Technology is changing every single day and as much help as it is doing with improvements, it also leaves older products obsolete—such as the CD. With the cloud and other online options, as well as USB drives, becoming the storage standard of today, CDs and DVDs are dwindling. And it gets harder and harder to find a laptop with CD drive.
However, there are still industries, offices, and companies that still rely on CDs. Therefore, there are still laptops that come with a CD drive, you just need to keep an eye out for them. Here are some laptops you can check out:
Top Laptop with CD Drive Options
Back in the early 2000s, a CD drive was a must for almost every laptop model. The trouble though is, they aren’t the lightest to carry. What’s more, technology has then become a contest on being the thinnest and smallest, so newer laptops no longer have CD drives. Thankfully, there are still available laptops with CD drives this decade of the 2020s:
Dell Latitude E6430 Laptop
The Dell Latitude E6430 laptop has all the bells and whistles needed from any computer. It has a solid processor from Intel, a 3rd generation i5 at 2.6GHz. You can use this laptop for school or for work. But most importantly, it comes with a built-in DVD player so you can watch movies or open any CD to get files.
It’s possible to copy and back up the data on CDs and DVDs as the Dell Latitude E6430 laptop has good-sized storage. Aside from having 8GB RAM, it also has a 128GB solid-state hard drive.
The renewed Dell Latitude E6430 laptop has a 14.1” display yet weighs less than 5lbs. This laptop also comes with a 64-bit Windows 10 Professional.
- Intel i5 2.6GHz, 3rd Gen
- DVD Player
- 128GB SSD, 8GB RAM
- 14.1” display
HP 17t Laptop
One of the best things about the HP17t laptop is it can read CDs but at the same time, it can also burn DVDs. This laptop is perfect for work and plays as it has been upgraded with 8GB RAM and also comes with a 128GB solid-state drive.
With a large 17.3” display as well as Intel Iris Xe Graphics, you can expect to have a clear view of whatever is on your screen. The HP17t laptop has a 2.4GHz 11th Gen processor, it can be increased to 4.2GHz with the Intel Turbo Boost Technology.
This computer is installed with Windows 10 Home. You’ll also find regular fittings on the HP17t laptop, such as a 720P HD web camera.
- 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD
- Anti-glare, 17.3” display
- Intel i5, 11th Gen
- DVD-Writer
2021 Acer Aspire 3
The impressive 2021 Acer Aspire 3 is an ideal machine in the professional arena. With a DVD-RW, you can write and re-write files on rewritable discs. What’s more, it has a notable 20GB RAM and is armed with a 1TB hard disk drive and a 128GB solid-state drive. It might be the best laptop for 3D animation that comes with a CD drive.
It’ll be easy to see the tiniest details on your work as the 2021 Acer Aspire 3 has a 17.3” HD display, which translates to a 1600 x 900 resolution. This laptop is installed with Windows 10.
The 2021 Acer Aspire 3 has a processor speed of 3.60 GHz, it has 4 processors, the 10th Gen i5 from Intel.
- DVD-RW
- Intel i5, 10th Gen
- Massive storage 1TB + 128GB
- 17.3” HD display
2021 HP 17.3″ Business Laptop
The 2021 HP 17.3″ Business Laptop is certainly a machine that’ll work for you. You’ll be able to keep track of old storage formats yet still have upgraded specs that can rival that of newer laptops.
Aside from having a DVD player and writer, it also has a multi-format SD card reader. The 2021 HP 17.3” Business Laptop also comes with a 12GB SDRAM, so you can easily work with multiple tabs and apps open.
You can save up a lot of files as this computer means business, it has a 1TB hard disk drive. What’s more, the 2021 HP 17.3” Business laptop has an 11th Gen Intel i5 processor that can go up to 4.2 GHz with the Intel Turbo Boost Technology.
- Intel i5, 11th Gen
- 12GB DDR4 SDRAM
- DVD reader/writer + SD reader
- 1TB HDD
Lenovo 2020 L340-17 HD Laptop
If you want a modern laptop for work that can read and write DVDs, then the Lenovo 2020 L340-17 HD laptop might just be for you. This laptop has an 8th Gen Intel i3 processor that can run on 2.10GHz and increased to 3.90GHz.
You don’t have to worry about working on a document while also listening to background music and at the same time scrolling your browser plus chatting with a friend. The Lenovo 2020 L340-17 HD laptop has 12GB RAM. It also has massive storage, a 1TB hard disk drive.
Despite its good specs and a 17.3” display, the Lenovo 2020 L340-17 HD laptop is quite on the lighter side at around 6lbs for a computer that also has a DVD-RW.
- Intel i3, 8th Gen
- 12GB RAM, 1TB HDD
- DVD-RW
- 17.3” display
Buyer’s Guide to Laptop with CD Drive
Not all laptops with CD drives are built the same. You need to check out the following details so you can get the right one for you:
Read and Write
When buying a laptop with a CD drive, you need to consider if you just want to open files or if you actually need to burn CDs. There are laptops that can only allow you to read a CD or a DVD. It’ll definitely be a bit pricier to have a CD and DVD drive that can read and write.
Type of CDs
On the subject of CDs, you also need to be clear with laptop sellers about what kind of discs you will be working with. The very basic CD drives will only be able to read or burn a regular CD. It’s quite another unit to be able to read and write on a DVD and open a Blu-Ray disc. Be sure to understand the differences between these major discs.
Specs
Of course, you would want a computer that is more than just a CD player. You need to find out what you will be using your computer for. If it is just for simple browsing and e-mail sending, then you can do away with a computer with a lower RAM or simpler display.
However, if you need an all-around laptop that you can use for work, watch DVDs on, play games with, then you need a computer with a serious upgrade. Get the best processors and display qualities if you can.
Storage
If one of the main reasons why you are getting a laptop with a CD drive is for backup purposes, then you really need to invest in appropriate computer storage. Just imagine this, a regular CD-ROM has 700MB storage while a DVD can save up to 4.7GB. If you have multiple discs to read and save, it will tally up.
Parts
Now, it is pretty normal to find laptops with CD and DVD drives that have different parts. Meaning, they aren’t something that came directly from the original manufacturer. And that’s all right, as long as the laptop is working. Make sure to ask sellers which parts are original and which ones are upgraded.
You also need to double-check if the parts on your prospective laptop can be bought easily. It also helps if the laptop you buy is under warranty, so you don’t have to worry about repairs. Again, a laptop with a CD drive is rare and a bit hard to replace as a whole.
Alternative Solutions
If you have discs that you really need to open but can’t seem to find the right laptop fit for your needs, don’t worry. Here are 2 solutions that may be able to help you out.
External CD Drive
Can’t find the ideal laptop with cd drive? It’s okay to simply keep using your old computer but you will need an external CD drive. These are highly useful but can’t be a bother if you are looking for a laptop that already has everything you need on it. It’s a small price to pay to always carry the external CD drive and a connector to be able to burn and read discs anytime, anywhere.
Older Laptops
These are going to be slow but they can get the job done. Laptops from Apple usually have a CD drive if the model is from 2016 or older. However, this alternative solution is only ideal if you are just looking to open a CD or a DVD. It won’t be a good idea to write on discs.
Conclusion
Some people are surprised why there is still a need or reason for CDs when there are a lot of cloud storage options. A laptop with a CD drive is highly valuable, depending on your own needs. Understand though that CDs may have a long lifespan but there will be cases that newer laptops with the appropriate CD drives will not be able to read older discs.
Newer laptops with disc drives are very rare and can be snapped up quickly, so if you ever find a good one be sure to get it.
