Before broadband internet became widespread, DVDs were the best way to install large programs, software packages, and operating systems. The rise of faster internet speeds and cloud computing has furthered this trend. As laptop designs have become slimmer and sleeker, eliminating DVD players and optical drives proved one of the easiest ways to drop weight and free up additional space. Once one of the most sought-after features in many computers, DVD players are all but an afterthought on many current models, especially among laptops. Buying guide for best external DVD drives