Do you use your Superdrive ?

[Apollo33]

I use mine every few months to load software, that's it.

Is it true that I can't plug the thing into another optical-drive less laptop, like a Toshiba or IBM netbook?

It depends, I think... The main reason other computers won't be able to use it is that it requires more power than a standard USB port supplies. There may be adapters that could resolve this by using two USB ports to power the drive, but I've not looked into it as I don't have a SuperDrive.

I think HP may have used two USB slots on top of one another to have a proprietary two-slot USB connector for their disc drive (that would be able to provide enough power for their drive). I seem to remember seeing something like that on one of my mom's old work laptops.

The issue isn't that Apple intentionally made it incompatible, but that Apple wanted a unique solution to allow a USB drive to connect to a device using only one USB port since the MBA only has one... Apple's solution just happened to make it incompatible with standard USB ports, since the drive can't draw the necessary power off of one port.

 

[Huubster]

The main reason other computers won't be able to use it is that it requires more power than a standard USB port supplies.

Not true. A fasle assumption that has been circulating on the web waaay too long. The truth is here:

http://tnkgrl.wordpress.com/2008/06/24/macbook-air-superdrive-for-all/

Browse down to the reactions. There are even references to software hacks.