I know it seems like a silly question to ask, but since the 7200-model-drives,
it is virtually impossible to buy a NEC/Optiarc drive locally anymore. at least
for my hometown (Hamburg, Germany).
No shop (brick and mortar), and even none of the large electronics chains
(Mediamarkt, Saturn, where I dread to buy from) carries them anymore,
which only leaves me ordering by mail order, that being significantly more
expensive.
LG drives, on the other hand, are available everywhere, shops literally throw
them at you .
My question to those cdfreaks members from Germany: Do you know why
this is? Maybe Liggy could also add to this mistery (@Liggy: I once read a
comment by you in the heise.de news forums , do you know why NEC
suddenly dropped out of selling their drives locally?)