MBA remote disc...a big pain

File sharing between my MBA and Dell is finally going okay. So I tried the remote disc function to back up iTunes music from MBA using my Dell dvd/cd burner. I can't play or burn CD's or DVD's. After consulting the lackluster Apple support page, it looks like I have to shell out $99 for the external MBA superdrive if I want that functionality. Oh well. I thought I would discard my Dell, but both laptops are on all the time now. I am tech obsessed without any tech knowledge.