Editing SuperDrive

{{Short description|Floppy disk or optical disk drive made by Apple Inc.}}
{{distinguish|SuperDisk|MSD Super Disk|Superfloppy}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2013}}
{{More citations needed|date=June 2011}}
[[File:Apple-USB-SuperDrive.jpg|thumb|An external CD/DVD SuperDrive]]

'''SuperDrive''' is the product name for a [[floppy disk]] drive and later an [[optical disc drive]] made and marketed by [[Apple Inc.]] The name was initially used for what Apple called their high-density floppy disk drive, and later for the internal CD and DVD drive integrated with Apple computers. Though Apple no longer manufactures computers that feature built-in SuperDrives, the name is still used when referring to Apple's external CD and DVD drive accessory (pictured).

==Floppy disk drive==<!-- This section is linked from [[Macintosh Classic]] -->
[[Image:SuperDrive Apple Mac LC II.JPG|thumb|Internal SuperDrive floppy drive on a [[Macintosh LC II]] ]]
The term was first used by Apple Computer in 1988 to refer to their 1.44&nbsp;[[megabyte|MB]] 3.5&nbsp;inch [[floppy disk|floppy drive]]. This replaced the older [[Macintosh External Disk Drive|800&nbsp;KB floppy drive]] that had been standard in the [[Mac (computer)|Macintosh]] up to then, but remained compatible{{citation needed|date=June 2020}} in that it could continue to read and write both 800&nbsp;KB (double-sided) and 400&nbsp;KB (single-sided) floppy disks, as well as the newer high-density floppies.

This drive was also capable of reading and writing [[MS-DOS]] formatted disks and [[File Allocation Table#FAT12|FAT12]] file formats, using [[PC Exchange]] or other software, unlike the 400&nbsp;KB and 800&nbsp;KB drives. This was made possible as the SuperDrive now utilitized the same [[Modified Frequency Modulation|MFM]] (Modified Frequency Modulation) encoding scheme used by the [[IBM PC compatible|IBM PC]], yet still retained backward compatibility with Apple's variable-speed [[zoned CAV]] scheme and [[group coded recording]] encoding format, so it could continue to read Macintosh [[Macintosh File System|MFS]], [[Hierarchical File System (Apple)|HFS]] and [[Apple II]] [[Apple ProDOS|ProDOS]] formats on 400/800&nbsp;KB disks.

Introduced in 1988 under the Trademark name ''FDHD'' (Floppy Disk High Density), the subsequently renamed SuperDrive was known primarily as an internally mounted floppy drive that was part of the Macintosh computer; however, an external version of the drive was manufactured that came in a [[Snow White design language|Snow White]]-styled plastic case.

[[File:The stylish duo (cropped).jpg|thumb|Apple II 3.5 Disk Controller Card & Apple SuperDrive]]
While the external drive worked on both Apple's product lines, it was mainly intended for use on the Apple II series, for which Apple introduced in 1991 a slot-based interface called the Apple II 3.5 Disk Controller Card for [[Apple IIe]] and [[Apple IIGS|II<small>GS</small>]] computers so they too could use 1.40&nbsp;MB storage and read/write MS-DOS. The controller card as well as the external Superdrive were discontinued in June 1994.

The SuperDrive cannot be used with the original four Mac models ([[Macintosh 128K]] through [[Macintosh Plus]]), as their disk controller (the [[Integrated Woz Machine|IWM]]) doesn't support high density. The next two models to be released ([[Macintosh II]] & [[Macintosh SE]] (1987)) also shipped with that controller; a SuperDrive connected to them will behave as an 800&nbsp;KB drive. These two models can be upgraded via the M0244 upgrade kit (which replaces the IWM disk controller with the SWIM) and gain full use of the SuperDrive. All later models shipped with the SWIM.

The first [[Mac (computer)|Macintosh]] model to include a SuperDrive floppy drive was the [[Macintosh IIx]] (1988). Every [[Mac (computer)|Macintosh]] and [[PowerBook]] introduced from 1988 to 1997 (with the exception of the [[PowerBook 100]], [[PowerBook Duo]] series, and [[PowerBook 2400c]], which offered a proprietary external floppy drive as an option), had a built-in SuperDrive floppy drive. The last model to include one was the beige [[Power Macintosh G3]] series, which was manufactured until January 1999.

The [[PowerBook G3]] 1998 model (a.k.a. Wallstreet) had an optional floppy drive module. The [[PowerBook 190]] series, [[PowerBook 5300]] Series, [[PowerBook 3400c]], and original [[PowerBook G3]] shared the same interchangeable floppy drive module as a standard feature. The drive as mounted on PowerBooks lacked the auto-inject feature of Apple's initial desktop SuperDrive implementation, requiring the user to manually insert the disk all the way into the drive. The feature was dropped throughout the lineup during 1993–94.

The [[PowerBook 1400]] series also had a floppy drive module, but was incompatible with the other PowerBooks. The end of the SuperDrive coincides with the demise of [[Old World ROM]] Macs; with the advent of the [[New World ROM]] machines, Apple stopped offering internal floppy drives on all models. The SuperDrive is not supported in [[Mac OS X]], not even on the few Old World ROM machines that can officially run OS X.

