[w1ntermute]

I think they will call it an MBP and completely phase out built-in optical drives on Macs. After all, Apple was the first major OEM to phase out floppy drives (when floppies were still very common). Now that the Mac App Store has been launched, the timing is perfect.

However, it would be really nice if the new Thunderbolt displays had built-in Blu-ray/DVD/CD-RW drives. That would make it possible to use an optical drive at home (where I, in any case, would most likely need one) without having yet another peripheral to clutter things up. Since the purpose of Thunderbolt is to create One Connector to Rule Them All, we shouldn't have to connect a separate optical drive when the new Cinema Display is essentially a docking station and monitor in one.

[schrototo]

Aside from the fact that no Apple product will ever have a Blu-ray drive (Jobs: "a bag of hurt"), it wouldn't make sense to phase out optical media on their computers but give the displays built-in drives. The future is digital distribution and I'm certain Apple is 100% committed to that.

(If you need to use "legacy" media for the time being, Apple will be happy to sell you an add-on drive.)

[freakwit]

some more context from http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/14/steve-jobs-calls-blu-ray-...

"Blu-ray is just a bag of hurt. It's great to watch the movies, but the licensing of the tech is so complex, we're waiting till things settle down and Blu-ray takes off in the marketplace."

I wouldn't take that as apple never supporting blu-ray. Although given the quote is three years old, I wouldn't say it's likely either.

[saturdaysaint]

I have a very hard time believing that licensing blu-ray would be anywhere near as complex as the content and patent negotiations that Apple is involved with on a daily basis.

[gamble]

I suspect that the real sticking points are the DRM certification process the movie studios demand to ensure that Bluray-compatible PCs can't rip the video stream, and the need to develop a new, considerably more complex version of DVD Player capable of playing BD 2.0.

[w1ntermute]

Well, without a Blu-ray drive (or a TV to watch movies with a regular Blu-ray player) and a deep-seated loathing of streaming, that leaves me up shit creek with piracy as the only option when it comes to watching HD movies. Maybe I'll just stick to DVDs.

[r00fus]

Perhaps you should consider a non-Apple product? Blue-ray appliances and PCs are not exactly hard to find or expensive.

[joshuacc]

There are also HD rentals/purchases available in the iTunes store. I've been using that quite a bit when working out.

[ConstantineXVI]

Oddly enough, the deciding factor on my previous laptop from two years ago (Dell Studio 14z) was that it didn't have an optical drive where the other two I was considering (13" MacBook, ThinkPad T-something?) did.

[omh]

If you've got a Thunderbolt display as a docking station then you could just connect a DVD drive to one of its USB ports - even the "Macbook Air" SuperDrive addon, if you want to keep everything Apple-styled.

[bergie]

Except the MBA SuperDrive only works with an MBA.

[robin_reala]

Or a drive-less Mac Mini. But your point still stands.

[wmeredith]

It will also work with a Mac Mini. The trend here is it will work with any Apple computer that does not have an optical drive. Assuming the new MBP's are sans optical drive, it will probably work with them, too.

[jws]

That is a power issue. I'd be surprised if Apple doesn't include the over powered USB ports in the display since they use that for charging iPads and iPhones as well.

[protomyth]

As I said in the other thread, I like that it doesn't because there are actually better options than Apple is willing to sell. I like the OWC Mercury Pro (blu-ray, dvd, cd). It is a nicer option and can sit on the edge of the desk. On the new display, hooking it up to to the firewire 800 is a good option.

http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/firewire/optical-drives/