<strong>There are no BTO options on the $999 model so Apple can just make them and sell them with no custom construction overhead. The reason it's only a CD-ROM is so most customers will buy the $1299 model where there's more profit.</strong><hr></blockquote>
I think Multimedia hits the nail on the head and drives it right in. Margins are the smallest on the least expensive models. Having BTO options for a DVD only adds overhead and further reduces the margin.
I replaced my PowerBook 2400c with an iBook/500/CD because (a) I didn't have a lot of money and (b) it was still a huge step up. I never regreted leaving out the DVD, CD-RW or Combo drive. Now that I am looking into upgrading my iBook, I am looking at both the 700/CD and the 800/Combo. The all or nothing choice is fine with me, although I'll probably get the Combo this time around.
What I really want in the iBook is a slot-load drive like in the Titanium PowerBook. Now that would be cool.
<strong>There are no BTO options on the $999 model so Apple can just make them and sell them with no custom construction overhead. The reason it's only a CD-ROM is so most customers will buy the $1299 model where there's more profit. You can construct your own external CDR FireWire Drive with an $85 external case and a $49 48x24x48x LiteOn CD-RW IDE drive. $134. No big whoop. The $1299 model is worth the extra $300.</strong><hr></blockquote>
You certainly can construct an external drive but why would you? The whole point of getting a laptop is it's portability without the need to carry additional accessories.
Perhaps it is Apple's scheme to push the higher end model. But consider the many potential "switchers". They see for the first time a great entry price point from Apple, only to see they can't get a CD-RW drive in it.
They might very well stick with a PC and get a Dell notebook that often comes with a DVD or CD-RW for nothing.
Perhaps Apple will get the message you are trying to convey and make the minimum a CD-RW drive in the next next refresh (Spring 2003). It would be the next logical iBook minimum optical drive upgrade.
<strong>For the hundreth time, Slot-loading drives SUCK.</strong><hr></blockquote>
My dear EmAn, That's exactly why I like them! They suck in the disks, instead of me having to push in the tray. The only reason not to like slot-loading drives is because they are still slower than the tray-loaders.
Would you care to dig up the other ninety-nine threads where somebody argued that slot-loading drives are not desirable.
My dear EmAn, That's exactly why I like them! They suck in the disks, instead of me having to push in the tray. The only reason not to like slot-loading drives is because they are still slower than the tray-loaders.
</strong><hr></blockquote>
<img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" /> ok, that was good.
And there's other reasons why I don't like them. They don't work with all types of CDs, I've seen CDs get stuck in them before, my friend's iMac was so slow at ejecting them, and I could continue if you want.
<strong>Perhaps Apple will get the message you are trying to convey and make the minimum a CD-RW drive in the next next refresh (Spring 2003). It would be the next logical iBook minimum optical drive upgrade.</strong><hr></blockquote>
i would say DVD-rom to be the minimum... more important on the road, and cannot be added eternally like CDRW can...
<img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" /> ok, that was good.
And there's other reasons why I don't like them. They don't work with all types of CDs, I've seen CDs get stuck in them before, my friend's iMac was so slow at ejecting them, and I could continue if you want.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Those little business card type cds are getting more and more popular and you are SOL with those on a slot loader.
Comments
<strong>There are no BTO options on the $999 model so Apple can just make them and sell them with no custom construction overhead. The reason it's only a CD-ROM is so most customers will buy the $1299 model where there's more profit.</strong><hr></blockquote>
I think Multimedia hits the nail on the head and drives it right in. Margins are the smallest on the least expensive models. Having BTO options for a DVD only adds overhead and further reduces the margin.
I replaced my PowerBook 2400c with an iBook/500/CD because (a) I didn't have a lot of money and (b) it was still a huge step up. I never regreted leaving out the DVD, CD-RW or Combo drive. Now that I am looking into upgrading my iBook, I am looking at both the 700/CD and the 800/Combo. The all or nothing choice is fine with me, although I'll probably get the Combo this time around.
What I really want in the iBook is a slot-load drive like in the Titanium PowerBook. Now that would be cool.
Escher
<strong>There are no BTO options on the $999 model so Apple can just make them and sell them with no custom construction overhead. The reason it's only a CD-ROM is so most customers will buy the $1299 model where there's more profit. You can construct your own external CDR FireWire Drive with an $85 external case and a $49 48x24x48x LiteOn CD-RW IDE drive. $134. No big whoop. The $1299 model is worth the extra $300.</strong><hr></blockquote>
You certainly can construct an external drive but why would you? The whole point of getting a laptop is it's portability without the need to carry additional accessories.
Perhaps it is Apple's scheme to push the higher end model. But consider the many potential "switchers". They see for the first time a great entry price point from Apple, only to see they can't get a CD-RW drive in it.
They might very well stick with a PC and get a Dell notebook that often comes with a DVD or CD-RW for nothing.
<strong>For the hundreth time, Slot-loading drives SUCK.</strong><hr></blockquote>
My dear EmAn, That's exactly why I like them! They suck in the disks, instead of me having to push in the tray. The only reason not to like slot-loading drives is because they are still slower than the tray-loaders.
Would you care to dig up the other ninety-nine threads where somebody argued that slot-loading drives are not desirable.
Escher
<strong>
My dear EmAn, That's exactly why I like them! They suck in the disks, instead of me having to push in the tray. The only reason not to like slot-loading drives is because they are still slower than the tray-loaders.
</strong><hr></blockquote>
<img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" /> ok, that was good.
And there's other reasons why I don't like them. They don't work with all types of CDs, I've seen CDs get stuck in them before, my friend's iMac was so slow at ejecting them, and I could continue if you want.
<strong>Perhaps Apple will get the message you are trying to convey and make the minimum a CD-RW drive in the next next refresh (Spring 2003). It would be the next logical iBook minimum optical drive upgrade.</strong><hr></blockquote>
i would say DVD-rom to be the minimum... more important on the road, and cannot be added eternally like CDRW can...
I'd trade my current 700 for the new 700 if I could get a combo drive. I like the way the all-whites look.
Jet
<strong>
<img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" /> ok, that was good.
And there's other reasons why I don't like them. They don't work with all types of CDs, I've seen CDs get stuck in them before, my friend's iMac was so slow at ejecting them, and I could continue if you want.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Those little business card type cds are getting more and more popular and you are SOL with those on a slot loader.
Slot-loading drives are certainly cooler though