Rumours Apple will Introduce a Mac Blu-ray Drive Continue

It was way back in April that we last commented on the rumours that Apple were poised to release a Mac with a Blu-ray drive, something which came about when iTunes 8.2 added Blu-ray to its list of Gracenote supported media.  Well, we're now on version 9.0.1 of iTunes, Gracenote still lists Blu-ray, WWDC has passed and still no Mac with Blu-ray.  However, good rumours refuse to die and the latest concerns the refresh of the iMac.

AppleInsider believes that the new versions of Apple's desktop machine could include the option of specifying a Blu-ray drive.  Their tipsters say the new machines are already being built and an announcement is just around the corner.  A Blu drive makes sense in terms of both increased storage - provided it's a rewritable - and to take advantage of the beautiful screens the iMac can be equipped with, however, it's almost inevitable Apple will charge extra for upgrading a standard DVD drive to the Blu-ray item.

This presents the eternal problem, just how many iMac users want a Blu-ray drive on their machine and how many of those are willing to pay Apple's usually high upgrade costs for it?  We don't believe it's that many, especially as the iMacs are a less common purchase already, and Blu on a PC is even more niche, leaving an unfortunately low demand.  Yes, they'll be testing the waters, but wouldn't it be nice to see an iMac or MacBook Pro with a Blu-ray as standard, for little extra cost?  Now that would be something worth shouting about!

It would be interesting to see who out there is planning to invest in one of the refreshed iMacs, should they be announced, and whether they would be upgrading the drive.  We're willing to bet it would be few who would be, and those that were would fall into the early adopter, tech fan category - hardly a group about to push Blu-ray adoption forward any further.  For Blu-ray to grow as a media option, more manufacturers need to introduce it not as a cost-upgrade, but as the standard drive for little or no extra cost.  

Let us know in the comments whether you'd go for a Blu-ray drive on a new iMac.

Comments

[Andrew]

I want Blu-ray in their entire line up, specifically Mac Pro and MacBook Pro... and then I'll buy a Mac... until then its Windows PC!

[Marco]

I want to buy a Mac since two years now, but I will not do that before they come with included Blu-ray ReWriters... NO WAY!

[Dave Grant - Ireland]

Broadband is still extremely poor and expensive here in Ireland (1MB down 350k up - 45euro per month) hence no decent service for downloading HD movies so we rely on our movie content from video stores which now stock half Blu Ray half SD DVD so here at least PC and Mac owners would opt for Blu Ray drives. Im a video editor so Im delighted to see the possible inclusion of Blu Ray on a Mac as the need for cheap storage space is every increasing with my now high use of HD content. I can finally clear up to 10 Lacie rugged drives!

[Andy Boxall]

I agree Dave, I think some tend to forget that Blu-ray is a great back-up option and pass it off as only an HD movie format.

And yes, that is some expensive broadband you have!

[vicki]

I am limping along with a 4 year old Macintosh desktop, and there is no way that I am buying another one until they come out with new product that has blu Ray. If My mac dies before this I might just have to use my pc.

[Andy Boxall]

Well Vicki, it looks like your PC may very well be called into action doesn't it!

http://www.blurayfreak.com/2009/10/new-imac-arrives-still-no-blu.html

[dt]

pc until mac mini and macbook pro equipped with i7+hdmi+bluray.

[Tom]

I have two MacBook Pro's, a MacPro and a G5, but if the next generation included Blu Ray, I would be first in line. I do a lot of video editing and need the high quality Blu Ray affords.

[dinar]

Waiting for Mac Book Pro to announce the blueray support and I will buy a new Mac. I am limping on a 2GB mem laptop (windows). Want to upgrade to 8 GB now.

[Marcelo Simões dos Reis]

I thought of a Mac Mini for my home theather set up. As it does not have support for blu-ray I've opted for PC and Windows 7. Hope Apple deliver us a line of Macs with blu-ray on.

[Lpr2k10]

I have gobs of uncompressed HD on tape that will only be ripped to a new blu-ray iMac, when Apple sacks up and releases this option. Willing to pay a premium not because i wanna buy blu discs at BBuy and watch movies (barf -- wait, i would do this too), but because of blu-rays ridiculous storage capacity. come on, jobs, do it already!! i have waited 2 yrs already. meanwhile, my 1 GB 17" PB can barely handle the horse shit flash content on the web.

[Pedro]

I agree. I am in the edge of buying an iMAC but will not do so until they have Blu-Ray Option. I have like 100 BD Movies that I would want to see in my iMAC screen in my bedroom. Until then, I hate to say this, I have to stick with my Dell.

[Anon]

Who would buy a macbook pro with a trackpad that was large enough to double as a graphics tablet, a (multi-)touchscreen, and blu ray? Everyone, that's who.

[Ian]

Oh no not again !
Sorry Apple but I just can't understand the
sense in omitting Blu ray yet again from these fantastic machines, it's really the only thing missing to complete it (Bar an HDMI socket).
I've been wanting to buy the 27inch screen iMac since you rolled out these aluminum iMacs, but I'm not prepared to spend one pound until Blu ray is on broad,
how can you be so cutting edge and desirable in some ways and yet so dinosaurish and behind in others.
Solid state memory is all well and good, but over something as simple as Blu ray
I just don't get it.
Disappointment reins again.