“As notebook computers become increasingly smaller and thinner, Apple in its design labs is turning to new methods of placement for optical disk drives (ODD) in an effort to optimize the rapidly diminishing real estate of the portable systems, a pair of company filings has revealed,” Prince McLean reports for AppleInsider.
McLean reports, “In two separate July 2005 filings with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, published for the first time on Thursday, the Cupertino-based Mac maker a discloses ongoing development of a ‘disk drive media access system’ mounted on the undercarriage of a MacBook Pro that ‘opens a media access door to the interior of a disk drive sufficiently for ejection of disk media from the disk drive but insufficiently for manually engaging and removing disk media that is operationally positioned within the disk drive.'”
McLean reports, “Existing notebook system contain ODD modules that are self-contained units having their own enclosures and their own electromagnetic interference shielding. When placed within a notebook, the ODD modules have traditionally been mounted along one side or perimeter edge in order to provide user access for inserting and removing a optical discs (CDs or DVDs). But as notebook computers continue to become thinner and thinner, placement of the ODD is becoming increasingly problematic, the filing notes.”
Full article with many more illustrations from the patent application here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “MacademiaNut” for the heads up.]
How much thinner can they get with the portables?
This would be a pain in the rear to use in any real life situation…
…. Unless it was in a tablet …
With optical media and magnetic media maximizing space so well now, wouldnt it be interesting if they could go to a half size disk sorta along the lines of Sonys mini disk?
Just sayin.
I think the part labeled #202 should be made of highly polished metal so the chics can use it to help them apple make up.
Just my $0.02
not practical.
but a flip up key board? better.
OK, I love Apple products, but this is just awful. Flipping my notebook over to put in/remove a CD seems entirely too inconvenient. Their slot-loading drive is outstanding. This seems half-baked at best.
It strikes me that the pictures may be misleading us. Yes they show it on the base of a portable, but presumably if they get a patent they can use it elsewhere…
This is FUD. Steve’s fooling with you. Apple has an entire team of Sat Nite Live rejects who sit around and dream up phony patent filings to keep everyone like MDN from being able to figure out what they are really doing.
Move on. Nothing to see here.
i think its a either a diversion or just ridiculous… who’s going to turn their computer upside down to access the cd drive??
It looks to me as if the hinges of this device are along the narrow side. I believe it is a design for a tablet or similar sized device. Perhaps this that “jaw-dropping” device to be introduced next year?
There is an ultralight Sony Vaio that doesn’t have an optical drive at all. I’m assuming some people still buy it if the need for small size outweighs everything else. If Apple is able to come up with a form factor that’s small enough, I think people will get over the inconvenience of putting the machine to sleep, flipping it over, and ejecting the disc. Macs are so good at sleeping/waking, would this really be that big a deal anyway?
Personally, I’d rather have the drive on the bottom. A flip-top keyboard seems a bit dorky and distinctly un-Mac-like to me.
Ive can stop once the laptop is so thin it only has one side.
If you remember the patent pictures for the iPhone/multi-touch they looked nothing like the final product… they’re hardly going to give the entire game away in the patent pictures !
Maybe it’s on the LID of the notebook? That might work… maybe?
How am I supposed to open the MacBook safely while my coffee is in the cup holder? This design makes no sense.
Seems like a stupid design to me. Uncle Steve is sure to reject this one.
6Colors,
I think the “jaw dropping” item is going to be an updated iPhone that does real-time, fluid, video-conferencing. No insider knowledge here – just guessing.
Beam me up Scottie!
On the bottom?
No thanks.
As bad as my bottom-loading DV-cam, which needs taking off the tripod to change a tape.
No worries tho’ — I’m sure SJ won’t allow it.
That would be a really stupid thing to do.
Those are all old drawings from when they were trying to figure out where to put the ODD in the original Titanium Powerbook – Nothing new here – Look at the pictures clearly this is a TiBook
I like it, but only if it has a built-in dock for the Zune.
Welcome to my Social.
Relax, not all of Apple’s patent filings are expected to reach fruition. They’re just covering all their bases.
@ Whatever –
Agreed. Old picture. And a terrible idea having it on the bottom. Apple would not market such an idea.
But it is worth mentioning that with the advent of smaller and thinner notebooks…optical drives will have to be completely re-tooled in order to fulfill our insatiable desires for thinness.
If it was done right you could tip it not flip it.
Mr. Reeee, that’s an interesting idea =) I was thinking of the ODD in the lid of a notebook, like a toaster, rather than on the side like an iMac. IF all the components are thin enough and the heat doesn’t mess up the screen, the lid would be a great place for the ODD.
With the ODD gone from below the keyboard in notebooks, the next thickest item is the HDD… flash memory? And the ports are a standard size as well. Hmmm…