Home

Apple MacBook Air SuperDrive

Eject and hub functions need to be improved

Written by MO

May 16, 2008

Two things Superdirve need to be improved. One is to add a CD/DVD ejection button and the other is to make it work with a HUB or IR/Bluetooth.

I am a mouse man. I can not work on a laptop without a mouse. I just got a Mac Air, which has only one USB port. Users will be very happy if Superdrive and Mac Air can be redesigned to work with any external devices through a HUB, or through IR/Bluetooth, etc.

I have dual operation systems (MAC and MS Windows) installed. The ejection button at MAC Air does work sometimes. Therefore, an ejection button at Superdrive is preferred.

110 of 175 people found this useful

Apple MacBook Air SuperDrive

Good but some missing features.

Written by JO from Mesa

May 4, 2008

1 USB port is not enough

133 of 219 people found this useful

Apple MacBook Air SuperDrive

A jewel!!!

Written by RP from SAN ANTONIO

Apr 17, 2008

MacBook Air is the perfect laptop, and the SuperDrive makes it even more. My MacBook Air is not a travel computer anymore, its a perfect desktop machine.

127 of 237 people found this useful

Apple MacBook Air SuperDrive

Doesn't work with any USB Hub!

Written by NG from Los Angeles

Apr 15, 2008

I regret purchasing this drive. Because it does NOT work with any USB hub there is no way to use ethernet and the DVD drive at the same time.

I hope someone comes out with a USB hub that is compatible with this drive.

225 of 323 people found this useful

Apple MacBook Air SuperDrive

Why not bluetooth?

Written by JP from Tacoma

Apr 1, 2008

I think this product is great, i mean, have you ever seen a cd dvd reader/writer that is this small? i haven't.
But the thing is that a lot of people do use a flashdrive a printer and need a cd at the same time. it is impossible to print something directly from a flashdrive without a wireless printer, which isn't always available. You can't multi task either. what of you needed to move your presentation to a flash drive, then print something while reading a file on a cd. That would be horrible if you had to get it done quickly. I think a bluetooth or wi-fi cd drive would be perfect for a computer that's supposed to be wireless. or maybe a wireless usb hub (maybe one about the same size to remind someone of a shuffle?).

122 of 234 people found this useful

Apple MacBook Air SuperDrive

USB port hogging is definitely a drawback

Written by MG from Menlo Park

Mar 24, 2008

Excellent peripheral aside from that. I guess I knew when I bought it, but it's truly an inconvenience. With any luck, Apple will eventually sell a hub with one port that can take the SuperDrive, plus 4 or more normal ports.

In the meanwhile, it's not impossible to install software that requires that another USB device (e.g., printer) be connected at the same time. What I've done is make a copy of the CD-ROM (or DVD-ROM) in question on my disk and run the installation from that while the necessary device is plugged in. Fairly inconvenient, especially since 80GB isn't a huge disk and you might need to keep a couple GB spare for such purposes. Then there's always the approach recommended by Apple: just pop your installation media into some other machine on your wireless net and do the install WiFi. Not nearly as fast, but it works. Good luck to you if you don't have another optical drive somewhere on your LAN.

So yes, there are inconveniences, but so far (knock on wood), none of them have been showstoppers for me. I honestly have to admit I'm starting to think a 2.4GHz MacBook would've been a better choice, but hey, the Air is gorgeous, isn't it?

87 of 144 people found this useful

Apple MacBook Air SuperDrive

It is great!

Written by AZ from Noble Park

Mar 23, 2008

MacBook Air has only one USB slot, so that it is lighter and simpler. If you need more USB ports, then buy some other computer. SuperDrive is perfect for its needs, I love that it is portable, because I don't need it all the time. And for those people that are complaining how you can't use it at the same time as your printer or USB disk, or whatever else, I mean seriously.. Would you actually use all those things at the same time? I don't think so! MacBook Air and its SuperDrive are so awesome, they are worth every cent. Thanks Apple :)

87 of 167 people found this useful

Apple MacBook Air SuperDrive

More of a necessity than accessory

Written by CA from Orlando

Mar 23, 2008

I know the point of the Air is to be completely wireless but the world is still not at that point, so having an optical drive for most people is a must. The superdrive is a good optical drive, nothing special its just a drive. But having it HAVE to use the ONLY usb port on my AIR was a complete oversight. I have an external drive and usb printer that are constantly use, not to mention all my other usb devices (ipod etc) and you'll have to switch between them and the cd drive if you need the optical drive for something. The Air definitely needs atleast one more port and the superdrive should be able to be hooked up to a hub.

