What is an optical drive?

[LaBelleDameSansPatience]

I want to buy a reconditioned laptop for dh ... one I have seen says 'no optical drive' ... does that mean that it wont play cds or dvds?

Correct. Many do not come with them these days. You can get external USB cd/dvd drives if one is needed.

If it is going to be used quite a lot for playing dvds then I would go for one with a drive internally, as more convenient.

Thank you.