I was surprised to search on google and not being able to easily find the first laptop ever to not have an optical drive built in after CD'S were invented and all computers used them. I'm curious to see who can name the oldest model here in HN to omit it.
IBM full-size Thinkpads could be configured with a second battery or a second 2.5" hard drive in the spot we think of as where the optical drive goes -- user-interchangeable, even.
There have been superportables all along without built-in optical drives, such as the ThinkPad 560 (1996).
The 505 was a beautiful laptop and the form factor would probably still be pleasing today.
I ended up buying a Picturebook since I had a long bus commute. It was underpowered with the TransMeta Crusoe processor, but it fit in my coat pocket and served as an MP3 player. :)
Retina Macbook Pro, 2013. Still kept around an older MBP for a couple years for the rare occasions that I needed to read a CD or DVD, but I used that rarely, and the increased portability of the newer one was life-changing.
Mine that was for me, 2017 iMac. For my wife, 2017 Macbook Pro. I had a previous 2012 Macbook Pro but that was the last generation with a CD/DVD drive.
