Honorable Composers,
My question is in regards to the Vienna Symphonic Library Super Package, which I've seen on the internet in two versions--DVD and hard drive (Glyph GT 050Q 750GB). As the VSL website does not seem to offer any hard drive versions (which I would greatly prefer over DVDs), I feel this is a fair question, but I will not mention (or solicit for) specific websites in the interest of forum rules.
There are many sites that sell the Super Package DVD version for around the price point I'd expect (~$6,600), which is right on (or maybe a bit cheaper) for the standard library. However, the same sites--and these are very repudible sites--who sell the DVD version at this price also sell a hard drive version for ~$10k. Both are marked "Super Package," but nowhere can I find where it specifies whether this is the standard, extended, or full (full = standard + extended). The hard drive version is an external drive, and because they mention the model number (as I have given above), I was able to find that this drive sells for at most $250. This difference between the DVD and HDD versions is $3,400--way more than the price of the hard drive, even if you include labor costs! Does the HDD version possibly include the standard and extended libaries?!
My understanding is that unless it says "full" or "standard and extended," it's best to assume that it is the standard version. However, because the HDD version goes for about $10k, this is $2,000 more than what the standard-only version should cost!
I've called two different companies on this, and both customer service representatives were clueless on the VSL product line (the first lady couldn't even pronounce "Vienna")! The manufacturer number is listed as "GTIP-VSLSUPKG" in each case, but I'm not sure if this is a VSL number or not. I can't find the VSL manufacturer numbers on the VSL site, or I'd do a cross-comparison so I knew what I was getting into.
Here is my analysis. I surmise that the HDD version I describe for $10k is reasonable for the Super Package FULL (standard + extended) for two reasons. First, the HDD version described above does not include (the sweet) Vienna Dimension Brass (~$805), whereas the VSL website Super Package version *does*. Second, the May 16, 2011 U.S. price increase added $1000 to the Super Package. Add this difference of $1805 to the $10k, and you're around $12k which is on point for the Super Package FULL.
Either this is a reasonable deal, or a sucker's bet, and I'd like to know which. Any thoughts?
Respectfully, Matthew