First and foremost, PROPS to the moderators and peeps here for such a HELPFUL forum! Read just about every post up in this badboy -- good stuff, Maynard!

Well... here we go. Been playing with TFS 1.5 (*boo*hiss*glass breaking!*) for a few weeks now, and it's working quite well for me. No crashes; no stutters; no audio drops (I don't use any time-stretching or key correction); no tweaks made to my machine; just an occasional recalibration issue every 8-9 hours or so. I'm a happy camper. BUT from all the posts I've been reading, it sounds like an upgrade to SSL might be worth the risk (I have 5 days left to return TFS to the store before it's mine forever!). The main reasons I'd consider such a move are:

1) OFFICIAL SUPPORT: it's pretty much "doo-doo" for TFS 1.5
2) SOUND QUALITY: everyone raves about how clean SSL sounds
3) ... well... I already have a Rane mixer, Rane EQ.... =P

My laptop: Toshiba Tecra 8200; P3 850MHz; 256 MB; 60GB 5400rpm; Windoze XP SP2. Spin house music in San Francisco about once a week. No scratching -- just beatmatching and really Really REALLY long transitions (riding both records for about 3min).

Should I take the plunge? Are my reasons enough to justify the risk of giving up a nearly flawless system? Is it likely that I'll get the same/better performance with SSL? EVERY opinion posted will receive my most sincere consideration. Many thanks in advance for your $0.02!

DO IT.....I have TFS and SSL here at my store, and in my mind...SSL is the better system. Many people here are talking needle drop and scratch latancey. But the main thing i notice is TFS 1.5 looses tracking if you have to back spin real fast to go back to a cue point, SSL does not. With TFS 1.5 I would back spin and stop the record and it would still jump back 2-5 more seconds and no matter how much I tried to get SSL to do it, I couldn't. That and the major support shown here is why I am choosing SSL.

i believe the addage your were going for with your post is "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." have you ever heard "don't beat a dead horse"?

take into consideration these 2 facts:

1- final scratch closed their user forum months ago
2- final scratch announced version 2 of their product

i've never been a fs user, they shut down their boards right as i was about to make my purchase, i used google's cache feature to search their site and see some of the last posts before being shutdown (i guess i owe them a thank you for steering me in the right direction ;) you said yourself how helpful this forum is.

you also asked if you will get better performance with ssl. it sure won't get any worse. with fs 2 coming out, i doubt you will see a version 1.6. the ssl team has stated that all updates to scratch live will be free (with the exception of plug-ins) and will not be dependent on new hardware.

the decision is up to you, but i would suggest you make it back to the store by this weekend to make an exchange. i haven't read one former fs user who says they regret their ssl purchase.

You forgot a very important reason 4): as FS2 will be out soon you will need to 'upgrade' to the new scratch amp in the near future, which will cost you. Therefore it's always best to return the old FS while you still can!

SOLD! Thanks everyone for the input. I'll be making a journey to Guitar Center either today or tomorrow...

SO.... best price for SSL? Suggested sellers anyone (preferably online)? =P

123dj.com won't dissapoint. Got mine from them for an unbeatable price. (Psss....plus there's no sale's tax and free shipping sometimes!)

you can get it at guitar center while you're taking back your final scratch. check froogle.com for the lowest price and take a print out for price match.