Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

xorandor · Aug 10, 2006, 09:23 PM

Hi everyone,

I've realised that since I rarely need to use the CD/DVD drive with my MBP, I could perhaps remove it from the MBP to save some weight and maybe even a miniscule amount of power.

Has anyone tried to do a similar thing before with an MBP or with a Powerbook? Will it even boot without an optical drive installed?

imitchellg5 · Aug 10, 2006, 09:30 PM

The PowerBooks will, at least the TiBook variety. The TiBooks will boot with only a logic board, power connection, and power button.

dukedailey · Aug 10, 2006, 09:32 PM

Originally Posted by xorandor

Hi everyone,

I've realised that since I rarely need to use the CD/DVD drive with my MBP, I could perhaps remove it from the MBP to save some weight and maybe even a miniscule amount of power.

Has anyone tried to do a similar thing before with an MBP or with a Powerbook? Will it even boot without an optical drive installed?

you wont save any battery, as the superdrive draws a very, very, very miniscule amout of power went not in use

also, aren't the new superdrives incredibly light?

i would recommend leaving it there, taking out might void your warranty, and in a macbook pro, i highly discourage that!!

slpdLoad · Aug 10, 2006, 09:39 PM

And for those rare times when you do need to use the optical drive, you'd have to take apart your computer and reinstall it.

dukedailey · Aug 10, 2006, 09:42 PM

Originally Posted by slpdLoad

And for those rare times when you do need to use the optical drive, you'd have to take apart your computer and reinstall it.

How did I miss that point.....my brain is failing me

imitchellg5 · Aug 10, 2006, 09:50 PM

dukedailey, don't worry about it, it happens to the best of us

. I too would just leave it in, the MacBook Pro is a laptop, not a Lotus Elise, so weight shouldn't be a issue.

stevesnj · Aug 10, 2006, 09:52 PM

those drives do not weigh that much...I think this is the most ridiculous thing I ever heard of.

xorandor · Aug 10, 2006, 09:55 PM

Originally Posted by slpdLoad

And for those rare times when you do need to use the optical drive, you'd have to take apart your computer and reinstall it.

Actually, i'm planning on getting an external DVD drive soon because the DVD region lock on the MBP optical drive can't be defeated.

This was what originally sparked off the idea BTW, because I can't play half of the DVDs I legally own now anyway on the MBP. So since i'm not going to be using the DVD drive on the MBP (to even watch DVDs), why leave it in there, thought I.

dukedailey · Aug 10, 2006, 10:04 PM

Originally Posted by imitchellg5

the MacBook Pro is a laptop, not a Lotus Elise, so weight shouldn't be a issue.

that is quite possibly the funniest thing i have heard all week

thanks imitchellg5 for the good laugh

xorandor · Aug 10, 2006, 10:13 PM

Originally Posted by imitchellg5

dukedailey, don't worry about it, it happens to the best of us

. I too would just leave it in, the MacBook Pro is a laptop, not a Lotus Elise, so weight shouldn't be a issue.

Hmm, does anyone actually know how much the drive weighs? Yeah, the MBP is not a car, but to say that weight isn't an issue is not true at all. I carry the MBP around as part of my work at least 1.5 hours each day, so if the weight savings is significant enough, it might be worth it in my case.

To illustrate the point that weight on a laptop is an issue, imagine if Apple sold you a 5kg laptop; would you be hauling that thing around regardless of its size? Of course i'm not saying that the superdrive is going to weigh 1kg, i'm just illustrating a point that weight definitely does matter in a laptop.

dukedailey · Aug 10, 2006, 10:15 PM

Originally Posted by xorandor

Hmm, does anyone actually know how much the drive weighs? Yeah, the MBP is not a car, but to say that weight isn't an issue is not true at all. I carry the MBP around as part of my work at least 1.5 hours each day, so if the weight savings is significant enough, it might be worth it in my case.

To illustrate the point that weight on a laptop is an issue, imagine if Apple sold you a 5kg laptop; would you be hauling that thing around regardless of its size? Of course i'm not saying that the superdrive is going to weigh 1kg, i'm just illustrating a point that weight definitely does matter in a laptop.

if it was a PowerBook G5 i certainly would!!!!!!

xorandor · Aug 10, 2006, 10:16 PM

Originally Posted by dukedailey

if it was a PowerBook G5 i certainly would!!!!!!

Hehehe, I used to look forward to that too, but now that I have a Core Duo based notebook, a G5 suddenly seems ancient.

xorandor · Aug 10, 2006, 10:17 PM

According to this site: http://www.mcetech.com/pbg4dvdr8dl.html , the drive they sell is 180g, so I reckon the drive inside the MBP should be around that weight too. Hmm, since it weighs only 180g, i'm calling the whole idea off. The weight savings aren't significant enough.

Thanks for the replies everyone.

dukedailey · Aug 10, 2006, 10:18 PM

Originally Posted by xorandor

Hehehe, I used to look forward to that too, but now that I have a Core Duo based notebook, a G5 suddenly seems ancient.

yeah, i do love my macbook pro, but i still think a dual core G5 in a laptop would be sweeeeeet!

but it would most certainly scorch your leg hair right off!

dukedailey · Aug 10, 2006, 10:19 PM

Originally Posted by xorandor

According to this site: http://www.mcetech.com/pbg4dvdr8dl.html , the drive they sell is 180g, so I reckon the drive inside the MBP should be around that weight too. Hmm, since it weighs only 180g, i'm calling the whole idea off. The weight savings aren't significant enough.

Thanks for the replies everyone.

that site references the larger, heavier PowerBook G4 superdrive

i would bet the MBP's superdrive is about 30 to 40g lighter

so yeah, taking it out seems futile