Originally Posted by
mikew99
The reason I insist that my subnotebook have an optical drive is that I once used a subnotebook without an optical drive and know from experience how irrititating it was to deal with that omission. I won't make that mistake again and I don't recommend that anyone purchase an MBA unless they know for sure that they can live with the limitations & workarounds.
What are you doing with your drive all the time? Are you constantly installing software, listening to CDs or watching movies?
Why do a lot of people cling to legacy ideas?
Now, almost everything can be done over the network. Software installs are downloaded rather than mailed on CD or DVD. Files are shared with colleagues over email or posted on a portal / website. Movies can be downloaded to your hard drive, which also saves battery power compared to watching on a disc. The music CD is in decline.
A few years ago (way back in 2003), sub-notebooks without optical drives, like the Sony X505, were probably ahead of the times. The use of the internet was not as prevalent as it is now.