This is a tip for all of you seeking a replacement slot-in optical drive for either newer iBooks, Mac minis, PowerBooks or iMacs. The Pioneer DVR-K05, a double layer 8X DVD±RW, is a direct drop-in replacement, without the need for a burn patch. After 10.4.3 it is also a supported drive by Apple, according to system profile.
I installed this in a Mac mini, and it has worked flawlessly. It is less noisy than the original drive, and actually a good deal lighter. Highly recommended.