New iMacs Still Expected to Ship in November-December

November-December of what year? =P

I remember all the whining when the first Macs came out without a 5.5" floppy drive, and iMacs came out without a floppy drive, and cars came out without running boards, cassette or 8-track tape decks. Change is enevitable as stuff continues to get old and replaced. It eventually happens to everything and everyone.

Whining???

People still need to use optical media to transfer commercial content. NOT ONE COMPANY puts commercial content on USB sticks, but on CDs and DVDs. They are NOT obsolete.

Your solution is that we shell out additional money for an unsightly stand alone optical drive so that our super expensive "all in one" computer now can access commercial content.

It makes no sense, except that you are trying to justify Apple's decision here.

You know, at first I whined a little about the absent optical drive...

My son has been using a first generation Mac mini and needed a new computer. As soon as the "new" iMac was announced with no optical, we went to the nearest Apple store and bought the current iMac. There's just too many school assignments where the product has to be turned in on CD or DVD and I'm a believer the optical should be part of the computer. I've owned iMacs since the original tube screened one, and not once has a desktop's thickness been an issue for me. What a great business model, remove features so people have to buy add-ons. Maybe they should remove the hard drive/SSD so they can charge extra for that too?

Bring on the 27inch

I agree that depending on your needs, you're not going to want to lose the optical drive. However, is it that bad to just use a USB drive? It's worth sacrificing the built-in drive in order to have the latest chipsets for the exact same amount of money.

Some of us still want to obtain and use commercial content on optical media - CDs, DVDs.

There is ZERO commerical content on USB sticks, whereas there is still a thriving CD and DVD business. Optical drives are NOT obsolete.

Just becaue YOU (in the general sense) don't use one doesn't mean that others don't need one.

I agree that depending on your needs, you're not going to want to lose the optical drive. However, is it that bad to just use a USB drive? It's worth sacrificing the built-in drive in order to have the latest chipsets for the exact same amount of money.

You would have the latest chipset regardless of removing the OD. Apple has been given latest chipset from 2010. Also agree with his statement remove OD then say buy external. Most people will buy Apples external drive meaning more money on a product that the price has already been increased compared to previous years.
Also the point of a AIO is to avoid clutter on your desk as Apple use to say. Now people are willing to disagree with that just because Apple say so. SMDH

I understand some people don't mind being mugged/ripped of but smart people don't. Yes Apple products have a great design and premium but doesn't mean you move like a zombie or sheep defending blatant money making tactics.