I recently got one that reads and burns CDs and DVDs for $60 at Fry's. It doesn't do DVD-RAM but it does do CD-R, CD-RW, DVD+/-R, and DVD+/-RW. Top DVD write speed is 8x, and I think they're trying to clear the shelves for the 12x burners, is why it was so inexpensive.

It's a no-name brand (BTC -- here on Outpost.com, down to $50 now) -- and it works great with Knoppix. Comes with Nero 6, too.

It runs Knoppix live CDs (and DVDs) fast enough that there's almost no lag time, which was always the most annoying thing to me about them.