If you want a NEC 4550 right now in the states get a Mad Dog TRIPLE format drive, it has a 4550 in the box. I crossflashed minbe to liggy and Dees and NEC stock no problems, and it indded writes RAM. It is a pretty fast ripper but so far normal dvd writing is cood but not godlike, DL writing is good but main thing is the disks play in all my machines. I also have a BenQ 1640 and a 110d crossed to a 110 axl. The 110 writes similar quality to the NEC and writes all DL the same, they work. The BenQ writes normal slightly better but DL skips for me in my pickiest player, dont know why. Thinking about a 1655 just becuase I like em and it MIGHT end up making even better burns then all my drives plus it does supprt Light Scribe and the other drives can do ram. I think if the 4550 is one of your only choices it will be fine for you, good luck.