==Internal CD and DVD drive==
[[File:Mac Book Pro.jpg|thumb|An integrated SuperDrive shown on the right side of a [[MacBook Pro]]]]
Once the use of floppy disks started declining, Apple reused the trademark to refer to the optical drives built into its Macintosh models, which could read and write both DVDs and [[Compact disc|CDs]]. The early 2001 release of the [[Power Mac G4]] was the first Macintosh to include a SuperDrive.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2001/02/19Apple-Ships-Industrys-First-SuperDrive/ |title=Apple Ships Industry's First SuperDrive |date=February 19, 2001 |publisher=Apple }}</ref> SuperDrives featured 6–24x write speeds<ref>{{Cite web|title=Apple Macbook Tech Specs|url=http://www.bestbuy.com/site/apple-superdrive-8x-external-usb-double-layer-dvdrw-cd-rw-drive/5856129.p?|access-date=June 11, 2014}}</ref> and supported the [[DVD recordable|DVD±R]], [[DVD recordable|DVD±RW]], [[CD-R]], and [[CD-RW]] formats along with all normal read-only media. Some drive models used as SuperDrives are capable of reading [[DVD-RAM]]; on these drives, the ability to write to these discs is disabled. Apple never offered a [[Blu-ray]] drive or supported playback of the format. [[DVD#Dual-layer recording|DVD±R DL]] Dual Layer DVD did not come out until 2005 and was not supported on the SuperDrive until the release of early 2005 models of PowerMac G5 which came with updated SuperDrives which supported DL recording on DL media.

Unlike tray-style disc holders which have an inner guide ring, slot-style drives will not work with [[MiniCD]] or [[MiniDVD]] discs (8&nbsp;cm diameter instead of 12&nbsp;cm) unless an 8&nbsp;cm optical disc adapter is used,<ref>[https://www.engadget.com/2007/11/30/apple-patents-8cm-to-12cm-disk-adapters/ Apple patents 8cm to 12cm disk adapters]</ref> and extraction of the disc is difficult, requiring tweezers, use of a card with double-sided sticky tape, or complete disassembly of it.

The [[MacBook Air]], released on January 29, 2008, is the first Macintosh to not include a SuperDrive after it became standard across the line. Apple began phasing SuperDrives out across the Macintosh line beginning on July 20, 2011. The updated second generation 13-inch [[MacBook Pro]], released on June 11, 2012 and discontinued on October 27, 2016, is the last Macintosh to include a SuperDrive,<ref name="MRDVD">[http://www.macrumors.com/2016/10/27/apple-discontinues-non-retina-macbook-pro/ Apple No Longer Sells a Mac With a CD Drive]</ref> while the Late 2011 was the last iMac model with the built in optical drive.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Last most powerful iMac model before the optical drive was removed?|url=https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/last-most-powerful-imac-model-before-the-optical-drive-was-removed.1724058/|access-date=2021-04-05|website=MacRumors Forums|language=en-US}}</ref>

==External CD and DVD drive==
[[File:Apple MacBook Air SuperDrive.jpg|thumb|The first package of Apple SuperDrive when it released]]

Apple has sold a USB-connected external SuperDrive as an accessory since 2008 with the introduction of the MacBook Air.<ref name="MRDVD" /> The drive has faced criticism and mixed customer reviews, with 410 reviews averaging two and a half stars before Apple's removal of customer reviews from their shopping website. Criticism includes the lack of support for [[Blu-ray]] or mini optical discs and malfunctions that make the drive inoperable, with no way to eject a stuck disc.<ref>{{cite web|title=Apple USB SuperDrive|url=https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MD564LL/A/apple-usb-superdrive|website=Apple|access-date=October 9, 2018|date=January 5, 2017}}</ref> On newer Mac computers, it also requires the additional purchase of a [[USB-C]]-to-USB-A adapter to connect.

==See also==

*[[Macintosh External Disk Drive]]
*[[SuperDisk]] – a format designed by [[Imation]] as a successor to the floppy disk.
*[[Combo drive]] – an optical drive that can read and write CDs and reads DVDs
*[[MacBook Air]] – a laptop made by Apple that utilizes Apple's first external USB SuperDrive
*[[Timeline of Apple Inc. products]]
*[[Xbox 360 HD DVD Player]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150330112542/http://macuser.my/forum/ejecting-stuck-disc-superdrive Ejecting a Stuck Disc from the Superdrive]
* [http://blog.jgc.org/2011/11/how-to-forcibly-eject-cddvd-from.html How to forcibly eject a CD/DVD from a MacBook Air USB SuperDrive]

{{Apple hardware since 1998}}
{{Apple hardware}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Superdrive}}
[[Category:Apple Inc. peripherals]]
[[Category:Floppy disk drives]]
[[Category:DVD]]
[[Category:Rotating disc computer storage media]]
[[Category:Trademarks]]