should i get this nec burner

[deh707]

i want to buy this:

http://www.xpcgear.com/necnd3520a.html

what does "OEM" mean? original manu. or something? is that good or bad

[DaveS]

OEM means original equipment manufacturer..

what that means is that this drive was produced for a computer maker to include in their final product and was not packaged to be sold retail direct to the consumer (as in 'this package not labelled for individual sale)

what that means practically speaking is that you will get that drive in a brown box, and nothing else - no instructions, no glossy stuff, no cables, no screws, no nothing..just the drive...

if you are replacing an existing drive, it's easy - just pull the old drive and plug this one in..if this is a new drive, you'll need room on your cable for this, need screws to hold it in the chasis, etc. (also would be good to understand the concept of master & slave device)..etc..

hope this helps..

also check www.tigerdirect.com

sorry - no opinion on the drive itself..just trying to explain OEM

[deh707]

alright i understand... but the screws to hold the drive in? my current drives dont have screws, they just "slide in"

[DaveS]

yeah, who knows what they send, but it's basicallyl no frills - just the drive...that's how they make them so cheap (and I'm not sure if those OEM drives are left over from a particular order and just get dumped out to those resellers when there are extra or what, but that's why the price is low)

[chas0039]

(and I'm not sure if those OEM drives are left over from a particular order and just get dumped out to those resellers when there are extra or what, but that's why the price is low)

These aren't "left overs". NEC only sold drives in the US as OEM until last fall. Most manufacturers sell these drives both ways and a lot of resellers (Newegg.com and others) buy these in bulk to get a lower price.

[DaveS]

(and I'm not sure if those OEM drives are left over from a particular order and just get dumped out to those resellers when there are extra or what, but that's why the price is low)

These aren't "left overs". NEC only sold drives in the US as OEM until last fall. Most manufacturers sell these drives both ways and a lot of resellers (Newegg.com and others) buy these in bulk to get a lower price.

ahh...