#3D-Studio Problem
7 messages in this thread
Roger:
"Little bit of room", heck – you took it over! <g>
Well, yes and no is all I can say to your comments! Yes, you're right on
many of your points, but there are a few I question, at least for us, even
though for others it may be different…
We average 95% of all our customer calls answered right there on the phone –
no 'wait until I call the manufacturer' stuff. And on those occasions where
we do call Autodesk for backup, I'd guess we have a 90% rate for answers on
the first call from them, also. Maybe I'm just lucky – or maybe we've done
it enough to have answered most of them for ourselves a few times!
If you think that 3D Studio ADI has problems, try AutoCAD Release 12!
3D Studio is a dream system! Have a video problem – just install Vibrant
drivers and re-boot! Fixes 90% of them right there! Thanks, JackB!
The detailed rendering questions are the ones I enjoy most – like your brick
problem. But the myriad of excuses I've seen up on the board for upgrades
taking 6 weeks or more!?! I have NEVER had a 3D Studio upgrade take over 2
weeks! But then I pay Autodesk's invoices on time – yes, it makes a
difference!
I understand that Autodesk can't support 1,000 different pieces of hardware
– that was the reason for ADI in the first place, to let the little
manufacturers have an opportunity to have their hardware run with the
industry leader! But can't the hardware manufacturers get together and get
some similar standards of their own? VESA is a start, but where is the VESA
for digitizers? Plotters? Printers? And even VESA doesn't cover near
enough, or all the VESA boards would run with all the software, and we all
know that isn't the case!
I will say I've never had anything as easy to configure as my Sun
Workstations. Throw in a board, run a driver, which configures and installs
itself, presto, it's done! No base address conflicts, no memory conflicts,
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no memory managers, period! The operating system loads from a CD after
answering a few questions, networking is built in, not even a setup program
if you add more memory! just toss it in, re-boot, and it's there! Period.
Why can't other things in life be that simple?
Greg Pyros
I have to jump in here Greg. I have only called your office a couple of times
for help and it was immediate! Plus, both upgrades I ordered through you were
in my hands within 1 week!
This is just me jumping on the 'give Greg a boost' bandwagon. I am one of the
biggest critics of Adesk's 'no manufacturer support lines' policy. But thanks
to a few good dealers like Pyros Partnership and CSA, none of us really goes
wanting…
Windows NT? Can't wait for that little gem to solve all of our device problems
(seriously, it should, right? <grin>).
I appreciate Rogers comments very much. Good support is very difficult to
find, the only reason I am not too concerned about my own use is that: 1) I am
not a `power user' yet (although I've had the product for too long not to be),
and 2) Roger is in town here, and for a beer or two I bet he would talk me
through my darkest hours.
I think this forum is terrific! But, I too am saddened by the fact that the
support must come from other users (and some very good dealers here) instead of
from Autodesk or my dealer. This is akin to me calling Roger for help on my
Personal, and Corporate tax returns instead of the IRS. Sure, the IRS has
staff to answer questions (just like most 3DS dealers) but who the hell trusts
them?
Perhaps this is just because of our Geographic location (Milwaukee) I guess
there is not much NEED for the dealers to have really good support for products
that are not really good sellers in their area? I bet that in those areas
where the density of 3DS users is higher (that refers to users-per-square mile,
not any other kind of density <grin)) the dealers are quite sophisticated.
Or, perhaps, this points out the need for better software (`ani-pro is so easy
a child could use it.' yea, right. Great interface) which does not need so
much support for the basics such as loading, configuring, and using the first
60% of it's functionality. I think this is an area AutoDesk REALLY NEEDS TO
SPEND SOME TIME; MAKING 60% OF A PRODUCT'S FUNCTIONALITY AVAILABLE TO LOW-HOURS
USERS.
-Mike.
Mike,
Those west coast guys are kind of taking a beating from us out here in the snow
belt. Hope they understand the concept of cabin fever <g>.
I'm glad it's spring. Too bad it's still snowing..1 to 3 inches tonight.[big
🙁 ]
Roger D.