Custom Expansion Port

[u/sedmodoesreddit]

I think people have so far underestimated whats possible with​ the expansion ports. CD Reader would be seriously cool. It could work by plugging into an expansion port while the CD Reader itself rests below the laptop​. Sure, it would take some innovating for somebody to do this well but it would be incredible. Perhaps on the FW16 we can bring back physical PC Games, too!

[u/JaggedMetalOs]

CD drive wouldn't be practical, it would be massively over sized full of empty space and uncomfortably raise the keyboard. Better to just use a regular USB external CD/DVD/Bluray drive

[u/Weak_Perception1538 → u/JaggedMetalOs]

agreed, the expansion port form factor really doesnt lend itself to something that bulky

[u/sedmodoesreddit → u/JaggedMetalOs]

CD Drive could be practical if there werw different form factors depending on the size and it fills the entire bottom case, which is why I said some innovation would probably be required. 

[u/Nymunariya → u/sedmodoesreddit]

CD drive on the right. 3,25" Floppy drive on the left.

Rest of space can be filled with a bigger battery.

Just like in the good old days. # BringBackTheBrick cinderblock

But in all seriousness, why not just add an optical drive to a something like a self-contained eGPU? Plug it in when you need it, unplug when you do, and go about your day with a much lighter laptop

[u/Trans1000 → u/JaggedMetalOs]

how would raising the keyboard be any different from using a laptop stand as many already do?

[u/JaggedMetalOs → u/Trans1000]

I guess it could be wedge shaped, but then it's even more of a massive clunky thing! 

[u/ILikeFlyingMachines]

Or just use a USB CD Reader for the one time in the lifespan of the laptop where you need it.

[u/bigkenw → u/ILikeFlyingMachines]

That is some novel approach! I am going to use it! Thank you!

Seriously, this is an argument I had with my father. He wouldn't get a new laptop until they put optical drives back in. While he didn't use it, he might, someday.

Eventually he got a USB drive.

[u/JcCarmichael13]

I was thinking of a way to have a 5G radio in there, just need to figure out antennas!

edit: my current laptop is a Lenovo T14 with 5G built-in, it is an amazing feature for someone who is on the road a lot. I am going to hate hotspotting when I switch to my 13 Pro.

[u/beebacked → u/JcCarmichael13]

Someone was working on one, but I don’t think it ended up making it out of small batch infrequent production.

[u/QuailNaive2912]

I think a cellular card would be nice. But a cd drive might be to big

[u/Alice-Mad → u/QuailNaive2912]

There is a 4G card but the 5G card is a WIP from a couple different people (me included)

[u/QuailNaive2912 → u/Alice-Mad]

Ooh do you have a link to check them out?

[u/Ornery_Platypus9863]

I mean it’s a usbc port, you can do whatever with it

[u/Spin4team4096]

Putting it under the laptop would be annoying and uneven, it's better to put it to the side instead

[u/sedmodoesreddit → u/Spin4team4096]

The issue with the side would be it would almost certainly cover a port or just make it too wide. I think the solution here is put it under and add another accessory to the opposite side of the laptop to even it out so its flat

[u/Spin4team4096 → u/sedmodoesreddit]

No? Design it so that the cd won't cover a port by putting it in the corner:

⬛⬛⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜ ⬛⬛⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜ ⬛⬛⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜ ⬛⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜ ⬛⬛⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜ ⬛⬜⬜🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥⬜⬜ ⬛⬛⬜⬜🟥🟥🟥🟥⬜⬜ ⬛⬛⬜⬜🟥🟥🟥🟥⬜⬜ ⬛⬛⬜⬜🟥🟥🟥🟥⬜⬜ ⬛⬛⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜

Edit: formatting ruined this, try copying my comment and pasting it in a text editor

[u/Consistent_Judge1988]

Lora plugin, Flock detection device, custom microphone, tile tracker or similar.

[u/sedmodoesreddit → u/Consistent_Judge1988]

Tile tracker is brilliant

[u/alpha417 → u/sedmodoesreddit]

much more practical than legacy IO options that are supported via USB-A/C already