Mac Superdrive in PC?

[fxfxfx]

Is it possible to take a DVD-R Superdrive out of a MAC G4 and connect it to a pc?

[HyperJoe]

This is the EXACT Drive known as the Superdrive in APPle. Pioner makes it for them. Its the Pioner AO4
Ive seen them as cheap as $350

This is one of the best brives oyu can buy

http://www.avdeals.ca/dvrao4.htm

[Eug]

While you can use an A04/A03 in either a Mac or a PC, it may not be true that you can use a Superdrive in a PC.

Why do I say this? One guy removed a SuperDrive from his Mac and it didn't work in his PC. It was only recognized as a DVD/CD reader, and not a writer. I don't know if this was a configuration issue, but he wrote that Apple tech support claimed it was an Apple specific firmware.

This may be baloney, but I'm just repeating what I read on one of the forums. YMMV.

[mitchgtz]

From what I have been told, there is an Apple ROM on the Superdrive version, this didn't stop me from replacing my G4's DVD RAM with a Pioneer drive that is not only recognized, but works fine with iDVD etc.

I can't see any reason to pull this drive out of a Mac when you can buy a pioneer at the latest going rates. I have also read that there will be a less expensive updated Pioneer drive that is supposed to be here sometime this summer.

[Eug]

From what I have been told, there is an Apple ROM on the Superdrive version, this didn't stop me from replacing my G4's DVD RAM with a Pioneer drive that is not only recognized, but works fine with iDVD etc.

I can't see any reason to pull this drive out of a Mac when you can buy a pioneer at the latest going rates. I have also read that there will be a less expensive updated Pioneer drive that is supposed to be here sometime this summer.

Well, one valid reason is to stick the drive in a Firewire enclosure, and then use the drive with both the Mac (with DVD Studio Pro or something) and the PC. iDVD won't work properly though, and it's moot anyway since now we have confirmation that the drive won't work on a PC. I wonder if the firmware is flashable though.