An optical drive is a data storage system that uses a laser to read from (and write to) removable optical media discs.
Usage by Apple[]
Apple has used the following optical storage types in its product lines:
- CD-ROM drives were introduced as a built-in option with the Macintosh IIvx in October 1992.[1]
- DVD-ROM drives were introduced as a built-in option in the "Beige" Power Macintosh G3 in November 1997.[2] Apple marketed DVD-ROM drives that could "burn" recordable CD-R media as "combo drives". DVD-ROM drives that could also record DVD-R media were marketed under Apple's "SuperDrive" brand.[3]
Apple has never offered an internal Blu-Ray option in any of its Macintosh models, though 3rd-party solutions existed for the 1st-generation Mac Pro. Apple has migrated away from mechanical storage media with moving parts in favor of solid-state drives.[4]
References[]
- ↑ Apple Macintosh IIvx specs, EveryMac. Accessed 2020-03-22.
- ↑ DVD drive for Beige Power Mac G3 tower by Chris of AZ, Apple Communities. 2018-06-24.
- ↑ Think Retro: RIP Rip, Mix, Burn by Christopher Phin, Macworld. 2015-06-10.
- ↑ Apple bans Blu-ray from Macs: Discs are 'holding us back' by Richard Trenholm, CNET. 2012-10-29.
