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08/10/2013 12:05:47 PM · #1 |
So the daughter's going off to college, and we got her a Macbook air. What DVD drive should we get for it? I figured we'd just pick up a superdrive, but it's expensive, which is ok if the reviews were good, but the reviews kind of suck, and since it's so much more than non-apple, it doesn't seem to make sense.
Does anyone have any recommendations as to what we should buy?
thanks!
Message edited by author 2013-08-10 12:05:54.
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08/10/2013 12:10:31 PM · #2 |
Asus makes some good/good looking products for pretty cheap.
//www.bestbuy.com/site/Asus/Asus-External-DVD-Drives/pcmcat227500050050.c?id=pcmcat227500050050
avg cost 30-40 ish bucks.
hope this helps
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08/10/2013 12:15:31 PM · #3 |
I have an older external DVD writer from LaCie, but it is only FireWire400 -- you'll need to get a drive which can connect to a newer Mac.
Also, mine has LightScribe capabiblity, which burns a "label" onto the "other side" of special media -- very slow, but looks beautiful (at least compared to writing with a Sharpie); useful if someone is in "the arts" and needs good-looking demo discs ... |
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08/10/2013 01:00:45 PM · #4 |
Just curious, does she even need a DVD drive. I got a new iMac earlier in the year and bought the SuperDrive, but I've only used it once.
Everything seems to be downloadable via the internet. |
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08/10/2013 01:03:38 PM · #5 |
Originally posted by Leo:
Just curious, does she even need a DVD drive. I got a new iMac earlier in the year and bought the SuperDrive, but I've only used it once.
Everything seems to be downloadable via the internet. |
I think the idea is to record backups or projects, not look at movies ... |
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08/10/2013 01:11:30 PM · #6 |
Originally posted by GeneralE:
Originally posted by Leo:
Just curious, does she even need a DVD drive. I got a new iMac earlier in the year and bought the SuperDrive, but I've only used it once.
Everything seems to be downloadable via the internet. |
I think the idea is to record backups or projects, not look at movies ... |
Then perhaps backup to a USB thumb drive? or up there in the Cloud?
Eta: My train of thought, I had bought tax software (CD) to do my taxes this year, but my 8yr old laptop wouldn't work (32bit vs 64bit blah blah blah). So upgraded computer and got the SuperDrive for the already bought software.
When I need to back up, it's to an external HD or USB flash drive... That's all.
Message edited by author 2013-08-10 13:16:34. |
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08/10/2013 01:22:40 PM · #7 |
| She bought office from the college and it came on DVD. |
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08/10/2013 01:23:16 PM · #8 |
Originally posted by Leo:
Originally posted by GeneralE:
Originally posted by Leo:
Just curious, does she even need a DVD drive. I got a new iMac earlier in the year and bought the SuperDrive, but I've only used it once.
Everything seems to be downloadable via the internet. |
I think the idea is to record backups or projects, not look at movies ... |
Then perhaps backup to a USB thumb drive? or up there in the Cloud? |
Flash memory is still relatively expensive, and has an unknown (unpowered) storage life, while online backup (and restoring) is still pretty slow (may be faster through a University system), and can get expensive (and tedious) if you want to back up more than a few GB.
All forms of storage have their pros and cons ... one of the most "efficient" is to simply get an external hard drive and back up the whole computer every so often, then store the hard drive elsewhere. The DVD has an advantage in having several uses -- the "V" in DVD stands for "versatile" ... |
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08/10/2013 01:40:05 PM · #9 |
Originally posted by GeneralE:
Originally posted by Leo:
Originally posted by GeneralE:
Originally posted by Leo:
Just curious, does she even need a DVD drive. I got a new iMac earlier in the year and bought the SuperDrive, but I've only used it once.
Everything seems to be downloadable via the internet. |
I think the idea is to record backups or projects, not look at movies ... |
Then perhaps backup to a USB thumb drive? or up there in the Cloud? |
Flash memory is still relatively expensive, and has an unknown (unpowered) storage life, while online backup (and restoring) is still pretty slow (may be faster through a University system), and can get expensive (and tedious) if you want to back up more than a few GB.
All forms of storage have their pros and cons ... one of the most "efficient" is to simply get an external hard drive and back up the whole computer every so often, then store the hard drive elsewhere. The DVD has an advantage in having several uses -- the "V" in DVD stands for "versatile" ... |
It's all good :) |
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08/10/2013 01:44:02 PM · #10 |
Originally posted by vawendy:
She bought office from the college and it came on DVD. |
I just went ahead and got the SuperDrive when I upgraded computers, so no advice on other options. Sorry :( |
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08/10/2013 02:36:45 PM · #11 |
I just got a MacBook Air and got an Apple DVD drive to go with it. Frankly, it's kind of a waste, and I use it mostly to watch my DVD's of old TV shows. It set me back around $79.00 at Best Buy. For back-ups I have a 500 gig WD external hard drive that was on sale at Best Buy (around $60.00 I think).
My son, who is a lot more tech savvy than I am, thinks I'm hopelessly old-fashioned. He doesn't bother with a DVD drive -- everything is in the cloud or on a thumb drive or on his law firm's site. I'd check with the university. Usually they have pretty up-to-date and adequate solutions for their students. If she just has to install a program, she can probably visit the computer lab and use their equipment. |
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