CompuServe Messages

Hello Dave, Ouch! I had to read your message twice before I realized that you were happy with 12/16 of the content! 😉 And really, that pleases me, because this is only the first "real" issue of the newsletter (Bill Allen told me it took him several issues to "get it right"). Besides, although I'd love to please everyone all the time, I know that's not possible. But I want to address the issues you brought up. Obviously, a number of people who read Planet Studio will already own R4. But I've seen a lot of people here and on the Internet questioning current owners, asking whether the upgrade is worth getting. And that's what this article aims to tell. Plus, to give an idea of what's possible with the new release. I too am sorry it could not fit onto 1-1/2 pages instead of 2-1/2 (not 3–the TOC and title take up 1/2 page). But it needed big graphics and I did not want to compromise the text, either. I agree it is long; I'll choose to err the other way in the future. Still, I hope other people find it helpful. If not, we won't do this type of thing any more. On a related note, you'll see the text point size go down in the next issue to accommodate more info. I don't want people to have to use a magnifying glass, but I think it can stand to shrink. So you found nothing in the news section that you hadn't known? Geez, I'm really sorry to hear that. I will certainly pull that section if it proves useless. But I also realize that you personally subscribe to *lots* of publications, as well as CIS–and not everybody has all those resources. So maybe you're in the minority. I'll wait to hear from more people before deciding to yank it. By the way, your cost calculations are not based on the charter subscription rate, which will remain in effect for the forseeable future. So the news page really costs $0.61 and the R4 article and images $1.80. 😉 I'm glad you like the articles by Ed, Dave, John, and Brian. These guys are great, as are the other writers I get to work with. And I'm glad the reviews were 'critical enough.' They're there to explain products objectively and to help you make buying decisions–and because people on this forum asked for them! I ask the writers to tell the truth and disclose what kinds of users will be best served by the product. I don't care whether the overall impression is good or bad–just as long as it's helpful and honest. I'm happy to know you liked the book reviews, too. While Planet Studio will stick mostly to things related specifically to Autodesk products, I'm willing to cover related stuff as well. I suspect the Muybridge theories are covered well elsewhere, but maybe not. For instance, Digital Video magazine did an "Animals in Motion" series in the August/September and October/November '93 issues. As far as the Doc Planet column goes, you're right–who wants to send in a question and wait 2 months to see whether or not it'll be answered. So if Brian chooses your question to include, we'll get back to you with an answer right away. The Q & A bit is really just a format, though. We were going to do it as tips, but there's another tips column (readers' tips) on the way. Doc Planet is perfect for questions small in scope. What you suggest about using a whole page to discuss an issue in depth–that's an article! And believe me, Brian, myself, and other of our current and potential contributors are on the lookout for those kinds of questions to answer in full-blown articles. Ah, Jonas. I too think he could write some great stuff. Unfortunately, he's been too busy to write (I know; I've asked). Keep watching, though; I'm persistent! 🙂 At $59/year the price Planet Studio is high. But our goal is to make it worth it! It is a newsletter–not a magazine–so you won't see ads. And unfortunately, we don't see the market being big enough to support the economies of scale needed for a lower price. Believe me, we have only lost (I mean invested!) money in this publication so far. But if it does, we'll certainly lower the price. (There are business reasons for that, not just altruistic!) The ideas and tips you'll get from it will be at least as useful at $59 as a plug-in will be at $295. (Incidentally, if you're spending time on CIS daily, you're shelling out a lot more than $59 a year!) You're dead wrong about my not grasping the niche we should be filling. I don't want to duplicate what's in CADENCE, CADalyst, CGW, or any of the others, either. This is the ONLY publication to focus SOLELY on Autodesk multimedia, and that's the audience we're here to serve. Planet Studio has the resources of Digital Video magazine, we're fortunate enough to have a terrific stable of contributors, and I personally have 7-1/2 years experience in computer graphics/publishing. What's more, I am truly committed to making this a great publication. Even though your criticism may sting, I find it immensely helpful. So thanks, really. I hope that you will give us another chance. I will listen to your requests and do what I can to fulfill them. So keep the comments coming. And we'll keep improving Planet Studio with each issue. I promise.