CD Player for the Steam Machine

Someone could make a custom front plate with a vertical disc drive.

I bet someone will 3D print an attachment that could fit a USB CD/DVD player and clip to the Machine

Reminded me of the Panasonic GameCube (Panasonic Q). Not a separate DVD player, but built-in. Still, interesting ideas and neat designs!

That's not a Steam Machine. It's obviously an Xbox.

Was the accessory for the GBA cart real and actually released? My memory around the GC is foggy af. I might have even had the thing, but I don't remember.

I love physical media, but are optical discs really a good match with the steam deck? What exactly is the use case here?

As someone who grew up in the ERS of the Sony Discman, I can testify how annoying it is to try to get an optical disx to read while holding it in your hands. The PSP largely solved this with UMD's- addign an expensive and bulky plastic shell to the discs to stabilize them. I don't think it is a coincidence that Sony decided to remove that entirely from.the Vita. I can't remember any other handheld that has used discs. Everything else uses cartridges or is digital-only.

Disc drives are common on laptops, and portable DVD players used to be common. These larger form factors are expected to rest on your lap or a table, so are more stable.

Another consideration is power. It takes a lot of energy to spin those discs around. That's one of the reasons why SSD's have almost completely replaced HDD's in mobile devices.

Another issue is- are you planning on carrying a CD wallet full of discs around with you?

What is the use case for a disc drive on the Deck? For the games I have in disc, its easier to just rip them and keep them digitally. Same with movies and music.

I think a disc drive could be a cool part of a Steam Deck docking station, but I have a hard time seeing myself ever using discs in any other situation.

Edit: Nevermind I got the Deck and Machine mixed up lol

Off topic, but how does the Steam machine's dimensions compare to a GameCube, which is bigger?

dimensions_steam_machine = [156, 152, 162.4];  
dimensions_gamecube = [150, 161, 110];  

origin_steam_machine = [0, 0, 0];  
origin_gamecube = [dimensions_steam_machine[0] + 20, 0, 0];  

translate(origin_steam_machine) cube(dimensions_steam_machine, center=false);  
translate(origin_gamecube) cube(dimensions_gamecube, center=false);  

Not buying a gabecube, but yeah, I'd like a box that can play my console discs.

latop drive in a 3d printed enclosure that stacks with the steam machine. If the machine has free headers on the mobo route the cables internally, otherwise sata to usb adapter.