It’s the end of an era as Apple has apparently discontinued its SuperDrive CD and DVD reader from its online store. Back in 2008, when Apple first introduced the MacBook Air, it also announced an accessory called the Apple USB SuperDrive – which is essentially a CD and DVD player that can be connected to a Mac via USB. Even though CDs are no longer as popular as they once were, Apple was still selling the accessory. However, Apple’s USB SuperDrive is now being discontinued.
At present, it’s no longer possible to buy the accessory through the official Apple Store in the United States. The product’s webpage says that it’s “Sold Out,” and given that it’s a product introduced in 2008, it seems very unlikely that Apple will ever produce new units again.
Customers can still use their location to see if there’s still a unit available for pickup at one of the Apple Retail Stores. The product is still available in other countries such as the UK and Brazil. However, it’s probably only a matter of time before Apple’s USB SuperDrive disappears from all stores.
The MacBook Air was relatively surprising in that it shipped without a built-in CD drive, leading Apple to produce the SuperDrive. Apple completely phased out optical drives from its computers in 2013, when all the Macs available in the lineup no longer had an optical drive.
Remaining SuperDrive units can still be found on websites like Amazon and eBay, and tend to retail for around $79. The drive sports a USB-A connector, only works with USB 2.0 speeds, and is not compatible with Blu-ray discs.
Via 9to5Mac