Apple may have ended this 16-year-old Mac product.
The Apple SuperDrive is currently sold out worldwide and doesn't appear to be coming back.
After the Apple SuperDrive sold out first in the United States and later around the world, many are starting to think that this device, launched 16 years ago, might not be available again. Although the company has not made an official announcement regarding this, it's likely that many current users are unaware of or do not remember its existence.
When the first MacBook Air was released in 2008, one of its main attractions was its thin and lightweight design. To make the device compact enough to fit in a Manila envelope, several ports had to be eliminated, including the disc drive. This was a bold decision at the time, as it raised questions about how to download software or create a mix CD. To address these concerns, Apple introduced the SuperDrive as an external disc drive. This device uses a USB-A connector, which was suitable at its launch but would now require a USB-C adapter to be used. Additionally, the SuperDrive is not compatible with Blu-ray discs, which clearly renders it obsolete.
As the years have gone by, the use of physical media like DVDs has declined significantly, largely due to the rise of streaming services and digital downloads. This change could be the reason why Apple never updated the SuperDrive to a USB-C connector, and it has likely led to its disappearance from the Apple Store. It's a moment to reflect on the SuperDrive, an innovative solution that marked an important step toward the current digital era.
On another note, Apple has announced its third-quarter earnings call, revealing that its revenue reached $85 billion, representing a 5% increase compared to the previous year. Notably, the Mac segment also experienced slight growth of 2%, generating over $7 billion in revenue. However, a comment made during the Q&A section of the call suggests that the company does not anticipate additional revenue growth from Macs for the rest of the year, which could be interpreted as a sign that no new MacBook models will be launched in the short term.
Meanwhile, Intel has decided to discontinue several processors, including the Core i9-12900KS, which was released just over two years ago. With this move, the company is moving forward and has announced the discontinuation of its tenth-generation processor line, which had already seen the removal of prominent models like the Core i9-10900K. Among the lesser-known models that will cease production are the Pentium and Celeron lines, as well as the Core i5-10400F, a favorite in the budget segment.
Finally, the M1 MacBook Air has made a resurgence after being withdrawn from the market. Although it had stopped being recommended with the launch of the M2 MacBook Air and the introduction of the M3, recent announcements from Apple have increased its appeal by incorporating new intelligent features that will benefit models dating back to the M1.
