A slim optical drive like the Samsung SE-506AB can be carried in a laptop bag or tucked out of sight in a drawer to be used only when needed. Portable optical drives are becoming increasingly important as manufacturers slim down laptops and ultrabooks by removing the optical drive entirely. The Samsung SE-506AB External Slim Blu-ray Re-Writer is a portable Blu-ray optical drive, similar to the Pioneer BDR-XD04 ($149.99 direct, 4 stars).