Pointless rant about optical drive bays in cases...
Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2013 4:14 pm
I've been relentlessly researching for a new build, with the case being the biggest focus, as I really like to find the most compact possible case for my needs for any build... it seems pointless if I know exactly what a build will be used for and what limited upgrade path it will likely require, to have too much wasted void inside the case.
Now, I very-long-ago made the decision that, seeing as the only time I ever use optical media (aside from blurays on my PS3) is to install an operating system, the time had most certainly arrived where one single, tiny, self-powered external slim bluray-writer would be more than sufficient for any optical media use I would need to engage in, on any number of computers.
So, on that note, and going on the reckless assumption that I'm probably not alone, I just wanted to take an aside from my search to rant about 5.25" drive bays.
Why do 99% of cases still feature them, and in the vast majority of cases, more than one?
For the tiny tiny miniscule fraction of case designs that have either dared to limit themselves to a single slim optical bay, or (*shock horror!*) ditch them entirely, every review I read seems to regard this as a "bold" and often "risky" move... "people don't use optical media much any more, but is it too soon?" they all ask.
I would think, yes, it's too soon to drop them from *ALL* case designs in a manufacturers entire lineup, *that* would be a bold, risky move. Dropping them for one or two case designs sounds like finally ushering in the depreciation of a space-wasting hold-over from a bygone age.
There are so many cases that give over a big wasted chunk of nothing to 3-4 optical drive bays... cases that really only justify being the size they are on the presumption that they're providing room to expand. Why on earth are manufacturers so reluctant to take the plunge then, ditch the optical bays completely, stick a neat tidy row of 8x3.5" bays right up the front (maybe even hotswap), with a couple of 2.5" bays tucked away somewhere, and instantly cover the requirements of all home-servers with a fraction of the wasted space?
One or two seem to be testing the waters, but even the few that do seem like half-measures... like nobody wants to commit even a single case design to actually doing it properly.
Out of all of them, I keep homing in on Silverstone as the most gutsy... they seem to be the only manufacturer out there who will actually try to provide tailored solutions for particular types of build, rather than trying to cover several niches with a single design.
Ah, okay, I think that's enough ranting...
Just don't get me started on hideous-looking cumbersome sticky-outty front-bezels
Now, I very-long-ago made the decision that, seeing as the only time I ever use optical media (aside from blurays on my PS3) is to install an operating system, the time had most certainly arrived where one single, tiny, self-powered external slim bluray-writer would be more than sufficient for any optical media use I would need to engage in, on any number of computers.
So, on that note, and going on the reckless assumption that I'm probably not alone, I just wanted to take an aside from my search to rant about 5.25" drive bays.
Why do 99% of cases still feature them, and in the vast majority of cases, more than one?
For the tiny tiny miniscule fraction of case designs that have either dared to limit themselves to a single slim optical bay, or (*shock horror!*) ditch them entirely, every review I read seems to regard this as a "bold" and often "risky" move... "people don't use optical media much any more, but is it too soon?" they all ask.
I would think, yes, it's too soon to drop them from *ALL* case designs in a manufacturers entire lineup, *that* would be a bold, risky move. Dropping them for one or two case designs sounds like finally ushering in the depreciation of a space-wasting hold-over from a bygone age.
There are so many cases that give over a big wasted chunk of nothing to 3-4 optical drive bays... cases that really only justify being the size they are on the presumption that they're providing room to expand. Why on earth are manufacturers so reluctant to take the plunge then, ditch the optical bays completely, stick a neat tidy row of 8x3.5" bays right up the front (maybe even hotswap), with a couple of 2.5" bays tucked away somewhere, and instantly cover the requirements of all home-servers with a fraction of the wasted space?
One or two seem to be testing the waters, but even the few that do seem like half-measures... like nobody wants to commit even a single case design to actually doing it properly.
Out of all of them, I keep homing in on Silverstone as the most gutsy... they seem to be the only manufacturer out there who will actually try to provide tailored solutions for particular types of build, rather than trying to cover several niches with a single design.
Ah, okay, I think that's enough ranting...
Just don't get me started on hideous-looking cumbersome sticky-outty front-bezels