[Such87]

I'm planning on getting the next pb revision, and am debating 15" vs. 17". I really have no use for a SuperDrive.

Anyone know why the 17" has no ComboDrive option?

[Randman]

Because it's the top-of-the-line PowerBook.

[MrForgetable]

Originally posted by Randman:
Because it's the top-of-the-line PowerBook.

the top of the line PowerMac G5 can BTO a combo drive.

[Hi I'm Ben]

Well he said your answer. Sorry your top of the line G5 can come with a combo drive and the powerbook can't. But that's just the way life goes sometimes.

How come I can't buy a iBook with a superdrive? They can handle superdrives, and 12 inch powerbooks have them.

How come I can't order a MacMini with a 7200 RPM drive, they make 7200 RPM drives. Basically...

If you want a 17inch you're getting a superdrive anyway because it's part of the package. Notebooks aren't as easy to piece together as a desktop.

[Such87]

If you want a 17inch you're getting a superdrive anyway because it's part of the package. Notebooks aren't as easy to piece together as a desktop. [/B]

So Apple won't offer a 17" Combo because it takes too much work to put the drive in? Doesn't sound right to me.

[Randman]

No, it's because very, very few people are going to consider buying a 17-inch PowerBook and not want SuperDrive.

[Such87]

Originally posted by Randman:
No, it's because very, very few people are going to consider buying a 17-inch PowerBook and not want SuperDrive.

In which case very few people would choose the option. How is that a problem? They're custom orders.

[Randman]

Well, have you actually tried contacting Apple and seeing if that option is available?

[wuzup101]

I really don't see why they wouldn't offer a combo in the 17". It's not any harder for them to put a combo drive in than it is to put a super drive in. Both will fit as they are the same exact size IIRC. I'd recomend giving apple a call, they may be able to do what you're asking. Tell them you want a 17" but won't consider buying it (or an apple product) unless they give you the combo drive

[Such87]

Originally posted by Randman:
Well, have you actually tried contacting Apple and seeing if that option is available?

Yeh, it's not. Oh well.

[GSixZero]

Originally posted by Hi I'm Ben:
<Snip>
How come I can't buy a iBook with a superdrive? They can handle superdrives, and 12 inch powerbooks have them.
<Snip>

I totally agree with you, but just wanted to point out that you can get iBooks with superdrives.

[PowerTower Fan]

If you really don't want a superdrive, why don't you just select the 15" with superdrive and downgrade it to a combo? Except for the screen size and resolution, you'd have everything else the same plus save money. You'd also have a much more portable laptop as well.

[romeosc]

Just pretend you got a combo drive at the same price as the superdrive. It just has extra otions. Someday you may want to resell and a "non standard" will not bring as much on resell.

[SEkker]

There really is not any major manufacturing cost difference now between them. In a couple years, combo drives will be history.

[Simon]

I don't get it.

Not everybody needs to burn a DVD. Many hardly ever burn CDs. After all 1GB memory sticks are getting very affordable and they're much easier to handle.

However, Combos are faster than the SuperDrives and even cheaper. So, if I don't need to burn DVDs, why should I get a more expensive and slower drive? Absolutely no reason.

Apple BTOs Combos on the 15" - there is no reason not to on the 17". Unless of course they think people who are foolish enough to pay the price of the 17" are foolish enough to also pay for a more expensive yet slower optical drive.

Maybe there will be the day indeed where everybody uses just SuperDrives, but until SDs match the Combo's speeds, that's completely out of the question.

[TailsToo]

I think that they figure the with low cost of SuperDrives nowadays, there isn't a reason to offer a combo drive that costs Apple just about as much.

It wouldnt' surprise me to see SuperDrives standard on all PowerBooks in another couple of revisions.

[mawsdz]

When I ordered my 15" tiPB I said the exact same thing "I don't really need a superdrive". I had the money, but figured I wouldn't use it that much. I kick myself all the time for not getting it. I guess it's better to plan a little for the future then live in the present all the time. Anyway, if I could go back and do it again I would have gotten the superD in there. Could have used it a lot more then I thought + Grandparents like those baby picture DVD's.

[Commodus]

Look at it this way: who's the primary target for the 17" PowerBook (and indeed, the most likely buyer)? It's almost always going to be a creative pro, like a photographer or video editor. They'll want to dump the day's shots or film clips to a backup disc; in some cases, they may actually be producing the final content on the laptop rather than waiting to get back to an office.

Also, consider the price: even if Apple maintained its existing optical drive downgrade price (it won't), you'd still be paying $2599 for the system. That's a bit much just for the privilege of a 17" screen - you might as well get the whole kit while you're at it.

[Drakino]

I have to admit that Apple does use screen size in the Powerbook line to define features.

But in any case, if you do go the 17 inch route, go pick up some DVD-RW disks. While I have burned only a few DVD-R disks on my super drive, I have rewritten a ton of stuff to DVD-RW. It makes a nice and easy 4.7GB backup drive (People do backup their data...right?)

[Simon]

Originally posted by Drakino:
While I have burned only a few DVD-R disks on my super drive, I have rewritten a ton of stuff to DVD-RW. It makes a nice and easy 4.7GB backup drive (People do backup their data...right?)

Yeah, I backup, but on a external FW disk. Easier, faster, better.