Environmental DVD Wrecks Apple Drives

FST777 writes "The British Mail on Sunday published its latest DVD giveaway on the EcoDisc, a thin and bendable DVD format that is supposed to be more environmentally-friendly than regular DVDs. Despite the clear warning against using them in Apple slot drives, some Mac users decided to give it a go. The result? A brisk trade for repair shops in the UK. 'The EcoDisc's manufacturer, ODS, insists the disc won't break drives. "We've produced over ten million of these discs — we've had less than a dozen phone calls," says managing director, Ray Wheeler. "There are ways to get the discs out." Wheeler says the problem stems from Apple's slot-loading drives. "It uses an ejection system that doesn't get approval from the DVD Forum." He claims the EcoDisc should work in other types of slot-loading drive, although admits that it hasn't been tested in the PlayStation 3.'"

Luckily for Apple Users there is a simple fix

[Bryansix]

Just throw the whole computer out and buy a new one!

Serves them right

[Malevolent Tester]

For reading the Mail on Sunday. Apple users should go for the Guardian's mixture of smugness, cult like atmosphere and complete indifference to reality.

Problem Solved!

[goatpunch]

Apple has solved this problem by releasing the MacBook Air without a DVD drive built in- it's much easier to throw away and replace a USB accessory.

Re:Now don't forget

[snowraver1]

We in the industry call that a "feature".

Re:pot, meet kettle

[Pluvius]

Discs don't have ejection systems, so no.

Rob

Re:But it helps the earth

[xannash]

It wrecks your drive, but it's good for the earth

But it's ultimately bad for the earth because you have to get a new drive to replace the old drive that was ruined, which is then dumped, causing demand to go up, increasing global warming, bringing earth even closer to Armageddon, after which only cockroaches and old Honda trail bikes will exist, the few humans that do remain will be abducted by aliens and forced into slavery in some asteroid mine in the Omega galaxy.

The Beta & The Omega

[Quiet_Desperation]

although admits that it hasn't been tested in the PlayStation 3

Well, yeah, that's understandable seeing as it's still so hard to get a hold of a PS3.

Re:Idiot tax for jumpy Mail readers

[ettlz]

the Mail has, let's say, a certain reputation in the UK for its readership being most of Britain's jumpy, middle class, alarmist, conservative, "immigration is evil and all non-white immigrants should be castrated" type readers.

Yeah, but it's good for a laugh though, in'it?

Re:Nelson points and says "Haha!"

[AKAImBatman]

Seriously, even Apple users I know rant about their slot loading Macs (you can pry my tray loading Imac G3 from my cold, dead fingers). Both ideas were stupid.

Actually, the Apple slot-loading drive was a response to durability problems experienced by students when they used Mac laptops. Apparently kids were liable to snap the DVD tray right off the laptop. (Not good.) So it wasn't a stupid idea. More like an attempt to balance out a variety of needs.

That being said, you could always get a MacBook Air. Nothing says "high technology" like a complete lack of an optical drive. ;-)

Apple and "Standards Compliance"

[BSDetector]

"It uses an ejection system that doesn't get approval from the DVD Forum."

Well, who are they to tell Apple and Sir Steve what to do?

Re:Not a CLEAR warning!

[teslatug]

Clear the warning was...if yoda you were

"I've heard the opposite..."

[tlambert]

"I've heard the opposite- that slot-load drives are bad for schools because kids like to stick things in them."

And I've heard that what they stick in the slots is pieces of the trays they snap off from other machines that have (had?) tray loading drives.

-- Terry

Re:apple slot loader

[emag]

/how 'bout them apples?

Haven't you been reading? They don't work in them apples either...

Wow. Space-time contiuum and stuff!

[foxtrot]

I think I've accidentally been transported into a parallel universe. Is this not Slashdot?

What, you say it is Slashdot? Then how do you explain this article without someone (incorrectly) referring to "bricking" the Apple CD drive?

Re:Nelson points and says "Haha!"

[legoman666]

It's a retractable cupholder, you insensitive clod!

Hold down the mouse button on boot to eject

[SteeldrivingJon]

It's really quite simple.

Amusingly, when I typed 'Hold' in the Subject field, Safari completed the sentence because I posted the same exact thing here a while back the last time this came up.

Re:Nelson points and says "Haha!"

[Anonymous Coward]

You know, I've heard that if you stick a slice of bologna in the DVD drive, it will play a short movie about pigs.

Oh well. It was worth a shot.

Re:Luckily for Apple Users there is a simple fix

[Toveling]

You refuse to buy Apple products because they use DVD drives that don't accept eco-friendly DVDs found in British newspapers? I don't think Apple is hurting because of your ethical boycott...

Re:Dear American Mac-haters, I have a correction..

[u38cg]

You fail to mention that illegal immigrants killed Diana, presumably while stealing our jobs and living off benefits.

Re:Luckily for Apple Users there is a simple fix

[Idarubicin]

Who takes an unknown disc that they find in a newspaper and sticks it into their machine without so much as reading the cover? It says right on the thing, don't use it in a Mac. Then they want to complain?

You're right. Someone saw something that looked like a DVD, and treated it like a DVD. The fools. (The warning on the disc was, apparently, the entirely clear and obvious phrase "NO APPLE SLOT IN DRIVE" in the bottom corner of the label. You did look at the article, right?)

Tomorrow I'm going to leave a platter of poisoned brownies in the lunchroom at work, along with a big sign saying "BROWNIES". It's all on the up-and-up as long as I leave a "NO MOUTH FOOD" label in the bottom corner of the sign, right? I can't wait to see how many suckers I can catch. Ha ha!

Re:Luckily for Apple Users there is a simple fix

[WK2]

The warning on the disc was, apparently, the entirely clear and obvious phrase "NO APPLE SLOT IN DRIVE" in the bottom corner of the label...Tomorrow I'm going to leave a platter of poisoned brownies in the lunchroom at work, along with a big sign saying "BROWNIES". It's all on the up-and-up as long as I leave a "NO MOUTH FOOD" label in the bottom corner of the sign, right?

"NO MOUTH FOOD" is too clear. "NO APPLE SLOT IN DRIVE" would be more analogous to "NO MOUTH IN HEAD".