Product: CreamWare Elektra
Price Paid: 1299 (AUD)
Submitted
01/25/2004
at
04:32am
by
Anonymous
Ease of Use
:
No Opinion
It would seem easy to use, if only I could get the correct drivers for XP (Luna 3.1c drivers). The version I bought *new* shipped with only win9x drivers, so I'm having trouble even getting the thing to function. Creamware offers *beta 2.5* drivers for free, but if you want the functional drivers, you pay another 98 Euros.
Features
:
No Opinion
It's supposed to have these amazing features.. which I have yet to see. The ASIO Scope drivers aren't working properly, so it doesn't work with Logic so far.
Expressiveness/Sounds
:
No Opinion
Again, since Creamware seems to care so very little about people who buy their products, I haven't had a chance to really hear what this card is capable of. It plays .wav output, but so does my soundblaster.
Reliability
:
1
Well, no. The driver they supply for win2000/XP users are beta versions that they seem to have just thrown out there as a way of getting you to spend EUR 98 on the drivers that work.
Customer Support
:
1
Upgrades to the basic drivers costs $$$ and when asked to clarify they don't provide anything other than directions to their online store.. and considering the price tag on these things, you'd be better off purchasing from another company. Something outside of Germany. I have the same problem with my German car, for which the support is absolutely zero unless you pay big for it. I wouldn't want another Creamware product even if it were free.
Overall Rating
:
2
If it shipped with, or included free driver upgrades (that work) and better support, the Elektra has the potential to be a very good card. According to what they promise it to be anyhow. That's a mystery and will remain so since I'm taking it back and buying something else. So far, it's been many frustrating and wasted hours of trying to get the thing installed and functional, and for $1299, I can't say I'm pleased. Also, they have a system where you have to enter serial numbers for *every last part* of the software, and some of those aren't provided in obvious places. If you buy one, expect to spend hours and hours hunting for drivers and serial numbers to make this thing work the way you need it to.
