I was following a discussion over at MacNN where they were discussing the future of the humble CD and DVD drive. Before all PC users glaze over and scrabble for the Next button, it seemed as if some fanatics were actually breaking out of the closed Apple world for just one moment, and were talking in general terms.

CD, DVD or USB pen drive

Basically, the question was, do any of us need a CD or DVD burner, in view of the increasingly popular USB "pen" drive? And before you think, pen size, tiny, they are morphing into boxes now approaching the size of a small filing cabinet.

As usual, the Mac faithful, the first to dump floppies, were so far ahead of the rest of the human race, it was almost funny. Not that many were in favor of dumping CDs and DVDs, after all, most important software comes on discs these days. And when we burn music, a CD or DVD is usually the best way to give someone a present of pirated tunes. So, basically, the concensus on the forum was, optical media, dude, is here to stay.

The funny bit, to me, though, was what they think we, the plebs, do with CDs and DVDs.

What do we do with CDs and DVd?

What is really laughable is the assumption that everyone burns CDs and DVDs for the same reasons computer power users do. Firstly, the enthusiastic power users think that discs are part of our daily, best computer practice ritual. You know, to back up, to back up and to back up your important data. And then to exchange and preserve multimedia, and finally, to install software. Hmmmm.

Back up your hard drive

Maccers are of course a wee bit out of touch there, as hardly anyone makes a copy of hard drives these days, especially onto a set of 50 poxy discs. And no, guys, hardly anyone has a 30GB/disc blu ray DVD burner yet.

Most folks live in hope that a hard drive crash and burn won''t happen to them. Most glaze over at creating disk images of hard drives. Like, er what? Admittedly, a few people have external hard drives, and a few of those even have the latest version of their computer's hard drive on it. But in general, the majority of computer users aren't using CDs for constructive life-saving purposes.

So, on the point of discs still being essential for back-up, I would disagree with the concensus on that forum. I would dump my CD drive in a heart beat for a laptop with an extra big hard drive. Now you are talking.

Who needs music CDs/ DVDs these days?

CDs are for music, right! and DVDs are for videos - that you downloaded, usually free, off the internet. Not exactly critical stuff, but even if you are attached to your pirated media, or honestly acquired entertainment, there are so many options now that make a piece of scratchable disc obsolete.

First, I heard the latest Linken Park crap from a kid who stuck a USB pen drive in my laptop. It didn't drain my laptop battery on contact, didn't scratch or wear out any moving parts. I would take that pen drive over a CD any day, and so would the lad - it didn't stretch his designer pockets into the shape of a square, and it was easy to carry around as extra bling.

Second, I would accept a music track over the internet in a New York rap minute.

Third, I would copy any music or software over to a big ole external USB, or firewire hard drive in a second too. Back-up or play with a CD/DVD drive, no thanks.

CD drives are vital for installing software from discs

Really? I can't remember the last time I installed software off a disc. Updates and extra software come off of Versiontracker in my world. And there is no reason why Apple or MS shouldn't provide the full original Operating System over the internet. Lose the CDs, lose the packaging. It's all good and sooo 21st century green.

You are just saying CD drives are useless

Wrong, I am living the fact! And to make a point of how unnecessary a CD drive is, I have a nifty Mac laptop, but I haven't burned a CD in months. Not since the battery started dying and any sniff of a CD killed the juice in seconds. And I haven't neglected to back up my stuff, not since I put all my music and photos and really vital files on an external drive for safe keeping.

My god, who wants to sift through CDs for back-up stuff, when you just plug in a mega fast USB hard drive/pen drive and everything appears on your screen to drag and drop into place.

And when I give people music, it is over the internet. And when I send work files, it is over the internet. It may be slow to upload 700MB, but it's a darned sight faster than Fed Ex and at 3am when you are asleep, who cares how long it takes your computer to upload anything.

And if I wanted to, I could back up my whole hard drive onto a remote server that is 20 times more secure than a hard drive on my desk, and far more aesthetically pleasing than a stack of CDs floating around in a cupboard.

CD, DVD burner or USB pen drive?

In answer to some of those Maccers who say CDs are indispensable because we need to have our data in a handy format and usable when out and about - and be able to share music with friends or colleagues, to them, I say bolleaux!! There are several workable alternatives to a disc that scratches.

Death to the CD or DVD burner in my laptop, let me have a bigger battery or hard drive, or both - with one of these Deal of the Day USB thumb drives thrown in!

Wot, you think I am too far ahead of the game, just because you haven't got a 100MB/sec internet connection? hehe!!

We've linked to several web search engines offering random payments & prizes! Click the icon & search our keyphrase funny stuff or web search. It is a win-win, perhaps!