posted 01-16-2002 16:43            

also, i need a new soundcard that has RCA outs. thats pretty much my only specification. when i get a real job ill get a sick soundcard with the external ins and outs a plenty... but for now i just want RCA outs to run to the mediamates. Anyone know a great place for buying soundcards online? thanks for your assitance.

posted 01-16-2002 17:03            

is where i have been searching/buying my computer hardware from for the past 4years id say.

posted 01-16-2002 17:15         

case in point: i was, as the thread originator, looking for a soundcard (one with a breakout box so i can plug instruments in, a Live! or Yamaha or even an Audigy) and pricewatch pretty much only has shitty 4$ soundblaster-alike cards.

tips or hints are appreciated on this as well. Jimbo, you've done reselling before, right? what would you recommend?

posted 01-16-2002 17:28            

On the other hand, as a former system builder, I recommend being fairly leery of Pricewatch. You never know who the fuck you're dealing with; and shaving $4 off of a component price is often not worth it if you buy enough components.

I personally recommend buying hardware components from local vendors wherever possible, if the price is even FAINTLY in line - it always helps to be able to go lean over a counter at somebody in person if something's ever not quite right with the product.

When I dealt with online vendors, I tended to only use a few select vendors who dealt in quality merchandise at a reasonable (not stupendously cheap) price. Like www.directron.com - they're rarely any lower in price than a Best Buy, and they don't have the hometown advantage, but they stock a full line of quality hardware, and are pretty easy to deal with in the unhappy event of returns becoming necessary. (They have the SBLive! 5.1 at $38 right now, plus shipping.)

Looks like the SBLive! is retailing in Best Buys for an overinflated $69.99 though, so I'd recommend either taking the Pricewatch gamble or ordering from Directron, or maybe The Chip Merchant. It all depends on exactly where you place the balance between paying less, and feeling confident of how problems, should there be any, can be resolved.

posted 01-16-2002 19:52            

hey exclusive i see that mighty mon has a 5 dollar bill hanging out his zipper. i think he is trying to get your attention.

posted 01-17-2002 02:06            

They suck ass.

Don't get me wrong. Their hardware can be really impressive, but their customer service, and more to the point, their TECH SUPPORT, is just Gawd-offal.

Case in point, you were hoping? I can do that. Some of you may remember that I recently posted a message in the Techie forum here about my m/b not detecting the properly seated and should-be-functional SB Live! Value. After trying MM's suggestion, I broke down and emailed Creative's tech support. Call that 'day one'. Day three arrived, no return email, so I post a message on Ars Technica, hoping someone with a brain will help me, as opposed to the brainless class of human that Creative chooses to employ.

Day 4 rolls around. No responses anywhere, early in the afternoon. I get a proper customer service / relations address for Creative, and I send a high horsy letter (I'll post it if anyone asks) telling them that while their cards are good, their support sucks, and I'm left wondering why I should ever give them money again, in my life. Early evening, and I check Ars Technica. Solution suggested. I try it, and lo and behold, WE HAVE SOUND.

30 minutes later, Creative's response notification comes in. I check their website, and I see something along the lines of "Flash your BIOS and is the card seated properly?"

Never mind the fact that in the original request for support, I included that information.

Fuck Creative. When the time comes to buy a new soundcard, I'm voting with my wallet.

And that, ladies and gentleman, is where my soapbox collapses.

posted 01-17-2002 06:25            

quote:

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Originally posted by InThrees:
I check Ars Technica. Solution suggested. I try it, and lo and behold, WE HAVE SOUND.

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Ars = r0x0r