The MacBook Air SuperDrive
By Nilay Patel 
posted January 15th 2008 2:09PM
posted January 15th 2008 2:09PM
Apple may think it's over for optical media, but we have a feeling a lot of MacBook Air customers are going to end up spending the $99 on the external SuperDrive. The 1.06-pound USB-powered dual-layer burner is as slickly encased in aluminum as the Air itself, has a built-in cable and features 4X DL read / write speeds, 8x DVD±R, and 24x CD-R. No official word on availability just yet, but we'd guess it'll ship alongside the Air in two weeks. Interestingly, the specs say it requires a MacBook Air -- but we'll be recklessly plugging it into whatever we have handy soon enough, stay tuned.
It seems that some are missing the point of the Air. It is an ultra portable. It is like the EEEPC only with better speeds and mac os (and a bit more $$$). I have an MBP and I only use my Disc Drive for burning movies. I don't even use my USB ports except when syncing my Blackberry. The firewire port has never been used and the express slot is getting dusty. I use my MBP exactly how the Air is supposed to be used. I always have my comp with me for business so I would prefer not to have to carry around a weighty computer that tries to dislocate my shoulder every time I stand still too long. I have every intention of picking up an Air this year, and I will be purchasing an external Superdrive.
~JMD
Maybe it's just me but aren't you unimpressed with a thing called "Air" that needs so many fucking wires?
You are some sex starved dolt or just lazy with your expressions. I once asked a fella why he would have sex with a "pan of beans" when he referred to them in such a manner
what wires? a power cable and a usb cable for an OPTIONAL superdrive?
Sit down and have a cup of tea. Tell us about this huge tangle of wires, slowly and calmly.
Back in the day, the typical Apple customer was someone heavily involved in media production and editing. Macs had all the best software, the best drivers, and the best interface. Hell, you can't even buy Logic for the PC. Here, Apple has created a computer with no way to burn a cd, no optical output (that I have found), no RAM additions to run sound and/or graphic intensive programs, one USB port, and one mono speaker. In one generation, Mac users have gone from producing their own music to listening to music on Myspace.
Maybe it's just that air serves none of my needs, but I think Apple really jumped the shark on this one.
I seriously doubt that apple think it's over for optical media, considering they went to the trouble of creating a wireless drive reader.
Which is great, considering to do it you need both a wireless network, and another computer with an optical drive.
Would be great if this thing would work for apple TV…
oh why dont iu go with the viao tz. it has everything and is still a small laptop and mac can go to hell though the touch is the best portable video mp3 yet
and still bluray turns out better than apple tv. v2.0
It seems to me that you pay more for a lot less. Less weight, less capabilities. Not a very good tradeoff as far as I am concerned. I'll keep my MacBook which can do more for less.
I think the point of this laptop is to be an ultraportable, as much power as they could stuff into the smallest package and still be usable with a reasonable sized screen and controls. Yes I'd like one, but no I don't want to pay that much, so I'll wait until I can get one for a better price, preferably with WiMax and a 45nm processor core and the solid state drive comes in a bit cheaper.
I expect that some more laptops like this will appear from makers and it won't matter what I buy as I already run virtual machines.
Oh and I'm from the UK - lots of things are overpriced here - but we have consumer rights that you can't sign away when you buy products - so when I say something is 'not fit for purpose' to a computer store within 28 days they take it back and I'm covered for a year to fix or replace faulty items, not such a bad deal.
You need to look at this cool video on the MacBook Air.
I have had 2 clients call me about ordering the Macbook Air because they think it looks good. Once i explain what it does not have they come back down to earth and realize it's a joke.
check this out...you'll like it
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=stevesperandeo
Fine but do I get an ultrathin titanium casing for this price? I doubt it.
I haven't used a disk for a long while. I download music, watch dvds on my tv, and download software. (Yes, all legally). I wouldn't miss it much.
why do people keep comparing this to the eee and other umpc's. Besides weight, it isn't any more portable than a mb. The MB has all the things you would need to spend $$ on dongles for.
Weight seriously can't be that huge a factor my 17" laptop only ways 10 pounds, and I carry it around fine.
Apple's product development team needs to get out into the real world more often. No optical drive? Non-user-replaceable battery? Give me a break!