Ditching the Optical Drive?

[88keys]

Since I just got my last upgrade for my system (i3-530 to i7-870), I've been thinking about how little I actually use my optical drive. I do use it for the occasional DVD/CR rip here and there, but 99% of the time it just sits. Realistically, I could just use one of my DVD-RWs and plug it in when needed.

When you have multiple terabytes of storage, what the hell do you need with 4.7GB and 40GB blank discs?
It probably doesn't make sense to pull it now, but for my next system I've been thinking about just not having an optical drive. Any modern mobo should support booting from external devices so OS install shouldn't even be a problem.
I suppose it's different if you frequently rip media, but the way I see it is that it's one less device for the PSU to power up, it's $30-60 saved on your next rig, and it's one less device to generate heat.

 

[Dahak]

Currently my work laptop does not have a optical drive nor does my current build either.
for the few times that I do need it, i have an external usb drive that i plug in as needed

So unless you do frequent ripping, then I would say that you would not miss it very much

 

[Morbus]

I use it very rarely, but I do need it sometimes. I think optical drivers are going the way of the floppy drives. And they're going very fast. But I haven't bought a serious heavy duty USB drive yet (HDD or flash) so I'm not ditching my cheap-ass DVD-RW yet, and I doubt I will, since it's pretty much brand new (barely used) and it really doesn't bother me (unlike the floppy drives, that make a sound when the system boots).

TL;DR if you have at least a medium sized pendrive and/or an external HDD, just drop the damn thing and never look back.

 

[88keys]

I use it very rarely, but I do need it sometimes. I think optical drivers are going the way of the floppy drives. And they're going very fast. But I haven't bought a serious heavy duty USB drive yet (HDD or flash) so I'm not ditching my cheap-ass DVD-RW yet, and I doubt I will, since it's pretty much brand new (barely used) and it really doesn't bother me (unlike the floppy drives, that make a sound when the system boots).

TL;DR if you have at least a medium sized pendrive and/or an external HDD, just drop the damn thing and never look back.

You could probably just get an external enclosure for it. That probably makes the most sense now that I think about it. Granted, decent ones run around $50, but at least then you can just buy the lower priced internal drives when upgrading. And you don't have to worry about matching face plates to your PC case or any of that nonsense.

AFAIK, there is even a way to install Windows 7/8 via flash drive, but I don't think that's officially supported.

 

[piasabird]

Maybe get a portable blu-ray player/recorder. Plug in when needed. You can probably install win 8 online. You would still need to get online first and you would have to download and an ISO image file or something.

Now a days people all watch videos online. So no one really needs to purchase blue rays. They damage way too easily.

 

[Raduque]

I still use an older IDE dvd burner.... My new mobo doesn't have an IDE port (Intel desktop board). Looks like I'm involuntarily dumping my optical drive!

I haven't used it almost two years anyway.

 

[88keys]

Actually better yet. Has anybody made a computer case entirely out of PCB?

That would be neat.

 

[lakedude]

One of my friends got an ultra portable laptop that lacked an optical drive. He liked it just fine till he started having trouble with it. Lacking the optical drive made a reload a bit of a challenge. So yeah you don't need an optical all that often but they sure are nice when you do need them.

 

[Thermalzeal]

Optical drive is a waste of a SATA and power connector for me. Also annoys me that I have to pull a power connector way up (on my full size tower) and lose the second plug. The last 10 times I've installed Windows, I've done it from a flash drive, and once you experience that, it's a pain to go back.

 

[BrightCandle]

I am using my DVD driver right now. I don't use it all that often admittedly, but I do still install games from DVD reasonably often. I am far from all digital in my media and games consumption so an optical drive is necessary.

But my laptop doesn't need one, anything that one helps with a USB thumb drive can do better.

 

[goobernoodles]

I only have optical drives in my work desktop. My work laptop doesn't have one (X1 Carbon) and my home desktop doesn't have one. I do have spares laying around, and having an external adapter or external drive is definitely worth investing in.

 

[mfenn]

AFAIK, there is even a way to install Windows 7/8 via flash drive, but I don't think that's officially supported.

It is officially supported. I've done all my Windows installs via USB drive since 7 came out, and let me tell you, it is worth it for the speed improvements alone.

 

[corkyg]

I have and use optical diks, some of which are over 15 years old. If I had to do a clean install, I would reinstall programs with them. They may be obsolescent, but not yet obsolete. They contain stuff not available elsewhere. I am not even counting the hundreds of DVDs (originals) of movies.