If Apple does release a sub-compact without an internal optical drive or without an external drive included they may go the route of the other major PC vendors and use 10GB of the HDD for an install partiton. While I hate to waste precious HDD space this way it is an option. Apple could include an option to copy the install to DVDs and a a way to dynamically remove this partition to gain back the used space HDD space should you attach an external drive. This is all a waste of energy, IMO, but it is an option should Apple release a device that doesn't have or come with an optical drive.
If Apple does release a sub-compact without an internal optical drive or without an external drive included they may go the route of the other major PC vendors and use 10GB of the HDD for an install partiton. While I hate to waste precious HDD space this way it is an option. Apple could include an option to copy the install to DVDs and a a way to dynamically remove this partition to gain back the used space HDD space should you attach an external drive. This is all a waste of energy, IMO, but it is an option should Apple release a device that doesn't have or come with an optical drive.
No, I can't see that happening. Apple stlll sells all it's software on disks, and so do other people. Also, it has DVD player etc, not to mention iDVD etc.
They will surely include an external superdrive attached by USB, so that on the occasions you need it, you can plug it in, but you don't need to lug it around with you to and from work etc.
I work for a company that makes CD and DVD mechanisms. We've supported 8cm discs from the beginning (~20 years ago).
I must say, however, that I feel these folding or lego-like adapters will be a warranty nightmare. Can you imagine how many are going to get incorrectly put together or incompletely attached to the disc and then come apart inside the drive?
Sorry, but this idea doesn't seem well thought-out.
They will surely include an external superdrive attached by USB, so that on the occasions you need it, you can plug it in, but you don't need to lug it around with you to and from work etc.
I would think FW would be more likely as it can transfer more power to the device and has a higher sustained read than USB 2.0.
Are we sure this is Apple's filling or even their project? Or is it just this Tony Fadell guy?
It seems odd that Apple would care to develop something so... lame.
It sort of reminds me of:
Apple, who always seems so concerned with keeping it easy for the consumers, should probably just opt for the slot-loaders that read both sizes of disc.
If this IS Apple-related, one has to wonder... why all the new interest in mini discs? Trying to make everyone happy by putting a mini optical drive in an ultra-portable or something?
A folding adapter better be very good, as in not fly apart at the hinges when it's spinning at several thousand RPM. I think it would have been much better to use the slot loading drives that accept the smaller discs. I just don't see the value, the cost of the smaller discs don't seem to be much less, it would be more just because of the cost of a funky CD adapter. Apple could save on packaging by using thinner box profiles, even the small 12cm square boxes are still mostly air.
They could actually bother to include the latest copy of iTunes on the iPods, that would have been a valid solution to the lack of a CD in the box.
Apple crams so much onto most of their software discs that it would still have to be 12cm, and their packaging often includes multiple discs. FCE was two or three discs, Aperture had two, Tiger had two, iLife '06 had two, and I think iWork '06 had one, but the programs are probably large enough that it would be more than what a double layer mini-DVD can store. Their hardware devices are large enough that a smaller disc doesn't save on packaging size.
So I'd suggest that this is a poor solution to a problem that doesn't exist.
I don't see this going anywhere. The whole process is redundant. The money they save using smaller discs, which is negligible, is eaten up by the costs of development and engineering this new product.
As software because even more complicated, it eventually won't even fit on the disc. And who wants to search in their drawers for an adapter?
I love that Apple is detail oriented like this, however I file this one under "if it ain't broke, don't fix it".
I think all you guys who are saying that Apple should just change their optical drives to handle smaller discs are missing the point. Apple has to worry about their software being readable on more than just brand new Apple computers. They also have to worry about the millions of legacy Macs out there as well as, and probably more importantly for their bottom line, Windows machines. Throwing a full size CD in the box with a new Mac, an Apple TV or an Airport router is not a problem for them. Where something like this would most likely be used is for iPods and iPhones which are all smaller in width than a full size CD and the majority of iPod buyers currently are on Windows machines which may or may not have a slot loading optical drive.
Not to say that this particular solution to the problem isn't kind of goofy and a potential support nightmare.
No, I can't see that happening. Apple stlll sells all it's software on disks, and so do other people. Also, it has DVD player etc, not to mention iDVD etc.
