Someone asked me a computer question that has stumped even me!
In relation to laptop PCs, what’s the difference between an integrated CD-ROM and a modular CD-ROM?
Modular drives are different in that typically the CD in the modular drive bay can be swapped out for a floppy drive or a ZIP drive. It’s not “better” in specific functionality it just allows more drive options in a smaller form factor.
Astro’s on the right track…
Let’s say you bought a computer with an integrated CD-ROM and you want to get a CD-RW or a DVD-ROM instead. You won’t be able to install them in place of the CD-ROM because it’s integrated.
Same situation with a modular drive, you just open the computer up, undo a couple of screws and a wire connector, and put the new drive in. In 10 minutes, you’ve got your new CD-RW or DVD ready to go.
I usually try to avoid anything integrated on a computer becuase usually “integrated” can be translated as “if it goes bad, it can’t be replaced because we soldered it in”. This is especially important with things like sound boards or video cards.
BRAIN FART!!!
If I had read the OP closely, I’d have noticed the word “laptop” in the question. Astro is 100% perfectly correct. A modular drive on a laptop is removable from a “drive bay” very much like removing a videotape from a VCR so you can put a different one in. Integrated means “that’s the drive you are stuck with.”
I was spouting off about desktop PC’s.
Carry on.