Slim-type 9mm ODDs likely to be adopted beginning 2013, say Taiwan makers

Ocean Chen, Taipei; Adam Hwang, DIGITIMES [Tuesday 6 November 2012]

To meet the thicknesses required for ultrabooks, optical disc drive (ODD) makers have been developing slim-type 9mm thick ODDs which may be adopted by ultrabook vendors or ODMs beginning in 2013, according to Taiwan-based supply chain makers.

The thickness of slim-type ODDs has been reduced from 12.7mm used in conventional notebooks to 9.5mm for slim notebooks or large-sized ultrabooks, the sources indicated. As production costs for 9mm slim-type ODDs is less than 10% higher than that for 9.5mm models, ODD makers have focused R&D efforts on the former, the sources noted.

Although slim-type ODDs are unlikely to be given up for use in notebooks, the proportion of notebooks equipped with slim-type ODDs has declined from over 90% to about 80% in 2012 and is likely to drop further to 60-70% in 1-2 years, the sources indicated.

Development of slim-type ODDs with thicknesses of 8.5mm or 7mm for example face technological barriers in optical pick-up heads. In addition, R&D and production costs would be as much as 3-4 times those for 9.5mm models, the sources said.