They will surely include an external superdrive attached by USB, so that on the occasions you need it, you can plug it in, but you don't need to lug it around with you to and from work etc.
There is also the issue of replacing the hard drive and being left without any original system software.
I would also like Apple to make laptops where you can take out the optical drive and put in a second battery for extended runtime.
Where something like this would most likely be used is for iPods and iPhones which are all smaller in width than a full size CD and the majority of iPod buyers currently are on Windows machines which may or may not have a slot loading optical drive.
Haven't you considered that all iPods already include more than enough storage to hold the iTunes installer programs? A disc for an iPod would be totally redundant. Not to mention, last I heard, Apple doesn't provide either anyway. Any OS that can't connect to a current iPod without additional drivers isn't supported by the current iPods anyway.
A software product we distribute goes out to the buyer on a flash drive, but then, it sells for about $9000 a seat, so the manufacturer can afford the media costs.
That said, I'd rather pay up to $25 dollars or so and get a flash drive with large software packages on it than download massive files and then make my own CDs/DVDs for permanent backup. Adobe CS3 applications took forever on broadband, and included a lot of other .dmgs you needed/wanted as well as the apps.
Flash drive(s) are pretty universal, prices keep falling, and if you make an optical copy of the files for backup, you still have the flash drives for other uses.
I must say, however, that I feel these folding or lego-like adapters will be a warranty nightmare. Can you imagine how many are going to get incorrectly put together or incompletely attached to the disc and then come apart inside the drive?
My thoughts exactly. I've had the "pleasure" of taking apart a Mac Mini twice thanks to its failing combo drive. Slot-load drives aren't the easiest things to service when they go bad.
That's funny cause you can stick both size disks into the Wii and they work, and can pop back out too. Strikes me as very un-Apple-like to have this "stupid" add-on.
I think this wins an award for the worst waste of human time and effort ever. All this to shave a couple centimeters off of a compact disc, which already weighs a negligible amount? I am completely boggled.
I think all you guys who are saying that Apple should just change their optical drives to handle smaller discs are missing the point. Apple has to worry about their software being readable on more than just brand new Apple computers. They also have to worry about the millions of legacy Macs out there as well as, and probably more importantly for their bottom line, Windows machines.
Exactly. They are clearly aiming for backwards compatibility.
This is still just a patent filing though same as the flip open underneath optical drive solution for a laptop and I doubt that'll ever be manufactured.
The best solution to cut down distribution cost in this case IMO would be flash as people have said. But as mentioned, the extra cost would likely negate the savings on distribution (possibly one reason why Sony chose UMD over their media stick format for the PSP besides copy protection) so it's probably best to stick with a normal CD.
I'd like to know exactly how much they'd save by doing things this way.
I also agree that it's disappointing they didn't have the foresight to put drives capable of handling the smaller discs into their machines.
Seems to me that CDs are already small enough. Why would we want to complicate things for the user for the sake of saving a few pennies? I think this is kind of a silly move.
This is good news as far as I'm concerned as it means Mac users will be able to use those 8cm DVD camcorders.
Btw, I am an avid AI reader but I find some the editing appalling. This article is a prime example. Please make an effort in this area as it makes reading much more enjoyable.
Comments
If Apple does release a sub-compact without an internal optical drive or without an external drive included they may go the route of the other major PC vendors and use 10GB of the HDD for an install partiton. While I hate to waste precious HDD space this way it is an option. Apple could include an option to copy the install to DVDs and a a way to dynamically remove this partition to gain back the used space HDD space should you attach an external drive. This is all a waste of energy, IMO, but it is an option should Apple release a device that doesn't have or come with an optical drive.
No, I can't see that happening. Apple stlll sells all it's software on disks, and so do other people. Also, it has DVD player etc, not to mention iDVD etc.
They will surely include an external superdrive attached by USB, so that on the occasions you need it, you can plug it in, but you don't need to lug it around with you to and from work etc.
I must say, however, that I feel these folding or lego-like adapters will be a warranty nightmare. Can you imagine how many are going to get incorrectly put together or incompletely attached to the disc and then come apart inside the drive?
Sorry, but this idea doesn't seem well thought-out.
