Emu XL-7 & MP-7 User's Group

> My point is that I have been a long time E-mu supporter.  I own an 
> E6400, a PK-7, and an XL-7.  I also own an Ensoniq SQ2.  I have 3 
> extra roms for the pk-7, as well as about half the emu sample library 
> on cd.  I have spent literally thousands of dollars buying gear from 
> emu.  Now I get absolutely no support for my loyalty.  If I owned a 
> Model T Ford, I can still find after market parts to keep it 
> running.  If I bought a 1950s fender amp, I can still get after 
> market parts to keep it repaired.  I have nothing if my e-mu gear 
> dies.  No upgrade options, see what I'm saying?  For thousands of 
> dollars and years of customer loyalty, I have nothing from E-mu.  At 
> least with my ensoniq, I can still get parts, etc through syntaur, 
> et. al.  but with E-mu, no support.  They refuse to sell their 
> support documentation (repair manuals, schematics).  That being so, 
> they should give up their patents so other people could manufacture 
> and sell parts/upgrades/roms, etc, or at least license said patents 
> out....

This is not a realistic point of view if you choose to be an owner of
digital hardware. Another way to look at it might be that each and
every one of your E-mu purchases has provided you with great sounds
and lots of functionality...and now all of those sounds are available
in a form (PC) that transcends traditional hardware by about 50% and
is priced very reasonably - this would be the longterm upgrade-path
option. 

On the other hand - your xl7 etc still may be an unmatchable choice
for quick and dirty live work. They sound great - right? To my
knowledge, all parts are available. I just bought some. There should
be no reason that you cannot maintain and continue to use your E-mu
hardware. Everything is available used/cannibalized too on ebay etc -
there are loads of these boxes around.