There are a few significant differences... Obviously, the first is speakers for the Prelude, none for the GW-8, and 'Analog Modify' knobs for the GW-8, none for the Prelude (although 'analog modify' is a bit of a misnomer... there's no 'analog' synth in there at all - it's just a couple of knobs tasked to either EQ Hi/Lo, Rev/Chor, Filter cutoff/resonance OR envelope attack/release).
The main difference that I have so far found is that the Prelude has the G/E series' four variations and SIX fills, to the GW-8's four variations, FOUR fills, and that the Prelude has none of the GW-8's numeric access to performances and no 'Favorite' Tones and Performances. Oh, and the Prelude can display lyrics, so far the GW-8 can't.
My take on the whole thing is, IF Roland combined BOTH arrangers into one package, they'd have a world beater (at the price). But choosing between speakers and Favorites, Lyrics or knobs seems so cheesy. They are SUCH small things, it hardly seems worth an entirely different product. Simply leaving the word 'Arranger' off the front panel of the GW-8 only fools idiots and the unwary. And leaving the 'Favorites' off the Prelude seems such an arbitrary limitation.
Roland are playing chicken with the low end (it's all they have left, in truth), trying to cover too many bases with products with too little difference. And them chickens will come home to roost, at some point.
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An arranger is just a tool. What matters is what you build with it..!
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