People buying this computer won't need an optical drive... and if they do, they'll use it when they need it and use the USB port for other things when they don't need the optical drive. Apart from my Mouse/Keyboard which actually use only one port on my iMac, I only use about one other port regularly and that's my Flash Drive - oh and until I had to return it to Amazon, I had my Logitech MX Revolution Plugged in too but that freed up a USB port on my keyboard anyway... so really, I've only ever needed to use two USB ports at the same time on fairly brief and infrequent intervals.
If you need to use two USB ports then buy a USB Hub if you really can't manage without using two USB ports at the same time... and who honestly does? If you have an iPod then you can charge that at a different time to using your optical drive, yes? If you need an external HD then use that at a different point to the Optical Drive. The only reason you would need an optical drive on this machine is if you're going to rip or burn media - and I think those can wait if, say, charging an iPod is more important, don't you think?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Michael @ Jan 15th 2008 2:14PM
So this will turn it into a fully functional notebook with no USB ports?
Ed @ Jan 15th 2008 2:16PM
Unless you get one of those newfangled USB hubs...
Blaktornado @ Jan 15th 2008 3:27PM
People buying this computer won't need an optical drive... and if they do, they'll use it when they need it and use the USB port for other things when they don't need the optical drive. Apart from my Mouse/Keyboard which actually use only one port on my iMac, I only use about one other port regularly and that's my Flash Drive - oh and until I had to return it to Amazon, I had my Logitech MX Revolution Plugged in too but that freed up a USB port on my keyboard anyway... so really, I've only ever needed to use two USB ports at the same time on fairly brief and infrequent intervals.
If you need to use two USB ports then buy a USB Hub if you really can't manage without using two USB ports at the same time... and who honestly does? If you have an iPod then you can charge that at a different time to using your optical drive, yes? If you need an external HD then use that at a different point to the Optical Drive. The only reason you would need an optical drive on this machine is if you're going to rip or burn media - and I think those can wait if, say, charging an iPod is more important, don't you think?
Zach @ Jan 15th 2008 3:35PM
ah and how thick is that newfangled usb hub?
OH NO, i said a dirty word.