cdk group layoffs?
7 messages in this thread
I heard a rumor last week that there was another round of layoffs in the
Autodesk CDK group. What gives? ADesk seemed to be finally getting behind this
product.
Jerry
Hi Jerry,
<<<<<I heard a rumor last week that there was another round of layoffs
in the Autodesk CDK group. What gives? ADesk seemed to be finally
getting behind this product.>>>>>>
Since I see no one rushing to respond……I, being ever present and
generally loud mouthed,……. No, I deleted it all…………I am
still waiting to hear the answer they come up with before I open my
big mouth with my opinions…..believe it or not, this is a very tame
response considering my feelings on this subject.
Come on Autodesk…….. answer the public here……….Jerry is a
pretty well known writer on VR to have such a question ignored!
……JF, JI, GO, ML, SD, BB, where are you? (sysops, feel free to
forward this appropriately..)
Stand up and be proud to be rendering independent! Explain what that
means! Is CDK a difficult product for Autodesk to succeed with (in
business terms, with 5 different product managers/leaders in the past
four years) yet how have they already succeeded (in open architecture
technical terms)? Talk of the future NOW! Educate the 3D Studio
users! SPEAK UP sombody! No one else in the world has solved the PC
VR rendering issues perfectly either, and when someone does (now is
the time for the hardware to come of age, finally), you'll be the
logical avenue for them to bring it to the world IF you can manage to
become a standard. This is GOOD. Speak up!
Who talks for CDK on non-technical questions anymore? Brian has
stepped in to handle everything a programmer can be expected to
handle. Where is the rest of the support team?
Jerry, for what it is worth, my understanding is that the
"redeployments" made were very widespread across the entire
department, not just CDK. And the main creative forces behind the CDK
product are still there and quite capable of going strong. The loss
of Kevin Yurica, the product manager is a hard one right now in such
a critical time for CDK, but not insurmountable if they don't let the
momentum he worked so hard to build up to with Rel 2 die right now
before an alternative is found. I am sure they are scambling for the
appropriate next step in this drama. Which is OK Adesk….remember
the 70's I'm OK, You're OK. You don't have to be perfect, just be
public about it (you are anyway). The world is watching and waiting
for you right now.
You know if Autodesk heard more from the 3D Studio users in the world
about CDK it might alter their opinions on the subject. CDK is not
just for VR folks you know. Are there any 3D Studio users out there
with an interest in this thread or discussion? You speak up too all
you lurkers out there. Ask questions, find out what CDK is and does
and how it could affect your life over the next five years or so.
I have written and deleted this message 6 times so I will now quit
while trying to spare you all (the rest of) my ranting and ravings on
the subject………
Hmmmm….. Speaking as someone without a technical background, whose
fascination with computer imaging was allowed to grow by leaps and
bounds by lurking in Asoft, (nope, I dont have a Phd., I have an
ASOFT degree.) have come to the conclusion that the more technical
discussion the better. Yup, open technical discussion without the
sourness of oneupmanship.
3DS's solid code, terrific documents, quick response from the Yost
group, and a whole crew of forumite division experts has made
plunging into 3D imaging a very rewarding experience…and me a 3DS
convert. (Told a colleague yesterday "Why struggle with Soft Image
and IRIX, bring that DXF file over here and lets see what we can do
in 3DS". I'm in trouble now. (g))
Personally I'd love it if the CDK group would shoot for the same kind
of scenario…lots of helpful forum discussion.
I realize that VR is not quite ready for prime time and that there may
be developments that blend the boundaries between an imaging program
and a VR program; and the marketers might be scouting out a
combination scenario that I can't imagine. But as an educator (I
teach in an art program) I can tell everyone that keeping the "how to
use it" secret is slowing down the process. At Virginia Commonwealth
University, where I work, I have had discussion with several
different groups in the medical school and business school about
developing realtime interactive educational programs that would model
real world activities…and 3 programs keep coming up CDK, WTK, and
Superscape. We are "hot to trot" but nobody knows quite where to
dive in. I've opted for ADESK because I think 3DS is fantastic and
ACAD is a solid contender in the market place.
