Is the optical drive going the way of the floppy?

12.11.2010
Technology is ever changing. What was ubiquitous one day can be archaic the next. Cassette drives no longer run software. We don't transfer files on a floppy disk, either 5.25" or 3.5". And today, a compelling case can be made that the days of the optical disk drive may be numbered.

The optical drive has for a number of years been a standard feature on desktop and laptop computers. It's how we purchase and install software, and digitize our music collections. And, with a burner, it's how we make back-ups of our ever-expanding photo and media collections, or transfer our home videos to DVD to watch on our television or send to family and friends.

However, Chetan Joshi, an account executive for business development with Lenovo Canada, said he's seeing less and less demand for optical drives from his customers, and he believes it's only a matter of time before they go the way of the floppy drive.

"I definitely think it's safe to say its days are numbered as we move toward the cloud, slates and tablet devices," said Joshi. "Our goal for ultramobile is thin and light, and it's inevitable that the death of the CD drive will be part of that mix."

A number of factors are contributing to the trend, said Joshi. Flash media prices are dropping dramatically, making memory sticks and external back-up drives not only a cheaper alternative to optical discs, but a speedier one as well.

"We're a generation of instant gratification. It takes time to burn a CD," said Joshi. "We want instant gratification, and a flash drive gives us that.