How often do you use an optical drive?

[Blecter]

Only to install OS'. And to install old games from disc if I get that craving. Which I haven't.

[Real_PhillBert]

I havent had one in my PC for about a year, and I bet I haven't used one for 5 years.

[jaggysnake57]

In the last couple of years once and that's only because I couldn't find the software online

[deVIZtation]

I only use it when installing an OS on builds. It's a nice thing to have and didn't cost much anyways.

[Weepypostman]

I might get an external blu-ray drive for movies through my computer, but i haven't used an optical drive for more than 3 years. It's just not necessary anymore when you can run everything faster with a USB and download programs from the internet.

[Mush Brain]

I watch my David Attenborough set's sometimes and some games I install from disc.

[NARAKU_KAT]

Anytime i want to extract video or ISO image from a DVD to carry around, not quite often.

[Briggsy]

I sometimes set a round slice of bologna onto the tray and listen to it flop around inside.

 

seriously though, hardly ever. maybe at work for safety/training videos that for some reason are only available on disc but not download.

[STRMfrmXMN]

DVDs and that's kinda it.

[flibberdipper]

I use mine all of the time.

[Diederik_Gr]

Only for a couple of games, like i still got the original Morrowind CD and even the editor for Morrowind on CD as well. And a couple of other games that i got a really sweet deal on. Problem is that my optical drive isn't plugged in, i have no option to run a SATA cable to it, i might need a molex to SATA adapter, since i don't have any molex connector used right now.

 

I do realize that the optical is old technology, the entire computing market is trying to move away from moving parts in PC's wherever they can.

[razor767]

I honestly can't remember the last time I used an optical drive. Probably about a year and a half ago. 

[ofr057]

besides installing windows and office

I've only used it to listen to a new music I brought (still like cd's)

and some games I get from the store because there cheaper.

[haloharry97]

i never used mine, 6 years leter, i wanted to rip a ps2 game :3 but it dint work, i think there is mush dust  inside of it.

[Commander_Z]

apart from installing windows twice in the last two years, i dont think ive used it at all

[WinNut]

I have a USB optical drive and the only time I really use it is when making videos for school (since YT is blocked at school and teachers tend to lose the files when you email/copy it to their PC).

[AlwaysFSX]

Every bloody time I need to reinstall FSX...

[DeScruff]

I still like buying CDs, but always rip them so maybe I use the drive once a month?
However lately Ive had to burn a lot of CDs for a local church choir so everybody can learn their parts in the song. - CDs are just the easiest/cheapest way to distribute the songs to them.

I mostly use my 5.25" bay for a card reader though which I use at least once a week.

[Nickolas47]

External ftw

[terrytek]

Very often. I still have RCT 1, RCT 2, and RCT 3 all on CDs. And all with exp. packs. Also have Restaurant Empire 1 and 2. I love those games.

[watts300]

I've just bought a NZXT H440 for my first build, and while I don't actually have it yet, I've noticed that many review videos mention the lack of optical drives. This got me thinking about when I have actually used an optical drive in the past. My MacBook Pro has one, and I think that last time I used it that I can remember was over a year ago to play The Sims 3 before I had a digital copy of it. I'm definitely not afraid of not having an optical drive, I've purchased an external to install my OS and that is the only time I can see myself using it. What about you?

I have similar things.  Same case, and a MacBook Pro.      About a year ago I took the optical drive out of my Mac and put in an 250GB Evo SSD and Terminal'ed a Fusion Drive.    In early November, I've removed the 250 and installed a 1TB Evo.  The optical drive bay is still empty.  

 

The Mac's optical drive is in a $13 USB enclosure I bought from eBay.   I've used it once or twice.  I'm not even sure where it is right now.  

[Guest]

Haven't in years. I install all my OSes with a flash drive.

[MourningSouls]

Never. Don't have one that works. Kinda wish I did though, I have some old DVD's I can't find torrents for so I'd like to copy them to one of my hard drives.

[Zolon]

I don't even have one. I rather have the extra space for HDDs and fans.

[ilikemacandpc]

I last had to do it to install Office 2007, but nothing once since then.