September 23rd, 2007 at 7:55 am under Apple, Mac, MacBook.  Print This Post

Read more entries by Jonathan Schlaffer.