INBOX:WITH LAPTOPS becoming ridiculously thin, there doesn't seem to be much point in carrying around an optical disk drive any more.
I mean, honestly, how often do you actually put a CD or DVD into a laptop these days? So much video is available online now. So much music can be streamed seamlessly via an online service such as Last.fm, or bought via stores like Amazon and iTunes. Is there really any point in the disk drive?
Well, if you, like me, think it should be dumped, then we appear to be in the minority. Only the bleeding-edge Apple, which bizarrely likes to remove features from computers rather than add them, has been brave enough to do so. It famously ditched the optical drive in the MacBook Air when it was launched and, frankly, no one I know actually misses the drive now that it's gone.
The replacement turned out to be a dedicated drive known as the External USB SuperDrive. Unfortunately, it is known for being at the pricier end of the market for an external optical drive (as with most Apple products), and many commentators were perturbed when it was revealed that it would not work with other PCs. Only the Mac.
And not only that, but it would only work with the MacBook Air.
This was an odd move. There are other companies that make PC-powered DVD burners powered by standard USB.
The lack of a drive, however, means that the MacBook Air must perform backups and software installs using the drive, WiFi or via ethernet. Not helpful.
On the plus side, the MacBook Air SuperDrive is thin, light and easy to carry on the go. It is slot-loading, weighs 320g (0.71 pounds) and measures a very thin 17mm.
Meanwhile, over in PC-land, netbooks - fashionable small PCs that do basic web surfing - also require external optical drives.
LG's new GP08NU10 slimline portable DVD writer is going to be handy for people with a netbook.
The GP08NU10 is not the highest specification DVD writer available, but it's sold on size and portability rather than performance.
It is an 8x drive - depending on disc format - and you'll find that 16x drives are heavier and clunkier.
The GP08NU10 is thin and light and power comes straight over USB - there's a second cable in the box if you need power from two ports - so there's no AC adaptor to lug around.
In addition to the two USB cables, the drive comes with a disc full of Windows software for doing back-up runs, and for playing and mastering DVDs.
So, as long as netbooks sell, it looks like the external optical drive is here to stay.
