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Sterling Hirsh
329

Asked
11:46 AM
Nov 3 2009

Can I replace my optical drive with anything cool?

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My optical drive has been dead for about a year, now. I'm considering replacing it, but I'd like to know if there's anything else I can do with that space. I don't need any more hard drive space. I was considering just removing it to save weight and power, but I'm not sure its power consumption is that great while not in use. Is there anything else that would be cooler? Perhaps a gps device mounted to the inside?

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u0d1o2y
109

Answered
4:41 PM
Nov 14 2009

Accepted Answer

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On Fastmac.com Store you can find a slot-In Blueray drive for your MBP:

http://fastmac.com/slim_bluray.php

Otherwise you there are other ideas for this free space:

- solder a USB Hub into it

- or a usb powered GPS or UMTS stick.

- or an unit to take the remote into it - with a slide in technique

- Buy an mediabay for a Dell notebook (ebay) and put a hdd into it the connector that must fit is properly an MOLEX connector.

thats from me at this point

If I ever do this, I will probably try to solder in a usb GPS device, and have it phone home all the time.

Sterling Hirsh, Nov 24 2009 @ 7:33 PM • Deleted

The catch with that FastMac Blu-ray drive (other than the price) is that it won't fit into a MacBook. That's a 12.7mm drive, and the MacBook will only take optical drives up to 9.5mm high. If you have a 17" machine, then that Blu-ray drive would work.

Luke Soules, Feb 4 @ 3:51 PM • Deleted

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Luke Soules
633

Answered
3:15 PM
Nov 3 2009

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With some work, you could turn the space into a storage area. Unfortunately, the iPhone is too thick to fit into that space. However, the iPod touch is thin enough to fit in the optical drive bay. You could make a slot to store an iPod touch inside your computer. If you really wanted to get fancy, you could add a dock connector inside the optical bay so you could dock your iPod internally.

That would be awesome!

David Patierno, Nov 3 2009 @ 3:37 PM • Deleted

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Walter Galan
235

Answered
12:18 PM
Nov 3 2009

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You can add a Blu-Ray drive :)

Is there a Blu-ray drive that will fit in a MacBook? To fit in a MacBook It needs to be 9.7mm, and all the Blu-ray drives I know of are 12.5mm.

Luke Soules, Nov 3 2009 @ 12:27 PM • Deleted

I agree with Luke, there are no blue-ray drives that would fit according to NewEgg.com

Nat Welch, Nov 3 2009 @ 4:33 PM • Deleted

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Nat Welch
404

Answered
4:35 PM
Nov 3 2009

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Add a Solid State Drive.

http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/archive...

Fascinating, but expensive :(

Sterling Hirsh, Nov 3 2009 @ 5:22 PM • Deleted

Good write-up about putting a solid state drive in a MacBook Pro: http://blog.iso50.com/2009/08/25/ssd-performance-hands-on/

Reed, Nov 8 2009 @ 7:57 PM • Deleted

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TobiBook
13

Answered
3:52 AM
Nov 10 2009

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Or, if you already have a solid state disk (as I have) and want to add a hard disk for more space (as I will) you can get yourself a optibay enclosure that fits into the superdrive's space and can hold a hdd.

I just wait for my optibay to arrive.

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