61 of 85 people found this useful

Apple MacBook Air SuperDrive

Compact, portable... only for MacBook Air?

Written by JR from New Brighton

Mar 22, 2008

I love the design of this drive. It works well, it's thin, the price is right... it only works for the MacBook Air. Hmm...

Okay, I know millions of Mac and Windows users would would pay out the nose to get a drive like this. The price is around the same as other portable optical drives, and it's very travel-friendly. Maybe some people want to copy discs, or multitask by burning more than one disc at a time.

It would be nice if this drive worked with other computers instead of just the Air. Still, wonderful product.

59 of 78 people found this useful

Apple MacBook Air SuperDrive

Really Disappointed

Written by SL from LAS VEGAS

Mar 21, 2008

I bought a SuperDrive for my Mac Air and it broke the first day. The wire was shorted out. I was trying to install Office and it didn't even make it through the one installation.

39 of 67 people found this useful

Apple MacBook Air SuperDrive

New design

Written by DG from Spring

Mar 21, 2008

It's beautiful and I love it but you could add some features to it like two USB an Firewire ports on each side because people keep complaining it doesn't work with a USB hub. It's either that or make your own hub.

39 of 61 people found this useful

Apple MacBook Air SuperDrive

Amazing

Written by MU from PITTSBURGH

Mar 16, 2008

This SuperDrive is great. Fast, Quite, and Sleek.

The reason it will not work on a USB Hub is that the USB port on the MacBook Air is special. It's designed to pump out a lot more juice then a normal USB port. Anyone complaining that it takes up the only USB port, well, tough luck. The MacBook Air was designed for people working in an almost completely wireless environment. Its state of the art technology and minimalist design is hopefully what more and more computers will start looking like as we make a transition to all wireless connections.

83 of 128 people found this useful

Apple MacBook Air SuperDrive

USB?

Written by RS from stoke on trent

Mar 11, 2008

The person who wrote the review about the person whom made the product is an idiot, obviously has no knowledge. This drive is intended for the macbook air usb, not any other laptop or computer, therefore look else where if you want an external drive. However, if you have a macbook air this is a stunning product, the design in flawless and it beautiful. Its fit for its purpose therefore I will give it 5 stars!

94 of 157 people found this useful

Apple MacBook Air SuperDrive

USB drive doesn't work on a USB hub - useless

Written by AS from Mountain View

Mar 11, 2008

I don't know what they were thinking when they made this thing so that it won't work on a hub. It's completely useless therefore. What if, like me, you work in a wired environment a lot? I can't burn data to the drive or upload data from the drive to any network share, because you can't plug the ethernet adapter and the dvd drive in at the same time, and the dvd drive doesn't work on a hub. You would have to be a complete idiot to come up with that one.

94 of 171 people found this useful

Apple MacBook Air SuperDrive

USB HUB DEVICE

Written by DD

Mar 4, 2008

2300$ cash (CA$) for the new and beautiful MacBook Air + Superdrive, surprisedly my usb hub wont work with it...

PLEASE MR. JOBS ASK YOUR R&D DEPARTEMENT TO DEVELOP A NEW USB HUB DEVICE...
I will pay any retail prices for that new device 40$ 100$ 150$, will be OK...

From a disappointed costumer.

1178 of 1677 people found this useful

Apple MacBook Air SuperDrive

Exactly Right

Written by IM from Carrboro

Mar 4, 2008

I picked up one of these when I got my MacBook Air almost a month ago, and it sat on my desk, unused. The other day, I needed to reinstall my virtual machine, so I dug out my XP CD, and plugged this thing in, and it worked great.

While it would be nice if it would work through a hub, I just ran a USB extension cable out of the MacBook Air, and can unplug my hub from that, and plug this in, so it works out fine.

54 of 75 people found this useful

Apple MacBook Air SuperDrive

5* for looks -4 for usefullness/not USB hub compatible

Written by NC from San Francisco

Mar 4, 2008

I spent a good portion of the day "troubleshooting" trouble that wasn't trouble with my usb hub. Want to install a driver that requires dvd & printer to be plugged in at the same time? You can't. Ever. Because the "Super"drive won't work on a hub. LOVELY.

So basically - it's pretty but it can't type. Will make a gorgeous $99 coaster for my coffee cup.

70 of 103 people found this useful

Apple MacBook Air SuperDrive

No USB For You!

Written by JS from katy

Mar 2, 2008

Product will NOT run through a USB hub making it essentially useless.

Discs get stuck - would it be hard to put an eject button in the front?

41 of 50 people found this useful