In 2023 (and soon 2024), trying to find a new laptop with a DVD drive is like trying to find a still-existing Blockbuster that offers DVD rentals. While the PC market is moving away from optical storage for both desktop and mobile, there’s one place you can still buy a laptop with a DVD drive. Japan, the land of the rising sun.
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In addition to a 13th generation Core processor, the new NEC VersaPro Type VD also features a DVD drive and a VGA port.
new NEC VersaPro Type VD is a business laptop with a DVD Super Multi drive. This great feature from the past is now joined by some more great features from the past, including a real VGA connector and a removable battery. Having a removable battery is certainly very cool, and it’s one feature we’d like to see come back.
The NEC VersaPro Type VD is not only a 2023 re-release of a laptop originally launched in 2002, but also comes with a host of new features. The 15.6-inch Full HD screen (1920×1080) display is paired with a 13th Gen Intel Core processor, up to 32GB of RAM, SSD storage, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity, and five USB ports.
Four USB 3.2 Gen1 ports and one Thunderbolt 4 compatible Type-C USB4 Gen3x2 port. There’s also a Gigabit Ethernet port, HDMI port, SD card slot, and 3.5mm audio. It ticks all the right boxes for a modern laptop for work and business use, with the added bonus of being able to play whatever DVD copy of The Matrix you still have lying around somewhere.
Currently, the NEC VersaPro Type VD is only sold in Japan, so it is unknown if it will be sold in other regions.
