As evidenced by a recent unexpected surge of sales of optical drives as the Windows 10 upgrade cycle unfolds, Japan still uses physical media, perhaps more than any other region in the world. Due to the country's strong roots in technology and entertainment, mixed with culture, it's the only place that still prefers a disc over downloading or streaming content. Owing to that legacy, a new PC case launched in Japan by Cooler Master honors this tradition, allowing users to fit a disc drive in the MasterBox CM695, which features a 5.25-inch open bay in the front.
Usually, in modern cases this space is reserved for AIO radiators or just used for aesthetics, but the CM695's drive bay can prove to be much more functional — especially at a time when the country is migrating from Windows 10 to 11 and experiencing a dramatic surge in demand for disc drives. Not only that, but the CM695 can also hold up to four 3.5-inch hard drives for the ultimate off-the-grid media experience, or kickstart your NAS aspirations.
