Hi and Welcome![QUOTE=shobhitk;2490428]
I am about to buy a [B]Samsung DVD Writer (SH-S223)[/B], but i am confronted with some basic but important questions.[/quote]Seems you’d be better served with a 243. Seriously.
first one is that, as most of u must have already noticed that the model number printed on the drive is ONLY [B]SH-S223[/B] and theres no letter at the far right of this model.
Please have another look. The sticker on the drive also mentions the exact model number and the firmware version: http://www.myce.com/wp-content/images_reviews/reviews/samsung_sh-s223f_review/image013.png (Look at the bar code)
If you already have installed the drive, then you can also see the full model number in Device Manager (assuming you are using Windows, other operating systems are able to reveal that information either.).
when i went to the samsung site and also its odd service site, i could not find this exact model AS the model had suffixes of different letters like b, f, l, q, c and so on. so what am worried is about that i may not be able to update its firmware because its not listed on samsungs site. also what is the difference between these letters?
The letter is the essential part of the model number.
A SH-S223F is a different drive than a SH-S223C.
Samsung offers a “Live Update” utility, but I don’t like these. If something goes wrong, then you may end with a dead drive.
sencondly its an OEM and comes only with the drivers CD and not even the required cables like sata etc. i wanted to know if its safe to go with an OEM? will there be a difference in the chipset and overall burn quality of a retail and an OEM writer?
OEM and retail drives are the same hardware (provided it’s the same model). The difference is the colorful box and the accessories. Retail packages often have additional front plates (silver, beige, black). The disc that comes with the drive, contains application software. Drivers are not needed (and not even available).
and lastly what is the reputation of this drive?
Let me invite you to browse this forum, since there are lots of threads about these drives 
Michael