HN Explorer

Ask HN: First laptop you had without optical drive?

5 points by Philomath ↗ HN
I was surprised to search on google and not being able to easily find the first laptop ever to not have an optical drive built in after CD'S were invented and all computers used them. I'm curious to see who can name the oldest model here in HN to omit it.

17 comments

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Philomath
Mine was very recent... A 2016 macbook pro. I hope I can find someone who had something from like 2005 or something like that.
hacalox
Hp 13 chromebook white. 2015
jepler
IBM full-size Thinkpads could be configured with a second battery or a second 2.5" hard drive in the spot we think of as where the optical drive goes -- user-interchangeable, even.

There have been superportables all along without built-in optical drives, such as the ThinkPad 560 (1996).

tonylemesmer
Sony 505 back in 2000. It was shipped with a PCMCIA external drive but nothing built in. I still have the laptop on my shelf.
Philomath
wow! Nice laptop. How expensive was this back then?
tonylemesmer
I was still a student, but I'd just got my first job. Managed to part with £1,200!! Most expensive PC I've ever bought even to this day.
partisan
The 505 was a beautiful laptop and the form factor would probably still be pleasing today.

I ended up buying a Picturebook since I had a long bus commute. It was underpowered with the TransMeta Crusoe processor, but it fit in my coat pocket and served as an MP3 player. :)

__d
Toshiba Libretto from 1997.

It had a PCMCIA floppy drive, and I think 1 had similar CD-ROM drive.

I ran Linux on it for a few years, prior to getting a 12" PowerBook.

jetti
Mine that was for me, 2017 iMac. For my wife, 2017 Macbook Pro. I had a previous 2012 Macbook Pro but that was the last generation with a CD/DVD drive.
twobyfour
Retina Macbook Pro, 2013. Still kept around an older MBP for a couple years for the rare occasions that I needed to read a CD or DVD, but I used that rarely, and the increased portability of the newer one was life-changing.
jotjotzzz
Macbook Air for sure. And I still use it and sad that they will discontinue it. It's a great laptop.
josephcs
MacBook Air 2013. While it doesn't count, prior to 2013 MBA, I had a 2012 Mac mini that did have a optical drive.
SamReidHughes
An EeePC 901. I regret not keeping it.
anotheryou
They don't last forever. Mine has unbearable coil-whine while charging.