DVD-RAM questions

I'm thinking of getting a DVD-RAM drive, but had a few questions first.

Does anybody have any experience with the LG Electronics GSA-4167B? I have seen a pretty good review for it, and it's only about 50 bucks.

Would anybody recommend a different drive over this one that supports DVD-RAM?

Is there any reason you couldn't put an internal DVD-RAM drive in an external enclosure and make it a USB drive?

Would transfer speeds suffer very much by going USB instead of internal IDE?

If I wanted to transfer data to another system, will it be recognized as soon as it's plugged in, or do you need special software/drivers?

Thanks!

-Eric G.
www.cybergooch.com

I've had experiences with LG DVD burners and all i can say is don't get one.
I don't know if it's just me or bad luck but i have now gone through three LG burners in a year, they just can't cut it. If i were you, i'd go and find a burner from SONY or go grab an ASUS DRW-1608P2S, it's one of the fastest drives on the planet and will read and write every format known to man.
I would not recommend an external drive unless your on the move alot and need your burner with you at all times.
The ASUS drive i mentioned however does happen to come in an external format (with both IEEE1394 and USB to choose from).

I cannot comment on any other drive than LG (mine is GSA-4160B)
It is the first and only DVD-RW (and RAM) which I ever owned and it is and has been brilliant.
Never had a problem.

If I were you, I would try and go for the Firewire rather than USB.

I've used a lot of LG DVD burners and I've just once come across a single faulty one, they're a good product, and I recommend them.