#best CD-ROM bundle?
22 messages in this thread
I'd like to buy a CD-ROM for our 386-25 machine for education and enter
tainment use. I think the best bargain is one of the various CD-ROM
bundles including a number of CD's with the drive itself such as the Sony
library bundle or the NEC CD Gallary bundle. Can anyone comment on the
strengths and weaknesses of the various bundles? I'd like the CD-ROM to
meet the MPC standards though I don't particularly need the bundles to
include the sound boards. Thanks.
I've been looking for a long time and looked close at the NEC bundle and
was tempted to buy but decided to wait when I found out that they are using
only an 8 bit Pro Audio board.
I really want a 16 bit board. Turtle Beach sent me a demo audio disk that
compares SoundBlaster, Pro Audio and their MulitSound. WOW! What A
diference. I currently own a old SoundBlaster.
My take is that in about two months most of not all boards will be 16 bit
and come with disks too.
If you're not a real nut on sound the NEC bundle is good. But don't listen
to the Turtle Beach MultiSound board after buying it. Good Luck..
Thanks for your comments. I'm not a real sound aficionado. I'm more
concerned with the performance of the drive. I heard the new NEC 'M'
drives are very good. Any idea if the NEC bundles have the newer 'M'
drives? Can any one comment on the Sony bundle?
The NEC M series drives are the best on the maket for performance.
I also believe that Pro Audio Spectrum is better than SoundBlaster
especially with the 16 bit board and the fact that they use a standard SCSI
interface.
The Pro Audio people are using the NEC drive in their bundle and NEC is
using Pro Audio in their bundle.
I have spoken with both Pro Audio and NEC people about their bundles and
have found the following:
1) The Pro Audio people are selling the NEC drive in their bundle as is
from the factory.
2) The NEC people are selling the Pro Audio board in their bundle and
say that they have added "things" to the Pro Audio board to really take
advantage of the setup. They also say that it will be available very
soon. I don't know what the new features are yet I would buy the NEC
setup.
Are you aware that the new Media Vision Pro-16 MM System includes the NEC
83M with the 16-bit Pro-16 sound card?
I did not know the Media Vision Pro-16 MM System has the NEC 83M. Looking
through the various publications, I think I'll want the 'M' series of the
NEC drives. Thanks for the pointer.
John
We've been discussing the new ProAudio Spectrum Multimedia Upgrade Kit in
the Multimedia section. It includes the new 16bit ProAudio Spectrum sound
card, the internal NEC 83M drive, Comptons Multimedia Encyclopedia, Kings
Quest V, MacroMind's Action, Windows 3.1 and some multimedia utilities. I
believe the list price for the bundle is $995 and it should be generally
available in a week or so. I had been looking at the NEC 83M drive and
SCSI controller without a CD-ROM bundle and best street price I found was
approx. $600. So the PAS16 MM upgrade kit is a real bargin. This is the
one I'm going to buy!
– Craig Downs 76666,776
Greetings Craig,
>week or so. I had been looking at the NEC 83M drive and SCSI controller
>without a CD-ROM bundle and best street price I found was approx. $600.
So >the PAS16 MM upgrade kit is a real bargin. This is the one I'm going
to buy!
A week ago I was going to buy a SONY laser Library, I have spent the last
week really researching the market and have come to the same decision, I am
still not sure if I should go for the vanilla PLUS kit though? A couple of
hundred dollars cheaper, still the NEC 83M is a quick drive.
I plan to purchase my kit from Psl, Nelson Ford has helped me out, their
price is $949 – Quite good I thought – or have you found better?
Regards
Anthony
I do alot of corporate business with the local Computerland so I'll
probably buy from them at a certain percentage above their cost. However,
they buy from Micro-D and the new upgrade kit is not in their catalog yet
so I'm not sure how much I can get it for. $949 sounds like a good deal –
do you know what list price for the upgrade kit is?
– Craig
Craig,
>how much I can get it for. $949 sounds like a good deal – do you know
what >list price for the upgrade kit is?
I believe it is $1199, I ordered my kit today after speaking with MV
yesterday who told me everything is now shipping.
Regards
I've also come to the decision that I want the 'm' series NEC drive and the
Pro Audio Spectrum bundle sure looks good. I'd also like to find out what
exactly will be offered in the NEC bundle though.
Hi John,
>I've also come to the decision that I want the 'm' series NEC drive and
the >Pro Audio Spectrum bundle sure looks good. I'd also like to find out
what >exactly will be offered in the NEC bundle though.
I cant wait for mine to arrive, I wasn't aware of an NEC bundle. Is it a
true MM upgrade kit with sound etc?
Anthony
Anthony
Someone from Media Vision in the MULTIMEDIA forum also quoted the list
price as $1199. Thanks for confirming.
– Craig
Craig,
>Someone from Media Vision in the MULTIMEDIA forum also quoted the list
price >as $1199. Thanks for confirming.
No problem, what price have you found it for and where? I think I told you
that Psl do it for $949.
Anthony
I work for Tiger Software and we are now going to be offering a Bundle for
about $1200 with everything you need and about 20 CD's for more info leave
me some E-mail and I will get back to you..
Evan 70521,2315
I am interested in what you may offer.
I'm really searching for someone to offer a NEC CDR-73M with Turtle Beach
Systems MulitSound board and CD's.
I'm sold on NEC and MultiSound but when I build my own system I miss out on
Mulitmedia Extensions and CD's.
I don't know about Tiger . . . Sounds great, but my NEC 72 & 73's came with
Mammels MM that slip and slide on the video at times. Other than that, I'm
tired of waiting "MONTHS" for the CD's bundled to finally arrive. Still
waiting . . .
Hi–Dale here
I have a SoundBlaster card already, just contemplating adding a CD ROM
drive to my 386/25 system. Looking for recommendations for the best
drive/software bundle. Any thoughts?
I have buy from NEC a bundle with external NEC CDR36 and SCSI Interface and
7 CD-ROM. There is Battle Chess, Mammals, grolier Encyclopedia, The TIME
Almanac, The Time Table of History, World Atlas, Great Citys. It cost DM
1498,00. I see in U.S.A. it will cost ca. $ 800. A problem is to connect
the sound from the CD-ROM to the Sound-Blaster-Card. You must make a cable
from the CD-Output to the internal Blaster-Card. For the Sound-Blaster you
can pay a bundle of 5 CD-ROM. There is WINDOWS 3.0 with
Multimedia-Extensions, Jones in the fast lane, Microsoft Bookshelf, Select
demos and Sound-Blaster Sounds. The Microsoft Bookshelf is great, with
animated pictures and sounds.
Thanks for the information!
Yes. Talking to the NEC people though they say that in their bundle they
have made changes to the Pro Audio board to enhance the setup.
I purchased the NEC CD Gallery several months ago. I had a couple
of gliches getting started, however NEC tech support helped me
with software updates and documentation and things are going great.
I recently purchased King's Quest V and using the CDR73 and a
SoundBlaser (not the pro) it is something to behold! I am using the
CD-ROM with a Dell 333D (386 at 33mz) with a super VGA monitor.
I can truthfully recommend the NEC CD Gallery package. I got 7
CD's included in the package. The latest price I saw for the package
was around $600 at a computer city store.