CompuServe Messages

I'd like to take a minute to jump in this thread (albeit late..). I am a college student, and I disagree with the rationale about no student discounts. Many realize that colleges are pretty much a distibution point of illegal and pirated software. This is true. One case in point was a guy I knew who had a (pirated?) beta version of 3DS R1. He then proceded to do some animation for a Real Estate promotional for the money it took to buy a good hardware system, including a Targa 64. What I do not understand is why then charge students full price, when they can go the free (but illegal) route and copy it from someone they know? Are you not encouraging pirated software, when you know full well that 90% of college students are spending all of their money on their education? I do not know ANY students who has that kind of money to spend on a software package that will not even be of benefit until they get a job using it. I think that software businesses are foolish to not give serious discounts to students. College students have the time available to learn (become hooked on) software. Then, once they get out into the businessplace, they are actually good at doing something. They are good entry level animators who are useful, but still underexperienced to demand more money. The only company I know that is doing this right is Borland. The Borland programming software is used by every Computer Science student, and *class* I know. Why? It's because it is cheap. Cheap, not poor quality. The professors like it because it is good software, and the students buy it because they can afford it. Students get it for about HALF OFF. And know what? I know more people who actually bought it than those who pirated it. 3DS could be the same way. As 3D becomes more universal, people will be looking for a good program to learn on. I bought Playmation. Why? Because it was good, and cheap. I spent $400 on Playmation. Why should I spend more on a learning tool? I don't have a $3,000 car, let alone enough money to buy a $3,000 software package. (or even $1000 for that matter.) I'll let my employer shell out that kind of money. I'll stick to the reasonable. What get's me is that R2, or even R1 is not sold to students. I would have gladly spent my $400 on R2. But for now, I'm thinking about upgrading to ProMation. They work with me. I might have to relearn to be useful in a 3DS running shop, but hey- that's your problem. I take all that I can get my hands on. It's just that 3DS is untouchable. (legally) I'm sorry if you got a raw deal. I just want you to know that not every student has pirated software, or SGI's that are out to do you in. Students want to do their job. Learn. I wish I had the right kind of tools to learn from, but I have to buy it all myself. Thanks for your time. JNJ