Feature:
Comes with a firewire cable (nice) but relatively short; immediately upgraged to longer cable so I could get computer into separate room and decrease noise. Includes Cubase LE, a scaled-down version of Cubase, very intuitive and this version is quite usable. I'm running all gear into a Mackie 1604VLZ Pro using direct outs on channels 1-8 into Firepod. EIGHT analog inputs become ONE thin digital line out. Setup: 2 keyboards (stereo), 1 guitar (stereo thru Digitech RP200), 1 bass guitar and 1 mic and now that I've tweaked everything all I got do is flip ONE switch and play. SWEET!!! Inputs on front and firewire output on rear is backwards for this setup in a rolling rig, would be nice to have "reversible" rack mount ears, you know, screwed in with option to flip and move to rear....just a sugestion.

Quality:
Looks very professional and the blue lights are sexy. Case looks sturdy, but has a "some-plastic" feel. This is a profeesional tool and deserves to be protected in a rack--I value it too much to haul around naked, it just seems vunerable.

Value:
Eight inputs, phantom power, line or mic option, firewire speed, Cubase and great preamps. Go ahead find a better deal at this price - I dare you!!

Desirability:
Ok, I said the blue lights were sexy, the aluminum finish is professional and that rack mounting is needed. At least I said it now!

Sound:
Clear transparent sound. Using AT 4033, AKG 1000s and Marshall MXL V69 mics these preamps show their stuff - extremely low noise, wide dynamic range. I can hear a spider farting in the corner, yet no hum or buzz. Pure ear candy! Shure SM57 works fine in high SPL when gain set right, although high end condenser mics benefit the most.

Support:
No experience, everything works fine

Overall:
I am so pleased with this that I might get another, just so the drummer can have his dream of many separate tweakable channels. Personally, I think the egotistical SOB outta spring for it himself!(Sorry, no place for band talk) Actually I'd have a back up and I'd be expanding to 16 channels. Overall, I figure this will satisfy me for a long time, until a 16 to 24 channel analog input mixing board comes out with these features built in--it could happen!

Feature:
It has all the routing options I need, and though the drivers are minimalist, by conforming to standards they allow the *applications* to provide everything that I need. Also, I'm currently running 6-channel IO with effects and monitoring enabled at 2msec latency without pegging above 50% CPU effortlessly. The only lacking feature is the once-promised ability to daisy-chain two or more to gain dozens of inputs.

Quality:
Looks nice. Feels solid. Sounds great. I'm confident that if I throw it in a rack it'll do its job until it is obsoleted.

Value:
Haven't bought any other Firewire breakouts to compare it to, but judging from the build, driver, and sound quality, and comparing it to similar products' prices, I am pleased with the price I paid for it.

Desirability:
Looks classy; I hope cobalt and black on silver never goes out of style. It's not a tech marvel or a design revolution, but it's well-built and attractive enough to make me look good when using it.

Sound:
The FirePod's sound can best be described as "transparent" to my ears. What you put into it is exactly what you get out of it. I haven't worked with pro audio for long, so I can't compare it to much; I just know from considerable experience in consumer audio hardware (both in using and designing it) that it has one of the cleanest sounds I've heard with everything I've thrown at it so far.

Support:
Haven't needed support.

Overall:
I am thoroughly pleased with this product. It does exactly what I need it to, with exceptional quality, at a very reasonable price. I look forward to the next chance I have to use it!

Feature:
Presonus ships everything you'll need to get started, including a Firewire cable. There is also Cubase, in case you need a DAW, but it worked fine with Cakewalk HS and Vegas.

Quality:
Everything feels solid, although this is a very light unit. Finish is good, everything works and it looks good, too. Like I said, I wouldn't be afraid to put it into a gig bag and take it with me for location recording - a place with power outlets, of course, this isn't a battery powered unit and would be a bit much anyway unless you were recording outdoor ambient souround sound.

Value:
As I said above, it is worth the money. You can, of course, spend more, but you'd be spending as much on single componets as you would the hole kit.

Desirability:
It looks cool and still stays practical. 2 holes in one. Firewire is still the way to go for audio (and midi with the FirePod) and the PreSonus sofware installed in a few minutes with no muss or fuss (unlike the 2nd incarnation of Yamaha's firewire protocal mLAN. It runs at a 10 ms latency as default didn't break a sweat on my 1.7 MGz system without any other tweaks.

Sound:
The FirePod sounds great. The preamps are sweet - they add no color to the sound. Basically, what goes in comes out. There are better convertors and preamps out there, but nothing for the price. It is perfect for the home studio, av etc. Another great plus is the size - it is the smallest 8i/o with preamps units, or close enough in size. It is standard rack width, but the depth is very shallow. You can pack it in a bag and take it with you, rather than having to lug a rack on site.

Support:
PreSonus is an excellent company. I originally had the FireStation but a firmware update from Yamaha for their mLAN B crippled it. I spent 40-50 hours trying to get it to work with my system and many hours with PreSonus technicians as we walked through processes. After months of going around with PreSonus and Yamaha, PreSonus made me a deal on the Firewire but mLANless FirePod when it became available. This from a small company whose product was ruined by big Yamaha. Enough said - they are best.

Overall:
The Firepod should last a long while - and this from an original minimoog owner. While the next round of AD/DA convertors will be better, this latest generation is great. Today, there limitations for getting a good sound in a home studio are factors outside the convertors - they capture your sound with all the warts in the rest of your system. Wrap those around an effecient package and 8 very good preamps and you've got a product that will last. In a few years you might upgrade the convertors, but the Firepod will still make a nice 8 line mixers with preamps. In fact, I'm getting rid of my mixer since it bascially replaces what I need do with it.

Feature:
About what you would expect.

Quality:
No problems for over a year of nightly usage.

Value:
I haven't found a better value for $600. I am still amazed that this product is still $600 a year latter.

Desirability:
Oh yes, I would definitely go get another Presonus firepod if this one got lost or stolen.

Sound:
I can't hear any distortions or coloring caused by the preamps.

Ease of Use:
Nearly plug-n-play. I have used my firepod with Sonar and I am currently using it with MOTU's DP.

Support:
The responded within a day to my emails. I had questions about compatibility with OSX and MOTU's DP software. No problems so far using this with my iMac and DP.

Feature:
No ADAT, but still has midi, and s/pdif. Plus it comes with cubase software, and great monitoring options, and inserts, etc.

Quality:
the Firepod is definitely made very well. not as bulky and weighty as others, and has way more features, and still is rugged and could probably handle a good beat-down (I'm hoping I don't find out)

Value:
features, and audio quality are enough to make this a 10, but also, just look at the motu 828mkII! a lot more with a lot less features, and 6 less mic preamps! come on now!

Desirability:
not all flashy with tons of blinking lights, and the front panel is well designed and conservative, but attractive.

Sound:
I purchased this product, and was absolutely amazed by the audio quality. No noise, beautiful preamps. awesome sound!

Support:
perfect. I havent needed any support on the firePOD, bu the guys there are all top-notch, great guys, very supportive.

Overall:
I would buy this again and again, and would recommend this product to anyone who is looking!