Optiarc or Matshita drive for my XPS M1530

[Ritalin]

Hey everyone!

I have to decide which drive I want for my M1530 XPS.

One is the Optiarc, which is supposed to be louder, and the other is the Matshita (Matsushita) which is more silent, but people say has more problems with regions.

Anybody on neowin have any experience with either of those? or heard anything?

Cheers!

Dav

[-KJ]

I think I remember seeing this on NBR...

Since you have both of them at your dispense, I think the best thing would be to compare one to the other with a variety of 'tests'. :)

BTW, I have the Matsushita drive in my XPS m1530.

Does your drive sound like your in a dental clinic (or Sonic the hedgehog charging up :p). It's pretty high-pitch in sound compared to my 6 year old laptop which was more of a deeper 'hummmmm' sound.

[vertigosity]

Are those the only choices? I've got a Teac in my XPS M1530, and it's smooth as butter.

[Ritalin]

These are the two i have in front of me:

this is what i got in front of another forum.

Some ?Facts? to consider concerning Panasonic/Matsushita/Matshita Drives ->

Panasonic/Matsushita/Matshita Drives have a well-documented history of being extremely ?Media? picky.

Matshita/Matsushita/Panasonic Region Free (RPC-1) Firmwares are not available and also all ?Software Solutions? alternatives are also unable to circumvent Matshita/Matsushita/Panasonic Region Code prohibitions.

Most Matshita/Matsushita/Panasonic Drive owners are disappointed in the performance of their Matshita/Matsushita/Panasonic Drives.

Considering the above ?Facts? in seeing that you have choice between a Matshita Drive and an Optiarc Drive I believe the Optiarc Drive would be a better choice.