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Apple Macbook Air SuperDrive (MB397G/A)x$96.99
  (9 reviews)
Best Price: $99.99 $96.99
Whether you're at the office or on the road with your MacBook Air, you can play and burn both CDs and DVDs with the MacBook Air SuperDrive. It's perfect when you want to watch a DVD movie, install software, create backup discs, and more. Only slightly bigger than a CD case, the MacBook Air SuperDrive slips easily into your travel bag when you hit the road and takes up little space on your desk or tray table when you're working. It connects to your MacBook Air with a single USB cable that's built into the SuperDrive. There's no separate power adapter, and it works whether your MacBook Air is plugged in or running on battery power.  | 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.
MPN: MB397G/A - UPC: 885909213092
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Customer Reviews
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Light and compact, but doesn't share well
By AV5L1Y3SUTW76 on 2008-02-10
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
By A8S91FEVSZ2ZZ on 2008-03-15
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.
not so unique
By A3BXE1E2EZZ5ZF on 2008-02-28
The MacBook Air is very thin, but I don't think it's the only notebook with a special USB port for something like the SuperDrive.
IBM/Lenovo has a similar Super Multi-Burner Drive that works from a single USB port on ThinkPad X40/X41, X Series Tablet, and X60 Series notebooks. Will this drive work on the MacBook Air? Or, can the MacBook Air SuperDrive work on these Thinkpads?
Furthermore, Samsung makes a DVD-RW Dual Layer Drive for the Q1 Ultra UMPC (ultra-mobile PC). Once again, this drive will work from a single USB port on the Q1 Ultra UMPC (the one with the split keyboard on the front). Once again, can the MacBook Air SuperDrive work on these UMPCs?
So, is the USB port on the MacBook Air so unique?
http://mdjosephkim.blogspot.com/
Great device for the MacBook Air
By A2YVYQ4CK97HUW on 2008-06-19
I purchased this when I ordered my MacBook Air simply because I wanted the back-up security in case it was difficult to install programs through my iMac. I have used it consistently since that time and find it to be a perfectly adequate product. In fact, I would recommend it to anyone who purchases the MacBook Air. It is lightweight and almost as portable as the Air. Definitely recommended.
Does the job
By AGXH8DR5LB2JK on 2008-03-06
I bought the Superdrive along with my Macbook Air because I didn't want to deal with the hassle of using another computer's drive to install software. It works just fine for that function. It's light, quiet and easily packs away in my bag when I don't need it. I might also use it occasionally to watch a DVD but so far I've only watched programs I bought from Itunes.
The only negative is that it provides an additional drain on the battery if you're away from an AC source, maybe more-so than a built in drive. I guess the lack of a USB port is also a negative although in my case I don't see when I would need this. Given the price of the computer itself - I got the SSD version- getting this was a no-brainer.
UPDATE: I've used the drive for watching DVD's several time now and the drain on the battery isn't too bad. Would be nice to have a replaceable battery in the MBA but you can't have everything.
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Apple Macbook Air SuperDrive (MB397G/A) Accessories
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| Product 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)
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