Superscape is pushing hard right now, 3 of their sales people have
called me 4 times in the last 2 months. (But who is going to give me
the real scoop on their projected support for accelerator cards,
etc.). WTK is very nice to me over the telephone…lots of
information.
CDK has MicronGreen!! Yaaaaayyyyyy! Angela Pate and Kevin at Adesk
have given me the only real preliminary technical help and info …
and THAT influences a purchasing decision.
But I need a place to go for hard information and immediate feedback.
I need a program that has close support with ACAD and 3DS. I need a
place for online education. So here I am in ASOFT! I do think that
the CDK section could perform a terrific service for everybody – the
programmers, users, marketers – if it took the lead.
Hmmm….(Waiter could I have another cappucino please.) Possible
forum structures: -A call from ADESK for all CDK users to discuss
what they are doing with the code. Who is doing what and how are
they accomplishing it. This would include the hacking bushwackers
from ACAD and MicronGreen. To what uses have they seen this the
program put. -Occasional white papers – tips and tricks – little
tutorials using the demo programs that ship with the product.
-Reviews of hardware that works with CDK. Or at the very least an
encouragement to the manufacturers of such products to announce and
file in the libraries the product specs. (a la DPS PAR FAQ) -any
celebrity CDK users? CDK used yet in any educational/museum
settings?
I would like to extend my wishes that the CDK forum becomes as
productive and informative an area as the rest of ASOFT.
(OOOOPS! There goes my CIS bill again$$$$$) Carlton
Hi Angela,
I'm extreemly interested in what happens with the CDK product, I've actually
been talking to programmers about working on projects that would involve the
CDK2, however this requires a lot of blood sweat and money upfront.
I've talked to groups in our area that want to explore it further however this
would mean growing our company much faster than I'd planned. On the other hand
I'm stareing at a possible 6 figure project which would allow me to build a
projects team and most certainly keep it together for well over a year on the
first project with more to follow.
I'm talking to some principals right now and it sure would be nice to know what
Autodesk has in mind at this critical juncture.
Well, as usuall I've probably said too much again.
I'll have to call you in the next few weeks Angela, perhaps we can work
something out together on this upcoming oppurtunity.
Murph'
Hi Angela,
>> Are there any 3D Studio users out there with an interest in this thread or
discussion?<<
I read the threads in here all the time. I don't have the CDK but I think it
is very interesting. I think it will be even more so after 3ds5 comes out for
NT. If many of us have hardware rendering, I think it will be also appropriate
for VR.
It seemed like Adesk was going in the right direction by allowing import of 3ds
files and handling all the animation info. AutoCAD/3DS are great building
tools for VR enviornments!
I too hope the Adesk keeps going with its development and support of CDK.
Mark Meier
Another loud mouth reply from me again… <g>
I have been assured again from the (highest) Multimedia powers that be that all
is well with CDK and that Autodesk still supports it strongly and I want to
make sure that everyone understands this and doesn't mistake my rambling on
about the lack of PR support for the lack of CDK support. This is unfortunately
a transitionary period with no one actually assigned to the job of answering
such questions on CIS. But they are working on the PR aspects and should have
them ironed out soon. We will get techinical support here from Brian and other
issues will have to wait until they get through this.
Thanks Autodesk for contacting me and all other that have responded here. All
others out there intereseted in CDK on this forum… this is a good thread to
speak up on to show Autodesk the real need for such assistance here in the CDK
section….
Angela
Well here I am again – and I seem to have missed this forum the last time I was
on. So I am throwing in my thoughts about all of this.
First of all, I think we all know that CDK is a good product, but if people do
not
work together and we do not get support – CDK will suffer (no matter how good
the program is). I love it, and I can not learn fast enough… but can not
afford
a real video card – so what am I to do but sit around and whine.
I agree with Angela in the things she has said, everyone needs to stand up…
so – count me in.
Wade