http://www.acousticsamples.net/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3&products_id=20
VS
http://www.acousticsamples.net/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3&products_id=17

Does anyone have any experience with either of these two samples? I'm looking for a step up from my Garageband Orchestra Steinway. They're the same price but I'm torn between them. I love the sound of the Kawai but it seems all the demos are from the pro version (which is out of my current budget and too big for my HDD). The Lite version also lacks the multiple release velocities, which the Academic Grand has. Does this make a great difference in practice? I'd appreciate any input you guys can give on them.

Yes, you need to upgrade. It's good that Apple includes a sampled grand piano but it is not any better then the internal sound in a low to mid range DP.

Release samples are hard to hear. In most music another note starts before one is released and the release covered by the much louder sound (release is the sound of the felt damper coming down on the ringing strings.) I can hear it if I play one note at a time but not otherwise.

Garage Band can actually play EXS24 samples. All of Apple's samples are in EXS24 so this should drop right in, unless you like Kontakt or their own player.

I think the way to decide is based on the kind of music you play and if it is best suited to the brighter Kawai or not. Really these are cheap enough that you could eventually have both