T61 Cdrw/DVDROM Replacement options....

OK, i ordered my thinkpad t61 foolishly without upgrading the dvd to an rw status. I did not realize that a drive would be so much money from lenovo (over 200$ versus a 70$ upgrade). I have my laptop unopened ready to go to ebay (they have the 15% restocking fee) with intentions of ordering a new thinkpad with a dvdrw (and maybe a few other upgrades as well). If I could replace my cdrw/dvdrom with a comparable speed drive of any sort for around 80$ I just may keep it. This is what I can can come up with so far.

9.5mm is the height of the drive, I may be able to use most any 9.5mm drive and do a replacement that way.
GSA-U10N and 39T2851 are both basically the same drive and part numbers used by IBM for the t61 dvdrw drive.

Do you guys by chance know of any replacements at all I can use that will not cost too much over an 80$ ballpark?

Thanks for the help.

 

The cheapest one in Canada is about 120 CAD in some stores, but it mades in China. My T61 cames with DVD-RW and it mades in Japan. It's worth to buy from Lenovo.
Or just buying the external DVDRW using USB2.0 or Firewire. It's too much cheaper.

 

I was in the exact situation as you are about a week ago. I ordered my T60 without the dvd burner upgrade for $50 (I was planning to transfer my dvd burner from the Dell laptop, but realized it doesn't fit when I received my T60). I was lucky enough (very lucky!) to have found a brand new IBM 39T2851 on ebay last week for only $60 including overnight shipping. IBM wanted $220 for this drive, that's insane.

My suggestion to you is to check ebay. Search for "UJ-852". The IBM 39T2851 is actually made by Panasonic, model number UJ-852. So it's basically the same drive. The last time I checked, about a week ago, I think I saw a few that were selling for about $100 + shipping. Still not cheap, but much better than $220 that IBM is selling for. Hope that helps! Good luck!

 

nlkccom, are you saying that the drive you mention is actually the same as the one IBM uses? Meaning does it do 8x write speed?

 

Yes, the one I got was an original, brand new IBM 39T2851 8x dvd burner (multi-drive, I think they call it). It's the same one that IBM uses.

It looks identical to the one listed on this ebay listing (for picture reference only, but with a Nov 2007 manuf. date, and rev. 102 instead of 101):
Pictures

 

The whole machine is made in China.

 

You're right, but not totally, as my T61, the whole machine is made in China, except my DVD writer from Japan.
Don't know why, but it's true.

 

After my personal experiences with repeat failures of Panasonic/Matsush!ta/Matsh!ta (all the very same brand) optical drives...I'd pass and go external.

Besides, burning a DVD externally at 20X does beat burning internally at 8X, all things considered.