If you're on the market for a customized laptop, it's probably safe to say that you're a little daunted by the sheer plethora of options available to you. With an almost endless amount of customization options, it's possible to turn the top-of-the-line computers into real productivity powerhouses.

But many laptops, like the gorgeous Retina MacBook Pros, as well as the MacBook Air, no longer come with optical drives. The optical drive, better known as the CD or DVD drive, used to be an essential tool for every computer. But many manufacturers seem to think it has gone the way of the floppy disk, in terms of becoming redundant.

So, do you really need an optical drive anymore? Like most technological questions, the answer depends on the ways in which you use your computer. For instance, if you need to burn DVDs for your job, or are still in the habit of making mixtapes for your friends, maybe you do.

But, before you rush to answer, think about the last time you used the optical drive on your computer. Chances are, it was a while ago. And with software available online from places like the Mac App store, you'll be hard-pressed to find software that you're unable to run.

But Apple does make a USB Superdrive for the times when there's no way around playing a CD. As more data goes cloud-based, you'll likely find yourself relying less and less on your optical drive.

If you're still unsure if you need an optical drive, speak to one of the experts at PortableOne. Not only can we answer your question based on all of our relevant experience, we'll build the perfect custom laptop for you with or without an optical drive.