powerbook g4 - broken combo slot drive - Need New!

[designfinger@hotmail.com (designfinger)]

Hi everyone,
hope someone out there can help. I've got a powerbook G4 15in that's
out of warranty running OSX 10.2.7 (all sockets are on the side of
notebook). Recently the combo drive (slot loading mechanism) broke. I
have been trying to find a repair shop to get a new drive. The
cheapest in all my searching is �225 inc VAT for a replacement
Matshita combo drive including fitting.

This to me seems ridiculously expensive as a internal Panasonic slot
loading DVD writer (Panasonic UJ-845-BPN Slot Notebook DVDRW Drive) is
�86 inc VAT.
I think i am more than capable of taking the time to fit a new drive
myself, despite what various "apple approved" repair shops tell me.

My gripe is that i just get a replacement combo drive for an
extortionate �225 not a new superfast DVD writer for �100.
Now i'm talking about the internal drive of the powerbook - i don't
want an external drive as that would mean carting around a bulky drive
as well as the lap top.

Can anyone offer me advice as to where to get a new replacement
internal slot drive cheaply?
But firstly inform me which drive would be compatible with a powerbook
(SCSI interface etc..) as i have not got a clue?? Is the panasonic
above compatible??

The apple approved repair shops are all reluctant to tell me more as
they want my money!

Frustrated Maccer!