This seems like a joke.
does the difference between the packaging and shipping result in appreciable savings?
is the smaller size relevant for when software discs are shipped/packaged separately ? (i.e. could iLife fit on a mini disc?)
They will surely include an external superdrive attached by USB, so that on the occasions you need it, you can plug it in, but you don't need to lug it around with you to and from work etc.
I would think FW would be more likely as it can transfer more power to the device and has a higher sustained read than USB 2.0.
It seems odd that Apple would care to develop something so... lame.
It sort of reminds me of:
Apple, who always seems so concerned with keeping it easy for the consumers, should probably just opt for the slot-loaders that read both sizes of disc.
If this IS Apple-related, one has to wonder... why all the new interest in mini discs? Trying to make everyone happy by putting a mini optical drive in an ultra-portable or something?
Weird.
-Clive
They could actually bother to include the latest copy of iTunes on the iPods, that would have been a valid solution to the lack of a CD in the box.
Apple crams so much onto most of their software discs that it would still have to be 12cm, and their packaging often includes multiple discs. FCE was two or three discs, Aperture had two, Tiger had two, iLife '06 had two, and I think iWork '06 had one, but the programs are probably large enough that it would be more than what a double layer mini-DVD can store. Their hardware devices are large enough that a smaller disc doesn't save on packaging size.
So I'd suggest that this is a poor solution to a problem that doesn't exist.
As software because even more complicated, it eventually won't even fit on the disc. And who wants to search in their drawers for an adapter?
I love that Apple is detail oriented like this, however I file this one under "if it ain't broke, don't fix it".
Not to say that this particular solution to the problem isn't kind of goofy and a potential support nightmare.
No, I can't see that happening. Apple stlll sells all it's software on disks, and so do other people. Also, it has DVD player etc, not to mention iDVD etc.
They will surely include an external superdrive attached by USB, so that on the occasions you need it, you can plug it in, but you don't need to lug it around with you to and from work etc.
There is also the issue of replacing the hard drive and being left without any original system software.
I would also like Apple to make laptops where you can take out the optical drive and put in a second battery for extended runtime.
Where something like this would most likely be used is for iPods and iPhones which are all smaller in width than a full size CD and the majority of iPod buyers currently are on Windows machines which may or may not have a slot loading optical drive.
Haven't you considered that all iPods already include more than enough storage to hold the iTunes installer programs? A disc for an iPod would be totally redundant. Not to mention, last I heard, Apple doesn't provide either anyway. Any OS that can't connect to a current iPod without additional drivers isn't supported by the current iPods anyway.
That said, I'd rather pay up to $25 dollars or so and get a flash drive with large software packages on it than download massive files and then make my own CDs/DVDs for permanent backup. Adobe CS3 applications took forever on broadband, and included a lot of other .dmgs you needed/wanted as well as the apps.
Flash drive(s) are pretty universal, prices keep falling, and if you make an optical copy of the files for backup, you still have the flash drives for other uses.
I must say, however, that I feel these folding or lego-like adapters will be a warranty nightmare. Can you imagine how many are going to get incorrectly put together or incompletely attached to the disc and then come apart inside the drive?
My thoughts exactly. I've had the "pleasure" of taking apart a Mac Mini twice thanks to its failing combo drive. Slot-load drives aren't the easiest things to service when they go bad.
I think all you guys who are saying that Apple should just change their optical drives to handle smaller discs are missing the point. Apple has to worry about their software being readable on more than just brand new Apple computers. They also have to worry about the millions of legacy Macs out there as well as, and probably more importantly for their bottom line, Windows machines.
Exactly. They are clearly aiming for backwards compatibility.
This is still just a patent filing though same as the flip open underneath optical drive solution for a laptop and I doubt that'll ever be manufactured.
The best solution to cut down distribution cost in this case IMO would be flash as people have said. But as mentioned, the extra cost would likely negate the savings on distribution (possibly one reason why Sony chose UMD over their media stick format for the PSP besides copy protection) so it's probably best to stick with a normal CD.
I'd like to know exactly how much they'd save by doing things this way.
I also agree that it's disappointing they didn't have the foresight to put drives capable of handling the smaller discs into their machines.
Btw, I am an avid AI reader but I find some the editing appalling. This article is a prime example. Please make an effort in this area as it makes reading much more enjoyable.