[goMac]

Originally Posted by analogue SPRINKLES 

Right just like how Warner will not go Blu because of the authoring costs or all the other insider info which was all proved wrong a few days ago.

I'm a Warner insider now too? Gee thanks.

I made my best guess on Warner. I deal with Apple, not Warner.

[starman]

Originally Posted by goMac 

Yep. I was sitting in on a meeting with Apple's mobile product managers. Generally Apple plots their roadmaps out a few years. People don't think that Apple shares their long term plans, but they actually do to larger customers.

We were basically talking to them while they were still on the design phase.

I'm well aware of how Apple does things. I have meetings with them once a month. However, you're wrong. Different departments do things differently.

[goMac]

Originally Posted by starman 

I'm well aware of how Apple does things. I have meetings with them once a month. However, you're wrong. Different departments do things differently.

Well, we don't interact with the Pro departments, but I specifically excluded them... so...

[Shaddim]

Originally Posted by goMac 

You never know when you might run into someone with insider knowledge of company product plans.

Very true.

With the exception of certain ultra-portable designs, Apple isn't dumping optical drives any time in the near future.

[analogue SPRINKLES]

YouTube - CES 2008: Toshiba's response to Warner ditching HD-DVD

"consumers expect their player to perform the way it was advertised".

Audio delays aside on both sides what isn't performing the way it is advertised on the BR side?

[Oversoul]

Wow, the Samsung BP-U5500 is a really sleek looking player. I might look into this if Paramount and Universal don't relent by May.

[Face Ache]

Originally Posted by goMac 

Yep. I was sitting in on a meeting with Apple's mobile product managers. Generally Apple plots their roadmaps out a few years. People don't think that Apple shares their long term plans, but they actually do to larger customers.

We were basically talking to them while they were still on the design phase.

Are you talking about the rumoured compact notebook? That's hardly all "consumer machines". They'd need external optical drives anyway - I'm guessing Blu-ray drives.

Actually, a stand-alone external Apple BD drive might play well with the Apple TV "roadmap" too.

Next stop - APPLEVISION!

[goMac]

Originally Posted by Shaddim 

With the exception of certain ultra-portable designs, Apple isn't dumping optical drives any time in the near future.

Macbooks will be first obviously, and Apple has already sold some iMacs without optical drives. It won't be too much longer before all iMac modals drop the optical drive. Obviously laptops are a priority because they need to be thinner.

I think it's likely we may see a Mini with no optical drive as well.

[- - e r i k - -]

Originally Posted by goMac 

Macbooks will be first obviously, and Apple has already sold some iMacs without optical drives. It won't be too much longer before all iMac modals drop the optical drive.

While it is obvious that at some point in the future we'll drop optical drives... what the **** are you smoking? Which iMacs have been sold without optical drives?

Optical discs will be with us for the better part of the next decade or so (unfortunately).

[jokell82]

Man, too many posts today...

Originally Posted by analogue SPRINKLES 

HD DVD group cancels CES press conference in wake of Warner announcement: daaamn - Engadget HD

Yes, but TOSHIBA never canceled their press conference. They are two different things.

[goMac]

Originally Posted by - - e r i k - - 

While it is obvious that at some point in the future we'll drop optical drives... what the **** are you smoking? Which iMacs have been sold without optical drives?

Apple has already produced iMacs without optical drives.

iMac G5 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In addition to the cost and space issues, the two parts that AppleCare has to replace most often in a computer are the optical drive and the hard drive. Replacing/removing both these parts improves the reliability of Macs, and causes less issues for AppleCare.

In addition (making this conversation relevant to my day job), larger organizations hate optical drives because we hardly ever use them, but someone always jams something stupid in the drive and breaks them.

Originally Posted by - - e r i k - - 

Optical discs will be with us for the better part of the next decade or so (unfortunately).

The only thing I'm not really aware of is how Apple will do Mac OS X installs without an optical drive. There are a few options, like a thumb drive, internet install... Aside from that, I don't think that optical drives are necessary for your average consumer. Some software companies will have to adapt their distribution strategies (god forbid), but aside from that...

People said the same thing about floppy drives when those went away, and it didn't end up being a huge issue.

[analogue SPRINKLES]

Oh lord this is getting painful. Now that HD-DVD is gone all disks should be.

Here is news for ya... disks are going going away to downloads for at least 5 years. That is a lot of years to make lots of money on disks.

[Face Ache]

I'm not listening to tech advice or prophesy from anyone who bought a HD-DVD drive.

[Helmling]

Originally Posted by PaperNotes 

Except I wish those HD-DVD maniacal fanboys would shut up about Sony. Blu-ray was mostly Panasonic's technology and the forum was a lot bigger than Sony. When you get into the details of all the arguments against Blu-ray you will notice that it was from little minded people who had bought a Nintendo or an X-Box 360. Their attacks were not exactly against Blu-ray but a conceited attack on the PS3 using the disc format as a cover. A console made them feel insecure about themselves. Rather sad.

Ok, this is unrelated, but does the PS3 upscale DVD's?

[- - e r i k - -]

You are seriously arguing that because Apple released a limited education only model of an iMac G5 three years ago that is in any way indicative of optical drives imminent death?

Yes, floppy disks went away because they were replaced with optical disks. It's an evolution of a technology. You and I may be blinded by the speed of our 20Mb+ connections, but until broadband is ubiquitous ALL OVER THE WORLD, some form of portable media will always be with us.

I could see optical disks being replaced with disposable flash drives once that becomes economically viable however.

[analogue SPRINKLES]

Originally Posted by Helmling 

Ok, this is unrelated, but does the PS3 upscale DVD's?

Yes and extremely well.

[exca1ibur]

Originally Posted by Helmling 

Ok, this is unrelated, but does the PS3 upscale DVD's?

Yes