Apple's macbook air does not come with an optical drive (it is available as an option) so to install software distributed in CDs and DVDs, Apple devised a way to be able to use another computer's optical drive over the network. Apple has the CD/DVD Remote Sharing tool for Macs and Windows users.

I have tried using this and it was flawless, at first. However, subsequent use tend to make my Finder display the dreaded beachball of death (well, the Mac is still alive but you have to wait a few minutes to gain control of it). I thought it was a one-off thing but apparently, it was not. Apple released a new version of the software for both Mac and Windows.

I wonder when they will release one for Linux... Hmmmm...

Image courtesy of Flickr:saaby.