CompuServe Messages

Michael, The jury is still out on the Opalvision vs Toaster shootout for "all-around" swiss army video tool. Opalvision's paint software flat out kills Toasterpaint in ALL respects. It remains to be seen as to whether Newtek will respond to the other issues that Opalvision's promised forthcoming product releases will cover such as: Component (Betacam, MII), and "S" format input/output, integral audio mixer, programmable DVE moves with no "pixellated artifact on squeezed images, real time playback of 24 bit anims on non AGA platforms, non time based corrected input for picture grabs, chroma key, etc. The ad that is in Amigaworld's latest issue goes point by point on what is "promised" to be forthcoming from Opalvision. So far the software upgrades from Opalvision have been very impressive, but they have missed promised deadlines for very important pieces of the puzzle required to compete against Toaster as a video switcher/effects box, namely the genlock board and it's "roaster" chip. Although I am a Toaster owner, I wouldn't have any qualms about hopping over to another platform such as Opalvision if it proves to be the better option for my particular needs. I know I am not the only one watching Opalvision's development with great interest, but at this point the "bun is still in the oven" and there doesn't seem to be a consensus as to when it's going to see the light of day. In the mean time Toaster is here now, and doing what it has promised to do (more or less on time). Frank