Why disc drives are an endangered species

[Hum]

(CNN) -- Could the phrase "burn a disc" soon be interred in the computing graveyard, resting peacefully alongside 8-bit graphics and the chirping, buzzing hum of a dial-up modem?

Some technology analysts, along with some of the most influential computer makers in the world, say yes. Optical disc drives take up precious space in our ever-shrinking gadgets, and the ability to stream music or movies on demand has made CDs and DVDs less essential.

The disc drive's spin into obscurity may have started swirling faster last week.

Apple's new iMac, its flagship desktop computer, was released Friday. For the first time, it has no disc drive. This marks a trend that has already begun on some laptops, like Apple's MacBook Airs, and of course with mobile devices like smartphones and tablets.

"Over time, an optical disc will be as much of an historical curiosity as a floppy disk," said Michael Gartenberg, a tech-industry analyst with research firm Gartner Inc.

According to Apple, where sleeker, thinner designs are always en vogue, dumping the disc drive was a no-brainer.

"These old technologies are holding us back," Phil Schiller, Apple's head of marketing, told Time. "They're anchors on where we want to go. We find the things that have outlived their useful purpose -- our competitors are afraid to remove them. We try to find better solutions -- our customers have given us a lot of trust."

If the company's track record on such things holds, the optical drive may be doomed. The original Mac dumped the 5-inch disk for a 3.5-inch floppy, and the first iMac was one of the first desktops without a floppy disk drive.

"It's clearly a long-term trend, but Apple's always been aggressive about making moves like this sooner as opposed to later," Gartenberg said.

The company's tiny Mac Mini, for the record, has been disc drive-free since last year.

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[neo1911]

True story. My newly assembled PC doesn't have optical drive. Not even once in last few months have I felt the need of it. Installing Windows off a USB3 pen drive in flat 3 minutes is the thing that cannot be beaten by any CD or DVD

[Detection]

I didn't bother buying a new SATA DVD drive when I upgraded my board and my IDE drive had no port, and the only time I've missed it has been when other people want something burned and I have to copy stuff to the laptop

Optical = Dead once DVD players = Dead and old PCs that can't boot from USB = dead :p

[Dot Matrix]

I didn't bother buying a new SATA DVD drive when I upgraded my board and my IDE drive had no port, and the only time I've missed it has been when other people want something burned and I have to copy stuff to the laptop

Optical = Dead once DVD players = Dead and old PCs that can't boot from USB = dead :p

Mine died a few weeks back. I have a removable drive I use for my laptop that I use in it's place if I need to run a disk. I don't plan on buying a replacement.

[+Fahim S. MVC]

Since when was the iMac the flagship of the Apple desktop computer range. I didn't realise the MacPro was considered lower in the range.

I would love to give up my optical drives but it's still the highest quality music format widely available and whilst that is the case I will have one in my desktop.

[Growled Member]

I'd be fine with that if they still offer us USB disk drives. I still like to burn disks for my Blu-ray/DVD player.

[Raa]

While I don't disagree that optical storage is slow and bulky (in comparison to other forms of media). I don't see it "disappearing" for quite a long time. I'd have to do a lot of conversion of all my CDs and DVDs first! Well over 500 of them in my home... :/

[Detection]

Mine died a few weeks back. I have a removable drive I use for my laptop that I use in it's place if I need to run a disk. I don't plan on buying a replacement.

I don't plan on buying one either, if I do end up with a new drive in this machine it will come from those who want things burned ;) - I really have no use for one, with maybe one annual exception of wanting to set up ancient machines for kicks

[LUTZIFER]

I bought an ASUS portable slim DVDRW earlier this year for my Ultrabook, just in case I needed one, and it was on sale, and I still haven't used it.

[primexx]

It's really stupid that Microsoft makes Win8 available for download for the consumer upgrade path but only distributes DVDs for the OEM version. I want an ISO damnit!

[BajiRav]

It's really stupid that Microsoft makes Win8 available for download for the consumer upgrade path but only distributes DVDs for the OEM version. I want an ISO damnit!

this might help http://winsupersite.com/windows-8/windows-8-tip-create-setup-media-after-using-web-installer

[theyarecomingforyou]

I had a Blu-ray drive in my computer but used it so infrequently that I ended up replacing it with a hard-drive (I ran out of SATA ports).

[primexx]

this might help http://winsupersite....g-web-installer

yea, i know. I don't have an upgrade licence.

[Lord Method Man]

No service offers streaming anywhere near the quality of Blu-ray.

[LUTZIFER]

No service offers streaming anywhere near the quality of Blu-ray.

I guess that's why there's such things as Blu-ray players you kook up to your TV.

Netflix looks pretty damn clear to me running from my comp to TV, but I also have a standalone component Blu-ray player for those slim chances I may go out and rent a Blu-ray movie, in fact I actually just finished watching Jonah Hex (which I own), again, on it just cuz it's been awhile since I've used it.

I actually hummed and hawed over the portable DVDRW and a Blu-ray Burner for awhile then thinking how little I actually burnt disks or used a drive, I went with the cheapest.

[LaP]

The last time i used my DVD drive Obama was a nobody.

[Bizkit]

I put a DVD burner in my PC when I built it 5 years ago. Its all but dead now, and honestly, I don't think I used it in the last 3 years. USB sticks or cloud is where it is at now.

[exotoxic]

Not had an internal one for ages, bought an external for the odd occasions i might need one.

I hope they completely get rid of DVD/blu ray and replace it with USB sticks or SD cards in the near future.

[Nogib]

Optical media is home to much higher quality media though. CDs have a higher bitrate than MP3s bought from any online storefront and definitely sound better....blu-rays (heck even some DVDs) look vastly superior to any highly compressed streaming or "digital copy" version.

You may want the optical to die but you're all willing to accept such terrible compromises with regards to quality it makes me cringe.

"our customers have given us a lot of trust."

No, they just flat out tell their customers what to think and the cultists believe everything blindly.

[FloatingFatMan]

Well, I just bought a BD burner for my PC, and it's getting PLENTY of use (as a reader)!

[ramzorz]

I can't remember the last time I used my optical drive. Even my netbook from 2010 that I've had until now didn't have an optical drive; I never needed it anyhow. Nowadays, you can even install operating systems via 4 gig flash drives as long as you can copy the disk files from someone else's optical drive. It's not like you install OSs all day, right?

[LUTZIFER]

The last time i used my DVD drive Obama was a nobody.

He's somebody now?

[Joni_78]

How are they watching Blu-ray's?

[FloatingFatMan]

Nowadays, you can even install operating systems via 4 gig flash drives as long as you can copy the disk files from someone else's optical drive.

How are you gonna do that if no-one has an optical drive anymore? :huh: :p

[seta-san]

It's really stupid that Microsoft makes Win8 available for download for the consumer upgrade path but only distributes DVDs for the OEM version. I want an ISO damnit!

when I got the download I also ordered a dvd with it.