Superdrive idea!

Question

Very new to these forums, been searching for about 5 hours now on how to fix my superdrive in my Imac g4. Crazy that APPLE is not dealing with this problem, it is so frustrating for so many users......is it a ploy to get us to buy new macs hidden in software updates??.. ....anyway
I also decided to look on the emac forums, the same problem is happening over there, i noticed this firmware update....for the emac (usb 2.0) saying it fixes accesibilty issues...which is what i have
http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/superdrivefirmwareupdate.html
just wondering if this could be...'cough..edited'....to work with imacs..are they similar drives (pioneer?).
Sorry to rant this is driving me crazy..a petition should be started all you need to do is read the past 3 years posts on these forums to see hwats going on....
WHY IS THIS GOING UN-NOTICED??
iMac G4   Mac OS X (10.4.9)   DVR-106D

Answer 1

The later production date of the eMac line could indicate
a different version of the Pioneer drive (if used) and if so,
the firmware update would not then apply to an iMacG4
installed superdrive of a different model number & series.
My superdrive in an iMacG4 17" USB 2.0 1.25GHz model
has a "Revision: A612" Pioneer listed in the System Profiler.
Since I don't know what exact hardware was shipped in
an eMac, or how the logicboard and other parts are
configured, it may be the link you posted has no values
relative to the issues some users of the iMacG4 saw.
Since I seldom use mine, my extended warranty will be
over by September; and then if it fails, I guess its time
for some course of action. It has never burned a DVD,
and only burned one CD-RW because I had one here.
Earlier covered logicboard issues kept me from serious
digital photography, moving from 35mm SLRs to digital
was put on hold for two years; so I am now digital and
can generate significant archives to disc media, this will
be a telling event. As the warranty fades, I will use DVDs.
My iMacG4s superdrive specs are:
Manufacturer: PIONEER
Model: PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-106D
Revision: A612
Serial Number: DDDL108660WL
Drive Type: CD-RW/DVD-RW
Since an internal superdrive can be said to be essential,
since some Apple applications look for it to be there
and if it isn't functional, you can't really use it; the part
is elevated to an important thing once it fails. Hard to
boot a system DVD from it once it's gone...!