From: cmetz@thor.tjhsst.edu (Craig Metz)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcard
Subject: GUS vs. PAS 16
Date: 14 Oct 1992 17:30:54 -0500
Organization: UTexas Mail-to-News Gateway
NNTP-Posting-Host: cs.utexas.edu


	Well, here's some insight that I think many people are forgetting:

	The PAS 16 has some software support, and their policies are very much
now in promoting software development for the card. I can tell you personally
that I am working on a driver for Linux, a freeware UNIX, to support the PAS
16. Their SDK isn't prefect, but it's very straightforward hardware. It's also
Sound Blaster compatible *IN HARDWARE*, so you can run about 95% of all SB
applications as long as there is code run to enable the card's SB compatibility.

	The GUS has basically no software support, though it does have a very
strong backing by EA and some game manufacturers, their policies are extremely
anti-hobbyist as far as I have seen. They "haven't had anybody tell them they
had a problem with REQUIRING a NONDISCLOSURE AGREEMENT to be signed" before 
they will give out ANY information that lets you program the card. They are
very unwavering in this as much as I've seen, but a lot of it seems to be just
plain ignorance - they really honestly haven't had any hobbyists calling up to
try to get an SDK, and so they're pretty shocked people don't want to sign a
rather extensive nondisclosure agreement to be able to get their SDK. You also
have to pay them $100 for it. And there are, of course, plenty of restrictions.
Their reaction when I told them that Adlib and Creative Labs AND Media Vision
all did NOT require nondisclosure for SDKs and that furthermore I got my PAS 16
SDK from MV for FREE, they were very surprised. But because the card is NOT
harware compatible with the SB, when you get out of the DOS world and into that
of UNIX and probably also OS/2, it's a whole different ball game, and not only
is the card not compatible with what's there, their policies mean there's no
way that they're going to get support for the card explicitly. So if you want
software compatibility with UNIX systems, or don't use DOS and Windows, you're
pretty well screwed over if you buy a GUS. 

	I guarantee you that no matter how great the card may be technically,
if it isn't supported by the operating system and their policies mean that the
hobbyist can't get programming info and THEY HAVE NO INTENTION TO CHANGE THAT
POLICY IN THE FUTURE, that the card WILL DIE FAST. Considering also that 
Ensoniq is releasing a card 1st quarter 1993 using better technology than the
GUS and definitely one-upping it, and other manufacturers will surely catch
up, I have no doubt that unless Gravis changes their policies really soon,
the card will be very short-lived. And keep in mind also that Gravis makes 
game port cards and joysticks - sound cards are not exactly their forte'. So
unless they open up RSN, they're history in this market. 

	My $0.02.

	PS: TO ALL GUS OWNERS OR POTENTIAL OWNERS:

	I *HIGHLY SUGGEST* that you take the time to call Gravis's 1-800 
number and ask for "Brad Craig". He's out this week, so try to get his 
assistant (Mark?). He's the one I've talked to, and certainly as long as they
don't hear from people that the policy of REQUIRING nondisclosure and NOT 
HAVING ANY INTENTION OF CHANGING is not exactly going to encourage hobbyists
to spend their time writing software that supports the card. Look at what 
happened to the original Pro AudioSpectrum - at that time Media Vision had
the same policies. The card had *NO* software support by hobbyists, just a
few commercial manufacturers like Sierra. I doubt you'll find a happy owner
of the original PAS card anywhere.

	Oh. It was the best sound card on the market for the PC when it was
released, too.

							-Craig