<p>We are purchasing a new Macbook for one of my kids, who will be taking it overseas. Use will primarily be as a word processor, with secondary uses for giving presentations (powerpoint) and the recreational skyping and movie/tv watching.</p>
<p>We just realized that the new MacBooks - the ones with retina display - lack an internal CD/DVD drive. I understand why this is - CDs are becoming obsolete, and without it the laptop is about a pound lighter. I am wondering, though, for those of you who have this newer version, do you miss the internal CD drive? Do you have an external CD drive? Is is a pain to use? </p>
<p>Also, is there anything else about the new retina-display MacBooks? So far it seems like a choice between the inconvenience of the external CD drive (new Macbook) vs. a heavier laptop with the non-retina display (old MacBook).</p>
<p>I have an “old” Macbook with a CD drive, but both my Ds have newer MacBook Airs without the internal CD/DVD drives. Both have had their laptops for 12-19 months. Neither has ever complained about the lack of a CD drive. They download or stream everything they need and use cloud storage for backups/data storage. </p>
<p>If it matters, I don’t think I’ve ever even used the CD drive on my current laptop (>2 years old.) </p>
<p>I do own an external CD drive which I bought for use with my previous Macbook laptop whose CD drive had stopped working. The external drive was simple to use–plug & play. No need to plug into an outlet for power (runs off power thru the USB port) and no need to install any application software before you can use it. (Like with a printer.) </p>
<p>FWIW, I’ve offered the external CD drive to my kiddos, but they have declined because they haven’t needed it.</p>
<p>I’ve had my retina Macbook pro without a CD drive for 18 months. I’ve needed a CD drive twice. Once for a photo CD that someone gave me – and I was able to use my husband’s computer. The other was to reload software that was already on the machine. I brought the laptop and discs to an Apple store and they let me use an external drive to upload the software. (I’m sure the software company would prefer I update this 4-year-old program, but I don’t feel the need yet.)</p>
<p>Many schools provide software at significant discounts for students. You can check with the school to confirm that the software doesn’t come on CDs. </p>
<p>I use a Windows machine that has a CD drive, but I have not touched a CD ever since studying for an exam 2 years ago. I think you will be fine without it.</p>
<p>Do you mean MacBook Pro? I’ve heard no complain so far, I didn’t buy any external hard dive. The kid is oversea right now with her laptop so I guess it’s not a problem.</p>
<p>Hi - I support faculty at a college. Many have either MacBook Pro retina displays or the MacBook Air and hardly anyone misses the built-in super drive (the CD/DVD drive). As mentioned above, you can purchase a USB superdrive for around $80 if it’s something that’s really needed. MacBooks are no longer being made. Note that ethernet is no longer built-in to these models either which is something that many I support do still want since ethernet is faster still vs. our secure wireless. You can purchase a thunderbolt to ethernet adapter for around $30 if that’s needed.</p>
<p>I use optical drives on my notebooks on occasion to burn CD/DVD media as needed for work or for friends’ music/multimedia projects in a pinch at their request. </p>
<p>^ BTMell has answered your question in his/her last statement:</p>
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<p>I purchased this adapter at the same time when we purchased our Macbook Pro. But we do not use it whenever we want to sit on the sofa instead of sitting in front of desk. It is nice to have when you want your connection to be faster (when installing any new software which always requires updates after installation, e.g., Microsoft’s software.) or more secure.</p>
<p>I hate to use that adapter because the adapter is occasionally not physically connected well to the Macbook Pro.</p>
<p>If you wanted to combine a MacBook retina with intensive photoediting capabilities, what specifications would you recommend? I thought a MacBook retina for on the road use, plus an additional 27" monitor for home use would work.</p>
<p>Thanks for all of the input. I didn’t realize the new version doesn’t support an ethernet cable either. While the retina display is nice, it is really the one-pound weight difference that is desirable, given that this laptop will be carried around a lot. But having to tote around additional equipment sort of defeats that advantage. </p>
<h1>13, The adapter works well. It just does not have the “lock” (i.e., the button-like thing at the end of Ethernet cable you need to push in before connecting to an Ethernet port on PC or Mac) which you have on an Ethernet cable so you need to be careful about not pulling out the adapter from the computer’s Thunderbolt port accidentally.</h1>
<p>I think I got a USB-to-Thunderbolt adapter as well just because the hard disk with the traditional USB connection was much cheaper at that time.</p>
<p>What happens to the Firewire port on a Mac these days? Are these ports gone also? (We used to have an Apogee Duet which has this kind of Firewire port.)</p>
Correction: I think I did not buy a USB-to-Thunderbolt adapter. I just noticed there are 2 USB ports on my Macbook Pro. There is really no need for me to buy a USB-to-Thinderbolt adapter.</p>
<p>I do notice I have a faster USB cable (is it called USB 3? It has the kind of ugly looking connector on one end) connected to a G-Technology hard drive, which is used for a simple backup by Time Machine. (We often do not connect the hard disk to the notebook so we do the backup infrequently. It seems I could not get DS to back up his Macbook Pro regularly/properly also even though I always bought him a portable backup disk. I guess both of us are just equally lazy on this.)</p>
<p>For photo-editing, if you need a big screen … but I see more and more work done on smaller screens because the resolution is so good. This includes real video editing, where portability for work anywhere has displaced screen size. And that is influenced by the web, because so many photos and videos are essentially made for the web so they need to checked on a smaller screen no matter what. </p>
<p>Does it still matter whether the screen is Glossy or Matte on a Macbook Pro?</p>
<p>DS got his notebook before the Retina screen was available. I think it has a 15" screen. He chose matte screen. The screen seems to be “darker”. We are thinking whether he would need an upgrade.</p>