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FYI
Anyone thinking of the new Cyrix Media GX chip will threaten the audio and graphic chip should read this:
Creative Technology Files Suit Against Cyrix Corporation and Cyrix Media GX Customers
PR Newswire - March 17, 1997 13:34
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SINGAPORE, March 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Creative Technology Ltd., maker of the Sound Blaster(R) and Sound Blaster AWE(R) line of computer audio solutions, today announced that it and its US subsidiary, Creative Labs, Inc., have filed suit against Cyrix Corp. and certain Cyrix OEM customers distributing computer systems using the Cyrix Media GX.
The lawsuit, filed Monday, March 17, 1997 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, alleges that Cyrix and certain of its OEM customers are misleading consumers as to the capabilities and the source of the computer audio solution provided by the Cyrix Media GX(R) chipset. Creative's complaint asserts claims of false advertising, trademark infringement and unfair competition.
"We brought this lawsuit for two fundamental reasons," said John Danforth, vice president and general counsel of Creative Labs. "First is because Cyrix's advertising falsely claims `Sound Blaster compatibility' and a `full feature Sound Blaster compatible interface.' In fact, Cyrix's Media GX audio solution falls far short of compatibility with a genuine Sound Blaster audio product. Media GX-based systems, as tested, also lack key audio functions that are standard in true Creative Labs and Creative Technology Sound Blaster products.
"The second reason we have brought this action," said Mr. Danforth, "is to stop and to correct the misinformation that Media GX end users now receive when they run Media GX-based computer systems built by Cyrix's OEM customers. As tested, a Media GX-based computer system will continually tell end users --
through diagnostic programs and other utilities designed to identify the
manufacturers of system components -- that Creative is the manufacturer of its audio components. This is untrue. The bottom line is that these Media computer systems from Cyrix's OEM customers do not contain Creative hardware, and their audio does not measure up to the high standards that consumers have come to expect from Creative."
Unlike true Sound Blaster audio chipsets and sound cards from Creative, the Cyrix Media GX as tested does not support certain forms of digitized speech supported by genuine Sound Blaster audio products. Neither do the Cyrix Media GX systems tested support certain MIDI software -- or support input from (or output to) devices using MIDI, such as MIDI keyboards. In addition, the Media GX does not support certain mixer functions supported by Sound Blaster hardware. Furthermore, in extensive, independent testing, the
Media GX fails to work properly with many games written to support genuine Sound Blaster sound cards and sound chips.
"Today's action is designed to protect consumers from being misled and to protect the goodwill that Creative has built," said Mr. Danforth. "Creative has repeatedly set and advanced industry standards for computer audio. Consumers have come to rely heavily on Creative's products, audio standards and tradenames -- and our reputation for quality. Consumers should not be misled into thinking they have bought one of our products when, in fact, they have not. Neither should Creative's goodwill be continually tarnished when, with time and experience, purchasers of these Media GX machines become more and more aware of the Media GX's limitations." |
