I am considering buying a Lite-On iHAS324-98 and I need to know whether or not this burner will support bitsetting. Also, are there any hidden gotchas, like rebadging or some off-the-wall chipset?
I have been reading reviews for two days, and I have not found a clear-cut statement about whether or not this burner supports bitsetting. 
All help appreciated.
[QUOTE=pilgrim7993;2472202]I am considering buying a Lite-On iHAS324-98 and I need to know whether or not this burner will support bitsetting. Also, are there any hidden gotchas, like rebadging or some off-the-wall chipset?
I have been reading reviews for two days, and I have not found a clear-cut statement about whether or not this burner supports bitsetting. 
All help appreciated.[/QUOTE]
I would say go for the newer model the iHAS424-98.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106335
The newer liteon has the bitsetting or booktype and allows you to save it. You have to get the liteon utility to check to see if it is set or not and then set it to DVD-ROM booktype. I have the older DH20A4H and it can save the booktype to DVD-ROM. So if your buying the newer dvd burner it should have the booktype option to save or change it. Just remember the region settings are a fine limit like 5 settings before it become permanent. Also I heard those that have a larger sub number aren’t liteon only those with -09 or -08 are genuine liteon drive chipsets. Those with -98 aren’t liteon chipset but optiarc chipset rebaged liteon drives. If you want a liteon drive you might want a model with either a -09 or -08 marking or similiar not a larger -98 end number.
Does anybody out there actually own a iHAS324-98? If so, have you flashed it so that it bitsets DVD+R (both single layer and dual layer) to a booktype of DVD-ROM?
Please, please, please no “shoulds” or guesses.
Thanks in advance for any help…
I don’t want to be a dork about bitsetting, but I recently bought a iHAS124 because it “should” do bitsetting. It turned out to be the notorious iHAS124 Y, and it won’t bitset DVD+R single layer to DVD-ROM. It “should” do it, but it doesn’t actually do it. It’s a shame, too, because otherwise the 124 Y is a really sweet little machine.
[QUOTE=coolcolors;2472228]I would say go for the newer model the iHAS424-98.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106335
The newer liteon has the bitsetting or booktype and allows you to save it. [/QUOTE]
Incorrect. The only difference between the 324-98 and the 424-98 is that the 424 has Lightscribe. That’s the only difference. Both are rebadged Sony/Optiarc drives.
The Lite-On drives with the -98 designation are rebadged Sony/Optiarc drives (with NEC chipsets), and as of right now, they can NOT do bitsetting. At some point in the future, they will probably be able to, as the drives they are based on can using Liggy’s bitsetting firmware, but when that will happen is anybody’s guess. Lite-On has mostly switched to using rebadged Sony/Optiarc or NEC-chipset drives for their 24x DVD burners, and the older models based on the MediaTek chipset have been discontinued.
If you want a genuine Lite-On that can do bitsetting, then try to find an iHAS324-08 or iHAS324-09. What country are you in? There are many still available, but not at the discount prices you would find when they were in regular production. The average cost is about $40 with shipping. Here is a reliable vendor:
http://www.directron.com/ihas32408.html
http://www.directron.com/ihas42408.html
You can also try looking for model DH-24AAS, which should also be a genuine Lite-On.
Also read this:
Many thanks, negritude. 
I appreciate your very helpful information. 
Oh yea, forgot about the number making didn’t get to review it over til I found my previous posting where other mentioned the numerical differences to identify liteon chiipset drivers. Here is my posting and you can review posting #2 where the poster did mentioned the difference.
http://club.myce.com/f44/ihas424-08-vs-ihas424-98-a-304433/
coolcolors,
Thanks for the info. I think that you and I are in the same boat. I wish I had read your earlier post before I spent my money on this iHAS124 Y. I think I’ll order the Lite-On DH-24AAS for US$30 from NewEgg.
[QUOTE=pilgrim7993;2472202]I am considering buying a Lite-On iHAS324-98 and I need to know whether or not this burner will support bitsetting. Also, are there any hidden gotchas, like rebadging or some off-the-wall chipset?
I have been reading reviews for two days, and I have not found a clear-cut statement about whether or not this burner supports bitsetting.
All help appreciated.[/QUOTE]
Yes, it is not a true liteon, it is rebadged.