End Of An Era Apples Superdrive Has Finally Sold Out After 16 Years

Apple SuperDrive Sold Out: An End of an Era

Discontinuation of Apple's USB SuperDrive

End of an Era

After 16 years of providing optical drive support, Apple has finally sold out its SuperDrive. The 2008 MacBook Air marked the beginning of the phasing out of optical drives in Apple laptops. To compensate, Apple released the USB SuperDrive as an external solution.

Current Availability

For customers in the US, the Apple USB SuperDrive is no longer available through the official Apple Store. However, third-party retailers still offer the device at varying prices. Some recommended retailers include:

• Amazon
• Best Buy
• Walmart

Reasons for Discontinuation

Apple has not officially announced the discontinuation of the SuperDrive. However, it is speculated that the increasing popularity of cloud storage, streaming services, and USB flash drives has diminished the need for optical drives. Additionally, the compact designs of modern laptops have limited the space available for optical drive bays.

Impact on Users

While the discontinuation of the SuperDrive may inconvenience users who still rely on optical media, it aligns with the industry's shift towards digital storage and online distribution. Users can now access a wide range of content through streaming platforms, download digital versions of software and media, and store files in cloud-based services.