How do I get an xbox with a sammy?

[crashwg]

Currently I'm not having any problems with my xbox other than the fact that it won't read my GF's The Firm DVDs, but I do know that I have the worst of the worst when it comes to drives... the THOMPSON!  

So I'm thinkin' "hey, why not get rid of the problem before it starts, right?"

Well, I guess I've got a few questions then.

But first I should say that I'm not looking to replace the drive, but rather the whole xbox...

Are the samsung drives commonplace at this date and time?
If so, is there any way of telling, perhaps by a serial number, if there is a samsung in the box?

What I'm thinking of doing is bringing my xbox to EB and seeing if I can trade it in + some $$$ for a new one.

[clanggedin]

Don't take my word as fact, but most of the version 1.4 boxes I've seen have a Samsung drive in them. I think you can tell by the serial number what version it is.

www.xbox-scene.com has a tutorial on how to figure what version an Xbox is.

[dava_bran]

the thopmsons are junk.  but they were only put in the early versions of the xboxes.  they read only dvds and cdrws.....sometimes. lucky for u they quit using them and pretty much any new xbox will have a sammy or phillips.  which both play any media fine, even cdr's.  Even if u buy a refurbished or a used one you'll probably be ok in gettin a good dvd drive.  i guess the only advice is to buy one that was built after like nov 2002 and you should be fine. im a xbox freak but started building a xbox mame cab, which is why i ended up here.  feel free to pm or email me with any questions.