#Animator
9 messages in this thread
I have ordered Animator and was wondering what the main difference is between
it and Animator Pro ???
The _main_ difference, besides price, is that Animator is limited to 320×200
resolution, while Animator Pro is resolution independant, so you can create
high-resolution flics. I'm surprised someone is still selling Animator by
itself. There's a package called Multimedia Explorer that's less than the cost
of the original Animator package and includes both the full Animator, plus the
Windows Player, plus a CDROM full of all kinds of goodies. You might want to
rethink this before you tear off the shrink-wrap.
– Jack
I assume you did the same thing I did–buy it from Surplus Software. I think
I got my money's worth ($50 is about right for this program). I called the
local dealer and they told me I could upgrade to Animator Pro for $300+–hardly
worth it if the only difference is the image size. I work mostly in Windows
and I personally find the Animator GUI very antiquated and difficult to use.
What I decided to do was to learn for a while using Animator and then when I
outgrow it, look for alternatives. By then there may some more reasonably
priced, up-to-date packages on the market. Right now the only alternative
seems to be the Gold Disk product.
I said the _main_ difference was the resolution. There's a lot more than that,
such as a programming language that controls every function, animated cels,
fonts, etc. However, the user interface has not changed appreciably, so perhaps
you'd be better off waiting for that alternative.
– J
>>However, the user interface has not changed appreciably, so perhaps you'd be
better off waiting for that alternative.<<
Am I crazy, or is this an amazing thing for an official spokesperson for the
Yost group to say? Is the 8-bit-ness of AAP code *really* so integral that
bothering to make major alterations *of any kind* is not worth doing?!? It's
such a swell program otherwise…. Want me to talk to Ms. Autodesk for ya?
Maybe I can help her to see reason…
DT
I think you misunderstood what we were talking about. Our point was that the
user interface between Animator and Animator Pro were not appreciably
different.
And, as usual, we're completely forbidden from discussing any future product
development issues. It's completely up to you as to whether or not you want to
engage in wild speculation.
– G (& J)
Well, G (& J), I actually understood what was said and meant. But felt then
and, I guess, now that being referred to a *different software package* because
of the different interface imPLIES that we can't expect a change in the AAP
interface. I have, on occasion been called wild, and certainly am speculating
about the future of Animator, but I have my firm rumors (or rumours, as Martin
F would say) as fuel for the wildfire. I know you can't discuss future
developments and am not asking you to. I'm just poking you guys (and, really,
ADesk) about the changes that I (and at least a few others) would like to see.
It's probably not fair. I should probably just put my desires into a wish list
(assuming one exists), but I actually have sent them in already. I couldn't
begin to tell you where I was at when I posted the message yesterday, other
than knee-jerking about what I mentioned in the second sentence of this note.
If I poked a too-sensitive spot, my apologies.
DT
Speculation about rumors (firm or otherwise) is really not considered kosher in
my book of ASOFT etiquette. Since we're not allowed to discuss major future
directions (under penalty of death), it's just not a fair thing to do. But
hey, feel free to take any jabs you want… I've been around awhile and I don't
take much of this stuff personally. (What? Me sensitive? <g>)
– G
Strange as it may seem, I actually respect, appreciate and approve of the
Autodesk policy of announcing no products before its time. Sort of the
antithesis of the Microsoft policy which is to announce *and release* software
before its time. I am, however, human, despite comments and wishes to the
contrary, and wonder what's coming down the pike, have, and see in others,
wishes for what will come down the pike and can't help but try to interpret
comments from yourselves at the Yost Group and those at ADesk, since, being
human yourselves, you all occasionally drop hints in your enthusiasm and/or
distraction as to what IS coming down the pike. (Was that sentence long and
convoluted enough?) So, at the risk of beating a dead horse, here, (in
conversation these comments would be so short the apparent importance of the
topics would return to their proper level, i.e., not terribly) let me condense
ALL of my part of the preceding thread by asking you to scribble my name on a
list of people who ask Autodesk to make Animator a 24-/32-bit program, whatEVER
that may or may not imply to those who know, and let it go at that.
DT