Fairlight-CMI

I currently own two series IIx's. I have been considering the 
purchase of a series III. I am a hobbiest-musician. I have started 
collecting samplers from the eighties I find them to be so much more 
inspiring than vintage analog synth's. I have never seen or heard a 
series III but absolutly love my series IIx sounds. Is the series III 
that much different than an akai or emu sampler? I know when I 
purchased my series IIx people just couldnt quite figure out why I 
would pay money for something so old and outdated. My favorite quote 
was "just get gigasampler its soo much better than that old 
technology." Just wondering what the groups take is on the series 
III. 

Thanks 

Kevin Kelley