Why aren't the eject buttons for CD drives above the disc tray?

[Kev]

Why aren't the eject buttons for CD drives above the disc tray?
Wouldn't this make more sense since most people keep their computers on the ground, so you don't have stick your hand under the tray?

Important questions that need to be answered...

 

[gargantuan]

There are a number of reasons.

* Consistency with stereo CD decks
* The popularity of desktop chasses in the early 90's (when PC CD drives started being sold)
* It's an accepted interface design maxim to line up controls for horizontally extended electronic devices along the bottom of the electronic device (Think of VCR's, TV's, monitors, CD decks, and so on)

I am sure there are other reasons.

 

[ThaGrandCow]

You're only talking about the difference of half an inch or so, I've never even noticed before.

 

[Kev]

<< There are a number of reasons.

* Consistency with stereo CD decks
* The popularity of desktop chasses in the early 90's (when PC CD drives started being sold)
* It's an accepted interface design maxim to line up controls for horizontally extended electronic devices along the bottom of the electronic device (Think of VCR's, TV's, monitors, CD decks, and so on)

I am sure there are other reasons. >>

My AIWA CD stereo has the eject button above the tray, it's about 2 years old.

 

[Sluggo]

They were designed by the same people who put the spark plugs on your car behind every other component in the engine compartment.

 

[fr]

How about compromising and putting it on the side? Or put it on the face of the drive like on many notebooks.

 

[Evadman]

<< They were designed by the same people who put the spark plugs on your car behind every other component in the engine compartment. >>



Don't even go there. Ever try changing the plugs on a northstar caddy? Forget it. Buy a new car.

 

[Passions]

Ever try changing an oil filter on an Integra? O.M.G.

 

[Kelvrick]

<< How about compromising and putting it on the side? Or put it on the face of the drive like on many notebooks. >>


I like that idea. Of course, with the force that you use to press teh button on the face of the drive, you'll likely push the drive in manually anyway.

Hmm... I just got a cool mod idea. You guys konw those lttle light sensors in bathroom sinks and stuff? I'm thinking of putting of modding my old Sczi burner with one of those thingies so that when I wave my hand in front, it'll open and close... if it works out, I'll do that to all of my drives.

 

[d33pt]

just mount your drive upside down...

 

[Kelvrick]

<< just mount your drive upside down... >>


He'll have a great time of holding the CD in there as he's trying to close it... To get it to work, you'll have to do some serious internal modding...

Hmm.... Idea... Ahhh!! Too many ideas, too little money!

 

[Sundaygirl]

Personally, I like having the button underneath. That way I remember to take my coffee mug off the cup holder before I push the button .

 

[Nefrodite]

werenm't most compters originally desktops?

 

[yakko]

It is because most of the mechanicals inside the CD-rom drive are below the tray.

 

[beat mania]

who cares, you can control the tray with your computer anyway.

 

[RegaPlanet]

Someone needs to make a cdrom with The Clapper!

 

[crypticlogin]

How about a button on the tray itself, like notebook drives? That would solve the above-below problem, and it wouldn't discriminate against left or right handed people (if the button was on a side).

And where have all the headphone jacks gone? (pout)

 

[notfred]

me stares blankly at my slot-load dvd drive.

 

[Spooner]

It's when issues like this start to matter that you know you need to get out more.

 

[hoihtah]

<< Ever try changing an oil filter on an Integra? O.M.G. >>



i know your pain.
gs-r driver.

 

[ElFenix]

i have a feeling that if they were above the tray we'd have a similar thread asking why they weren't below the tray.

 

[polypterus]

Does anyone actually use the eject button to close the tray? I just push the tray itself to close it, and use the button to open it. :/

dc

 

[rml]

You can also use the "eject" button on some multi-media keyboard or highlight the drive and right-click to eject it.
So many way to do the same task

 

[dave127]

because they just are that way.....i dunno...anyways, about those spark plugs and other things on cars....to change the spark plugs on the viper rt/10 (not sure of the gts version) you have to take the engine out of the engine compartment :Q

 

[dullard]

<< who cares, you can control the tray with your computer anyway. >>


Unfortunately most drives are only easilly ejected with the computer. Ejecting is simple, the problem comes when you want to put the drive back into the machine. It is the same idea as if you bought shoes that had the laces on the sole. When you are standing, it is just about impossible to untie your shoes (the same goes with a CD/DVD drive with the tray sitting in the way of you being able to reach the button.)


<< i have a feeling that if they were above the tray we'd have a similar thread asking why they weren't below the tray. >>


You might, but the number of people with the drive sitting above the person is far less than the number of people with the drive sitting below the person.


<< Does anyone actually use the eject button to close the tray? >>


Far too many drives are poorly built. Their motors can easily fail if you push the tray closed. That is the point of the button, to activate the motor to load the CD (ejecting like mentioned above can be just as easily done by the computer with no need for a drive button). Sure if you have a quality drive you can push it closed without any problem. But I've seen quite a few broken motors...


<< You're only talking about the difference of half an inch or so, I've never even noticed before. >>


Just for fun, put your computer on the floor. Eject the tray. Stand up. Attempt to close the tray - then you'll notice. Many of us are in that situation - just to close the tray we have to either be a contortionist or lay on the floor. A button above the tray would solve lots of problems without causing many problems at all (except for the few, few people who locate the computer above their heads).