Same problem. MacBook, Mac OS X 10.5.8/Safari. Oddly enough, I can see the topic and the posts here, but not in other forums.

Cheers.

M.U.L.E.- For the C=64. Pinball Construction Set was awesome for Commodore, as well.

From the PS2- Timesplitters 2, just to play Astrolander on the H.U.D. device, in-game.

I got my PS2 in December of 2000.  I got my first DRE in December 2001, my second in December 2002, and my third and final in December 2003.

I had the problem fixed by Sony.  The first time I paid for shipping to them, they covered the repair costs and the return shipping.  The next two times they covered everything.

After the third time they told me I had a 90 day warranty.

All said and done, it's cost me about $35.

The cleaning disk technique is just about useless, as the brushes on the cleaning disk don't even reach the laser lens.  The blown air is about equally useless.  As for clean discs, if you handle them with care they should never be so dirty as to not play.  Case to console, console to case.  And the color of the disk doesn't matter.  Although I will admit that when the problem first started occurring, sporadically, blue discs would play when gold ones wouldn't.  Maybe it's how the data is stored and retrieved.  I'm no computer scientist.

The repair statements which I received from Sony said they replaced some type of motor, I think it was the one that moves the laser.

Your best bet is to contact Sony and let them know just how much money you spend on their products.  In my case it was a decent chunk consisting of TVs, DVD Players, VCRs, Home Audio, controllers and accessories, and most importantly GAMES.  Games and their licensing fees are the moneymakers for SCEA, not the hardware.

Sony has treated my fairly in regard to the DRE problems that I have had with their product and demonstrated excellent customer service. 

 I hope any of you that have similar product problems are treated as well as I was.

John