Samsung launches world’s thinnest external DVD writer

26 Apr 12 18:27 by in category CD/DVD Writers

One problem with Ultrabooks and Netbooks is that most have done away with the Internal optical drive. According to DigiTimes, HP, Dell and Asustek all plan doing away with the ODD in their larger 15″ Ultrabooks and Laptops, with Apple to lead with the launch their MacBook Pro in the second quarter without an optical drive. If Apple’s move is successful, Laptop makers are likely to do away with internal ODDs also.

For those who need CD/DVD drive to read or write discs and do not want to carry a clumsy external drive, Samsung aims to solve this issue with the launch of the world’s thinnest external optical drive, the SE-218BB, featuring a height of just 14mm, 18% thinner than a typical slimline external DVD writer.

The DVD writer is powered by a single USB port and is also compatible with Tablet PCs, Tablets running Android Honeycomb OS 3.1 or above and Mac OS. It features 24x CD-ROM, 24x CD-R/RW, 8X DVD±R, 5x DVD-RAM, 6x DVD±R DL, 8x DVD+RW and 6x DVD-RW.

The SE-218BB is now available worldwide with a suggested retail price of US$59.99.

4 Comments on Samsung launches world’s thinnest external DVD writer

DukeNukem
Posts: 1606
Posted on: 26 Apr 12 18:36
Hmm... that's not bad, actually. But can't they throw in BD-R capability? I just think that people who fork out the money for an ultrabook are gonna want to spend a bit more for a drive that plays their Blu-ray discs. Am I alone on this?
Seán
Posts: 9654
Posted on: 26 Apr 12 18:49
That's actually a good point, even if sold as a separate drive. I suspect the blue laser module itself may be the issue, e.g. if they can't make the blue laser pick-up head thin enough, this would prevent them shrinking the overall thickness.

The main thing that amazed me several years ago was the Compact Flash type-II card, which was actually a spinning HDD the size of a compact flash card, but just a little thicker. Even today, I still wonder how they managed to pack the motor, spindle, platter, pick-up head, etc. in that small space.
BradWright
Posts: 225
Posted on: 27 Apr 12 00:55
So this drive is for those who "do not want to carry a clumsy external drive"? It's 3 mm thinner! You probably couldn't tell them apart if they were more than a foot away from each other, so how exactly will that be less clumsy? I think people are losing touch with reality when it comes to making things smaller.
paulw2
Posts: 313
Posted on: 28 Apr 12 00:04
Quote:
Originally Posted by DukeNukem View Post
Hmm... that's not bad, actually. But can't they throw in BD-R capability? I just think that people who fork out the money for an ultrabook are gonna want to spend a bit more for a drive that plays their Blu-ray discs. Am I alone on this?
No your not alone. That was my first thought when I saw the subject line..
Tell us, what do you think about

Samsung launches world’s thinnest external DVD writer

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