My Lite-On is a little too fussy about reading discs. My Pioneer DVD Writer read through anything but my Lite-On sometimes can't even read a disc with a couple of small scratches on it (not deep either). I have heard great things about the latest model Toshiba and Pioneer DVD-ROM drives, so the question is, which one of the two should I go for. I can get a good deal on the Toshiba at: http://www.accupc.com/itemDetail.jsp?pid=DRTODVD16XV2
or I can get the Pioneer from the following site for a little bit more: http://avlogic.com/pc/brand.cgi?manID=1109&catID=0&PHPSESSID=9c6bcd6dda75b18d415c3a29b624caf6 Is each one just as good or is one a bit better than the other?

How about the new Plextor too m8?

I've heard it's basically the same drive as the Pioneer though, can anybody confirm this one way or the other?

Any idea how much it would run here in the US? I haven't seen one yet.

Dom't know about US, saw them on a couple of UK sites and they were only around the £28 mark IIRC.

if thats the toshiba sd-m1712, you will need the hacked f/ware to release the css ripping speed from a mergre 2x, a great drive when applied.

Here you go jester, this is my choice.

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=173406

Free 2nd day too!

Though if you dont like this one, then I would go for the toshiba, that pioneer is fugly!! Dont like the open slot.

Nice price on that one. I want to avoid hacked firmware as much as possible (due to my dead Pioneer 105), so that rules out the Toshiba. Have you ever ordered from that site Mr. Snatcher or know anything about them? I will definitely pick up the Plextor for that price if the site is reliable.

Yep, They are freakin fast. I have ordered about 10 items for them, and not one problem. I just ordered a processor from them yesterday and should recieve it tomorrow.

Good to know. Now I just need to find someone to sell my Lite-On to. Ebay here I come. :laugh:

If you get it let us know how it works. I might be getting a new one soon too. I have a Lite-On also. Shows it as a jvc though :confused:

I will get one as soon as I ditch my Lite-On. BTW Mr Snatcher you do have an e-mail from me that you might want to look at. ;)

Ok I will look when I get home.

meh. for that kind of a deal I went ahead and ordered the drive. I guess I will let you guys know what it's like in a couple of days. ;)

Or you can wait for sales the day after Thanksgiving. Here they are:
http://blackfriday.everydeal.com/

BTW: there are like 600 on ebay.com every kind you can imagine.

Too Late, I already ordered it. Even so I don't imagine there would be too much savings on a brand new Plextor model that is $42 with free 2 day shipping. *EDIT* just searched through the database and no results could be found. The store selection is pretty limited though.

Nope, not much.

Another funny office depot store: got this from another website:
"Lite-on DVD drive that will supposedly be on sale for BF (I couldn't find it by the way). The sku for this I/O drive is 801838. List price is $199.84 "Our Price" is $3.98 as of 9:50am CDT."

Some actually ordered it, but OD caught on.

$3.98 :-)

Man for that price I would stock up and start turning profits. :laugh:

According to reviews jester the plexor is just a pioneer 120 clone but even if they are the 120 is a good drive anyhow.

Drat. Oh well the Pioneer and the Plextor cost the same amount so it's not like I was robbed. What's up with Plextor slapping thier label on drives they don't make? It seem that in the past they manufactered all of thier drives and they were considered by many to be the best.