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Technology Stocks : Creative Labs (CREAF) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Scott Moore who wrote (11920)	8/3/1998 2:34:00 PM
From: Alan Villalon	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 13925

Interesting articles about the future of sound cards & CREAF: msnbc.com msnbc.com It seems that USB technology (Universal Serial Bus) technology can be a threat to CREAF. Correct me if I am wrong, but the technology allows one to plug any device (speakers, scanners, etc.) right into the CPU (no parallel port needed). The device can start working immediately since no software is needed. IMHO, I don't see this as serious threat in the short term. From the above articles, it appears that USB puts more pressure on your Pentium chip to process the given function (sound, scanning, etc). This means a slow down in your computer processing speed if you need to run multiple functions. USB appears to provide ease of use for all us lazy and non-techie computer users. However, if I am looking to maintain my current platform of speed, I would not upgrade to a device (for now) that would reduce the functionality of my computer. For CREAF, they must continue to provide quality products that outdo USB ease of use. Additionally, CREAF must provide sound cards at a cheaper alternative than USB. CREAF must continue to hit the OEM's (like Dell, Gateway, Quantex, etc.) to include sound cards in their machines. I would like to hear from anyone that is currently using USB. It would be nice to hear feedback about how well it works.

To: Scott Moore who wrote (11920)	8/3/1998 3:01:00 PM
From: Gambit	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 13925

Scott: We are at a point in audio IMHO where compatibility is a none issue which leaves us with Speed and quality. With the 3D audio thing starting to hit the masses speed will be a big issue for gamers since 3D audio takes such a big hit on your games now (even PCI cards). Quality will then be the next issue to take on, since I would guess most people have very little quality in there computer audio setup. Only Gamers and people that love music have good audio setups for the computer from my experience. Hell from what I've seen people don't know 1 thing about audio other than they can hear it. I'm asked ALL the time why my OLD SB16 setup sounds so much better. I can't help but think maybe its because I'm not trying to get sub-bass out of a 5in. cone @15Watts and that's even if people have a dare I call it a sub woofer? Most just have a 1in. cone for L/R and under powered at that as if one can under power a 1 in. cone. But now IM just bitching sorry : ) CREAFs new card should handle the speed issue and the quality issue in one card. Making it a must for ALL music lovers and gamers (gamers or rather games account for about 70% of what all computer users use Comps for 2nd to word-processing). The rest of the people your right will buy a cheap card or just keep the one in the comp and never know why it sounds bad or that it even matters... this group of people will never buy anything of value in A/V anyway till they find that audio and/or video on comps go together... That's about all the average comp users I know : ) (none of which play games, or really use the comp much at that... or really know how to run a comp at all for that matter. You know the people that call you all the time asking for comp info or help to fix what they fu*ked up <BIG SMILE>) this is who CREAF should sell OEM to since it the only chance at a sell for this group. LapTops and 3D audio... with headphones yes with the speakers on board I see very little point to it, just add reverb and get the same FX. Also the API is why people will buy a sound card coming up... EAX or A3D? CREAF having EAX on all CREAF PCI cards was a VERY smart move and one that just may have saved its life in my view. The A3D thing is very HOT with gamers and really makes me want one as well but having heard the 2 speaker setup to my ears its cool but not the real deal. If CREAF can get a big enough jump on A3D 2.0 it should win the war of the APIs having both the standard and the lead. It will be the API that gives CREAF its edge since 3d audio IS going to be in ALL the best games in a year. Like I have said many times I had little reason to upgrade my 6 year sound card since its the speakers that really are what makes a system magic. But with the SBL its a new animal and even with very good speakers the older cards (ALL cards pre SBL) will not have what the SBL has speed, quality, 3d, and 4 speakers independent audio chans.. All BIG selling points to me... only question is CREAF has taken a big hit in the gaming crowed will it get it back? And will people be smart enough to know 4 speakers sound better? For all that may not know the 2 vs. 4 speaker debate is a biter one with the A3D fanatics saying 2 speakers are just as good as 4. Which is somewhat true but I STILL have yet to hear sound coming from the back of me with the speaker in the front. Though the A3D people keep telling me they can??? And if the SBL is ALL THAT then it should get the gaming crowed back. As a side note CL has Ads out for the SBL... the 1st I've seen is from pcgamer. I'll post a link for it 3dss.vup3d.com Its also called PCI 256 at the bottom. Adam-