Apple to discontinue 16-year-old hardware

It almost seems like a relic from another time. However, Apple’s external drive now seems to have finally come to an end. Because it is no longer available in the online shop…after 16 years. Apple

Short-lived technology products

Nowadays, modern technology products such as laptops, smartphones or headphones usually no longer have a very long life expectancy. Cheap devices in particular often break down after a few years. But even robust and high-quality products that could in principle be used for a long time often have to be abandoned and replaced due to a lack of software support. 16 years in business, let alone in sales, hardly produce any products. Apple’s SuperDrive did it.

Since the release of the original MacBook Air in 2008, customers have been able to purchase the external drive. This means that physical storage media can also be used with the thin laptop without its own CD writing and reading device.

Probable SuperDrive setting

In recent years, however, they have become increasingly less important. Programs and apps are downloaded from online marketplaces and music is streamed via Spotify or Apple Music. Games also no longer come on physical storage media.

A reminder that this also has negative consequences has now been provided again by Valve, who once again made it clear that in such cases users no longer purchase the product, but only licenses to use it. Of course Apple knows this too. And so it now seems that the end of the SuperDrive has come. Because how MacRumors observed, the device is listed as “currently not available” in all countries. It is unlikely that supplies will arrive again.

If you want to use CDs or DVDs with your Mac in the future, you will have to look at other manufacturers of external drives. With its USB-A port, the SuperDrive was no longer up to date anyway. There has been no confirmation from Apple about the supposed discontinuation of sales. If you want, you can still see the entry for the SuperDrive in the Apple Store Watch and reminisce about times gone by.