Source : DigitimesThe market for DVD burners is now more than mature, and technical limits have been reached and pushed beyond original expectations. For notebook-dedicated models it implies that such optical units do not cost a lot anymore, and OEM can easily find them for USD35.
Combo drives are only marginally cheaper, and should only represent 20% of the optical drive market in 2007. For Apple, it is a bit different, as Cupertino is using optical drive with a 9.5mm thickness for its entry level MacBook, instead of the other standard 11.5mm used by most notebook PC makers. Thinner drives are more expensive but the difference between combo and DVD burner units is also reduced. So no more Combo-based entry level model for the next MacBook revision?
[translation by Linathael]
