Why does no one make slot loading optical drives? Or where can I get one?

[Xenphor]

My optical drive broke and I would like to get one that is slot loading without a tray. It seems to me that slot loading drives are superior in every way so I don't understand why no one would make them. Am I missing something?

It would have to be full size to fit in a regular 5.25 bay. Don't need bluray either.

 

[corkyg]

I have used a slot loader by Pioneer for nearly 10 years. There are still slot loaders available, however most are thin ones for laptops. Here's one:

http://www.amazon.com/DIGISTOR-5-25-.../dp/B002SYJO9Y

Digistor used to make a 5.25-in adapter yhat would take two slot load slims.

 

[Xenphor]

Um 100 bucks?

 

[corkyg]

Um 100 bucks?

Yep! Economy of scale. How bad do you want it?

 

[Xenphor]

But why would no one make them?

 

[Cerb]

But why would no one make them?

With a tray, you don't need perfect lighting to see where to put the disc, can hold the disc any which way, can use odd shapes and sizes of disc with confidence, and when the drive fails, you just need a paper clip or needle to retrieve the disc. Slot loads have a cool factor going for them, but that's it.

Now, in a notebook, it could be argued that the flimsy is prone to breaking, which, well, they are. So, they do have some potential benefits, there.

Now, $100? That's mostly for a pre-packed unit, and the market is very small, as it is mostly made up for by people that are peculiar about their PC's aesthetics.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-HL-GS20...-SATA-Internal-Drive-/271211531826#vi-content
Tada, a new one, cheaper. It just needs an adapter to fit in (example).

 

[corkyg]

On the plus side, slot loaders have a much higher MTBF than tray loaders. Also, people are less inclined to use them as coffee cup holders.

And, why not use an adapter and put a pair of thin slot loaders in a single 5.25-in slot?

http://www.ultradrives.com/product_info.php/products_id/785

 

[Insert_Nickname]

With a tray, you don't need perfect lighting to see where to put the disc, can hold the disc any which way, can use odd shapes and sizes of disc with confidence, and when the drive fails, you just need a paper clip or needle to retrieve the disc. Slot loads have a cool factor going for them, but that's it.

Some (particularly older) slot loaders can also be very hard on discs. This is mostly a concern for retail discs, if you can't copy them.

 

[Cerb]

And, why not use an adapter and put a pair of thin slot loaders in a single 5.25-in slot?

http://www.ultradrives.com/product_info.php/products_id/785

Cost. That's $50, then you'll need drives, and then you'll need bezels. Meanwhile, for <$40, any normal case can fit two tray drives.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Yeah - Macs use slot-loaders. I get crap stuck in them all the damn time. Pisses me off.

 

[Xenphor]

Ok maybe I don't want a slot loader. So which one do I want? I already bought the highest rated one on newegg and other places: the ASUS DRW-24B1ST, and it failed on me even though I only used it a total of 10 times. I took it apart and it seems to make this weird sound when I tip it from side to side. I guess it's something floating around in the motor? It would cost more to send it in then to just buy a new one.

I know plextor is good but I haven't seen any of those.

 

[Cerb]

Plextor just rebrand ODDs, now. The Asus is great for features and compatibility (it's a fast burner w/ low error rates, highly compatible DVD ripper, reports and corrects CD errors well, and handles funky CDs OK).

Reliability-wise, I've had the best luck with Samsungs, over the last several years; but, aside from LiteOns definitely not lasting like they used to, on average, I can't say one would be any better than an Asus or LG.

OTOH, you may have just gotten a bum drive, either doomed to infant failure from the start, or mishandled in shipping.