From: rlw@atlanta.dg.com (Richard Wright)
Subject: Re: Soundblaster Multi-media package
Date: Fri, 4 Sep 92 15:39:37 GMT
Organization: Data General Corp. Performance Services, Atlanta, GA

I bought the SoundBlaster Pro Multimedia Upgrade about 3 months ago
(mail ordered from Zero's and One's Warehouse in case you care). I 
replaced my old SoundBlaster with the new card and added the CD-ROM.

The Pro is a definite improvement over the standard SB. For starters it
is stereo. It also has less problems with 'clicking' when I record a
sample. I did encounter a DMA conflict with my scanner card, but luckily
the SB Pro allows you to select between two DMA channels. It also has a 
jumper for 'DMA sharing' which came close to fixing my problem. I can
probably blame the fact that it didn't on the 'dumb' scanner card. The 
SB Pro has a lot more options for input than the Std SB (which only has
'Mic In'). 'Line In' is better suited to my purposes. The SB Pro also
has a built-in CD-ROM controller. Note that the controller uses a non-std
40-pin interface which is NOT std SCSI. 

The Drive itself is fine. Access time is quite tolerable, probably owing
to the caching. I bought the internal version (the external had not 
received FCC aproval at that time). There is also an external version now
 - I just saw it at CompUSA. It is caddy-based. I recommend buying enough
caddies for each of your CD's (Walnut Creek in CA has them for $4.95 USD).

Installation of the hardware went well and other than the DMS conflict
I had no difficulties in this area.

The bundled software is fair, I suppose. Be sure that you insist on a kit
with Windows 3.1, as some dealers may still be trying to get rid of older
kits with 3.0. The CD-ROMs are about average for this sort of bundle. 

The 'Sherlock Holmes - Consulting Detective' game is neat. You see little 
mini-movies (with sound) when you visit a location for clues. There is a
sequel about to be released. I will probably buy it, so that is a good 
indication.

The Microsoft Bookshelf is fair for what it represents. The encyclopaedia
is pretty thin, but does include narrated animations on many subjects. I 
think we could have done with just one quote book, however. The thesaurus
seems kind of weak too.

There is a CD of sounds (.WAV sound effects, CD-Audio of tunes plus mono and
stereo .WAV files and MIDI versions too). It is a nice sampler of music and
sound effects for use in multimedia presentations.

The 4th disk seemed like a waste at first, but I came to appreciate it. It
is a CD-ROM full of demos of tons of software. Games, CD-ROM, Multimedia
authoring... It helps you get a handle on what else is out there waiting 
for your wallet. 

All in all, I am quite pleased with my purchase. I recently ordered Street
Atlas USA on CD-ROM. I recommend the Walnut Creek CD-ROMs of the SIMTEL and
CICA archives. The price is definitely right ($25 - 30). Now if some of the
game titles shown at the Consumer Electronics Show will just come out on 
CD-ROM, especially Strike Commander, I'll be a very happy camper.

                             		Cheers,
					Richard.
 
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