building a new desktop without optical drive - yay or nay?

[AustinInDallas]

if you HAVE to have it, get a usb one that you can use once a year when you need it

 

[AustinInDallas]

if you HAVE to have it, get a usb one that you can use once a year when you need it

15 bucks with free shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...9SIA1KT0FG8313

 

[mikeymikec]

I never understood this mindset, I can understand it regarding sensitive information, but steam, Netflix, iTunes, etc. what's not to trust..?

They lose all your stuff (or say the records of your purchases and that you don't have the rights to play the stuff you've bought any more). Just one possibility off the top of my head. Coupled with a bloody-minded attitude from customer service when you try to inform them of your problem.

I use Steam as well, but I have my library backed up and if I can play it in offline mode then the damage caused by a problem at their end should be limitable. Unless of course there's a game that's predominantly multiplayer or multiplayer only.

Here's a quick example of cloud/provider-based stupidity resulting in loss of service:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/07/18/amazon_removes_1984_from_kindle/