After endless searching and taking a large risk, we discovered that it is in fact a NEC ND-4570.
In XP (as it is not possible under OS X), we succeeded in in returning it to its original identity, which accelerated the reading and writing speed of CDs and added support for DVD-RAM.
You can read it all at the following:
http://www.hardmac.com/articles/62/
[Update] We have modified the article. Flashing now works in OS X :) (Thanks Andy)
