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Slot loading optical drives?

H

homercles337

Diamond Member
I may have to replace an old DVD drive, but im wondering when we will have the option of front loading drives? The last rig i built is about 10 months old and they were nowhere to be found back then. I seem to remember finding one, but it was prohibitively expensive. They have been available in cars for years, why not PCs?
 
They're still prohibitively expensive. But available. Plextor makes some, and I believe Philips does as well.

They usually don't handle those reduced-size discs well, and I think are generally less durable than tray-loading drives.
 
Originally posted by: Aluvus
and I think are generally less durable than tray-loading drives.
Click to expand...

This is my understanding also. But I wonder why this is. We've had slot loaders in cars for many years. Operating in a harsher environment too.

 
Welcome to the 21st century? Used to have a slot loading DVD-ROM made by Pioneer (DVD-103S). It's very loud. Looks good, but doesn't perform well.
 
A few years ago I had a pioneer slot load 16x DVD-ROM drive. It was really nice and worked well while I had it. It would pretty much read any disc that any other drive would not. Unfortunately it finally wore out 🙁

I honestly expected them to catch on more but they didn't. I think part of it was the drives are definitely louder when operating due to no tray closing the sound in and with the push to quieter and quieter systems it didn't appeal. I think you can still find them but they are rare and expensive in comparison to standard tray-loading drives.
 
Plextar has alot of consumer available slot loading DVD writers. You're looking at an extra 100% to the cost in comparison to a similar bay loading drive.
 
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