With this year’s updates to the MacBook and MacBook Pro ranges, many Mac users were hoping to see a Blu-ray drive instead of a DVD drive. So, will we see one in next year’s refresh? It looks doubtful according to another email sent from Apple’s CEO Steve Jobs.
Steve Jobs seems to be replying more and more to customer emails recently. The latest one was to MacRumors reader Siva, who emailed Steve Jobs about Blu-ray on the Mac. This is the first reply they got.
Blu-ray is looking more and more like one of the high-end audio formats that appeared as the successor to the CD – like it will be beaten by Internet downloadable formats.
Siva then replied to Steve Jobs and got the following reply.
No, free, instant gratification and convenience (likely in that order) is what made the downloadable formats take off. And the downloadable movie business is rapidly moving to free (Hulu) or rentals (iTunes) so storing purchased movies or TV shows is not an issue.
I think you may be wrong – we may see a fast broad move to streamed free and rental content at sufficient quality (at least 720p) to win almost everyone over.
The Shift Towards Digital Formats
The conversation between Siva and Steve Jobs highlights a significant shift in the way consumers access and consume media. With the rise of high-speed internet and the proliferation of streaming services, physical media formats like Blu-ray are becoming less relevant. Services like Netflix, Hulu, and Apple’s own iTunes have made it incredibly easy for users to access a vast library of movies and TV shows without the need for physical discs. This trend is not just limited to video; music and software have also seen a similar shift towards digital distribution.
For instance, Spotify and Apple Music have revolutionized the way we listen to music, making it possible to stream millions of songs on-demand. Similarly, software distribution has moved from physical CDs and DVDs to digital downloads and cloud-based services. This shift has been driven by the convenience and immediacy that digital formats offer, as well as the declining cost of data storage and bandwidth.
Implications for Future MacBook Models
Given this context, it seems increasingly unlikely that future MacBook models will include Blu-ray drives. Apple has always been a forward-thinking company, often leading the charge in adopting new technologies while phasing out older ones. The removal of the floppy disk drive in the original iMac and the gradual phasing out of optical drives in favor of USB and Thunderbolt ports are prime examples of this approach.
Moreover, the trend towards thinner and lighter laptops leaves little room for bulky optical drives. By focusing on digital distribution and cloud-based services, Apple can continue to innovate and improve the design and functionality of its MacBook lineup. This approach also aligns with Apple’s broader environmental goals, as reducing the reliance on physical media can help decrease electronic waste.
In addition to streaming services, the rise of cloud storage solutions like iCloud, Google Drive, and Dropbox has made it easier than ever to store and access large files without the need for physical media. These services offer robust security features and seamless integration with various devices, further diminishing the need for Blu-ray drives.
So, while some users may still prefer the high-quality video and audio that Blu-ray offers, the convenience and accessibility of digital formats are likely to win out in the long run. As Steve Jobs suggested, the future of media consumption is moving towards streaming and rental services, making Blu-ray drives increasingly obsolete.
So, I guess we won’t be seeing Blu-ray on the Mac anytime soon.
via Mac Rumors
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