Well, I've found issue number two; the pismo seems to be fine with DVDs, but it refuses to do anything with CDs, kinda obliterating my hopes of Jaguar. Has anybody experienced one of these that will read DVDs fine, but not do a damn thing with CDs? It makes no sense to me :?:
Pismo DVD Drive and CDs
Nevermind, some 'persuasive techniques' managed to get it working fine 
Mind sharing the technics?
Popped the bugger out, shot it with compressed air, shot a little air inside the machine, popped out the tray and gently sprayed in there a bit, popped it back in, and boom!
That and some gentle percussive maintenance (slamming the bugger a time or two) got it going great
That and some gentle percussive maintenance (slamming the bugger a time or two) got it going great