Product Description

Play or burn discs directly with the external USB-based MacBook Air SuperDrive. Thin, light, and easy to take with you, this drive is designed specifically for MacBook Air.

Product Details

• Brand: Apple
• Model: MB397G/A
• Released on: 2008-01-24
• Platform: Mac
• Format: CD
• Dimensions: 2.76" h x 8.27" w x 8.66" l, .71 pounds

Features

• SuperDrive designed for the MacBook Air allows DVD/CD burning and playing
• Built-in USB cable never gets lost or misplaced
• Slot-loading, sleek design complements MacBook Air
• Requires MacBook Air with available USB 2.0 port
• Device measures 5.47 x 0.67 x 5.47 inches (WxHxD)

Amazon.com Product Description

The Apple MacBook Air SuperDrive offers: An external SuperDrive that complements the look of the MacBook Air. Attached USB cord that will never be lost or forgotten. Sleek, easily portable design.

The Apple MacBook Air SuperDrive is the perfect complement for the new, sleek MacBook Air. You can read and write CDs and DVDs, and it is perfect for watching a DVD movie, installing software, backing up your data, and more.

Read and write DVDs and CDs on your MacBook Air.

Burn and Play CDs and DVDs
The new Apple MacBook Air is thin and beautiful, and is able to do tricks such as borrow the optical drive of another computer on a network. But sometimes you need an optical drive on the go, and that's where the Apple MacBook Air SuperDrive comes in. Made by Apple with a design to complement the MacBook Air perfectly, the MacBook Air SuperDrive connects to your MacBook Air with a built-in USB cable you'll never lose. No extra power adapters are needed, as the SuperDrive simply draws power from the USB connection itself, regardless of whether or not your MacBook Air is plugged in.

The SuperDrive features speedy performance, writing DVD+R DL and DVD-R DL discs at up to 4x speed, and DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW, and DVD+RW discs at up to 8x speed.

Small Size for Easy Portability
The MacBook Air SuperDrive employs a slot-loading design that makes it miniscule--barely larger than a CD case. You can easily drop the MacBook Air SuperDrive into your bag and take it everywhere you go. Now you can enjoy a DVD movie while on the plane or you can burn onto a CD that song you've been working on while you were on the tour bus.

What's in the Box
MacBook Air SuperDrive with attached USB cable, user's guide.

Customer Reviews

Light and compact, but doesn't share well
The MacBook Air SuperDrive is light and compact as advertised. It slides into a bag pocket and hardly adds any weight or bulk. And it performs as advertised, quickly and quietly.

But, it consumes the MacBook Air's only USB port and works only with that one port -- it does not work with USB hubs! With no downstream ports of its own, you can't use your SuperDrive and any other USB device at the same time. Like a keyboard or mouse, or your iPhone or iPod, or a USB printer.

This is a remarkable oversight. But if you want to install Boot Camp or play DVDs, you'll need this -- or something like it.

(In my original review on 2/10/2008, I wrote "it's pretty much the only game in town right now." But since then, some commenters noted that generic USB optical drives will work, such as the LG GSA-E50L. Thanks to C. Ross and PenPal for chiming in! I haven't tested the LG or any other USB DVD drive sold on Amazon with the MacBook Air, so I can't attest to how well they do or don't work with MacBook Air.)

*updated 7/27/2008*

Not unique, but very nice design at a good price
Quote: "But if you want to install Boot Camp or play DVDs, it's pretty much the only game in town right now."

Actually, pretty much any external portable DVD drive should work with the MacBook Air.

I have an external Targus DVD drive and a no-name brand; both work with the Airbook.

Most external, portable DVD drives have two USB cables, one for data and power, the second for extra power alone. The reason is that USB is limited to 2.5 Watts, but DVD drives tend to use more than that (same is true for most external 2.5" hard drives). Apple is boosting the power in its USB port by providing extra amps; this is why the MacBook Air SuperDrive needs only one cable.

So, any external, portable DVD drive should work by plugging in a single USB cable. The converse is not true: the Air SuperDrive will only work in extra powered, non-standard USB ports, ie. virtually no others.

Still, this is a beautifully designed drive for a very good price (being a minimalist, I'd like to see a version that is a little lighter, but I haven't found one that is smaller and lighter than the Air SuperDrive yet).

Cheers,
Godo, author of "The Carbon Buster's Home Energy Handbook"

PS: you may want to consider using a bluetooth mouse and keyboard if you find the single USB port too limiting.

Useful, but seldom used
I had a first-generation MacBook Air from their availability last February until last week. I acquired the new, improved second-generation MacBook Air eight days ago. Throughout, I've had a SuperDrive, two over the period.

I found the SuperDrive useful for loading software, not for playing DVDs with my original MacBook Air, but not due to a fault in the SuperDrive. The processor on my particular computer was never adequate for playing video for longer than a few minutes, if that. I am hoping to get more use out of the SuperDrive with the faster graphics chip in my new MacBook Air, since it plays video better.

My complaint about the SuperDrive is that the short connecting cable bends and breaks easily. I had to have one SuperDrive replaced for that reason. I recommend mainly using the SuperDrive at home on your desk, and, being very careful when carrying it in your case, so as not to stress the weak cable.