Easy to check with an USB stick in advance. The number of times I used the DVD drive was less than 20, including tests with linux-boot-CD's. No worry on cost, but they always try to get lighter laptops - SSD plus big data HD gives the machine much better usability than a DVD plus one of the other. My old Fuji 17' (Pentium M) already supported USB boot besides offering second HD besides DVD - guessing USB boot option to be standard for the last years. Even UEFI should not spoil it, although I am worried a bit by the trend for hard coupling seen coming from tablets.


>Laptop has to support booting from USB. Not all do. I hadn't thought of this option, but it could be valid.
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>>Swapping main HD was something I tried a few years ago - did not sit well with me. Swapping a second HD in a 17' is another case - that worked quite well. Similar in 15' if you opt to work with SSD, HD and external DVD. Another option with most laptops is USB3: if the machine does not support it, an adapter is cheap and the speed are good enough for a multi-GB copy if that is really needed. Often just working with the external disk is good enough. YMMV...