Does the Pioneeer 108 OEM come with a different faceplate?

[Gplracer]

I was about to get the Pioneer 108 but someone stated that the oem comes with the regular faceplate and not the newer cooler looking one? Is this true? Who has the retail version one in stock? Is it a lot more money or just a little like other drives? Thanks!!!

[steveryan]

The OEM 107 and retail 107 were totally different in looks so i'm presuming that's the case with the 108.

[D.A.R.J.R.]

I hope the 108 fits in my pc. I just realised after I bought it that the face plate looks like it might have a hard time fitting. My pc's case is one made by hp and has special doors over the drives.

EDIT: whats funny is the oem picture looks like it will fit but the retail one wont. Its a good thing I was cheap and got the oem.

[Jamz]

I have a 108 & the retail A08. The retail A08 looks cool (it's black) in my Dell Dimension pc but the size of both are the same. The only difference in the two is cosmetic. The A08 says pioneer on it & has a nicer face & the 108 is the basic plain looking drive. It should fit in your pc like any other drive would

[henry97]

Jamz,
How much different is between 108 and A08? I see a huge diferent in price.

[Jamz]

Both drives use the same firmware. They are identical in performance. They both show up in device manager as a DVR-108. The only difference is the 108 is an OEM model. With the A08 you get software, which I don't use anyway since they obviously don't give you reel DVD or the higher end apps that I use. Oh yea, I almost forgot, the A08 comes in a pretty retail box where the 108 comes in a plain cardboard box. For that you either pay around $179 for the A08 or $89 for the 108.

[Jamz]

Henry97, I also forgot to tell you that the A08 comes with the cable (but most people already have that) and 1 blank (but not a dual layer blank)

[henry97]

Jamz,
Thanks for your inputs.

[sector001]

the OEM version i bought comes with a blank dual layered disc.

[JohnnyCNote]

I just got an OEM from NewEgg and it fit with no problems at all. As far as the faceplate goes, mine's black, so it's not all that noticeable, and I have a door on my case, so it's hidden anyway....

[leebo]

I've read there is also a difference in the housing. The retail has a honeycomb design that Pioneer claims reduces vibrations. There is also a utility (that does not work with the OEM) to reduce noise levels.

Personally, I bought the OEM.