#LW4.0 Upgrade
68 messages in this thread
I'm not sure this will work, but I am going to try to transmit a copy of a post
I have prepared:
To all owners of 3.5 Lightwave Standalone: The program to upgrade your
Lightwave to LightWave 4.0 SA on Amiga, Intel, MIPS, and Alpha for $149 has
expired. NewTek management has decided that at this time no other upgrade
program will be offered to 3.5 SA owners. Management has requested that 3.5 SA
owners who did not pre-order upgrades to 4.0, but are interested in upgrading
to 4.0 when available, should send a letter to NewTek Customer Service.
NewTek's address: 1200 SW Executive Drive, Topeka KS 66615 USA
Fax Numbers: 1-800-854-7111, 913-228-8099, 913-228-8001
Those who send a letter will be placed on a list, and will be notified when 4.0
is released. IF another program for upgrade is made available, they will be
notified. There are no plans to institute another upgrade program at this
time,
and Customer Service informs me that there is no promise that any other upgrade
program for owners of 3.5 LW SA will be instituted. If management makes no
changes in this matter, then there will be no upg to 4.0 SA, even within the
Amiga platform, other than to purchase 4.0 at full retail.
Please feel free to clip out and distribute the above text beginning with "All
owners of 3.5…" and concluding with "…4.0 at full retail." via whatever
services and venues you have available, electronic or print.
Chuck Baker NewTek Tech Support
Hmmm: looks a bit rough, but I think it is all there, except that "there will b
no upg" should be "there will be no upgrade".
This gives you the details as they stand at the moment, and I will pass your
message to the product managers.
Chuck.
Chuck,
Maybe you can pass this on as well.
I must admit to being absolutely disgusted at what I consider to be an
incredible con by people with clearly questionable moral values. Whatever
happened to fair treatment to customers ?
I could live with this decision to discontinue the upgrade if NewTek had
informed all of their registered users – they have our addresses after all, and
I certainly was not informed. I wonder how many others there are who will be
getting a nasty shock. But the real isue is to say there is no time limit in a
message to me:
"No time limit on the offer, and I'm checking with our International sales
department for info on how you should order your upgrade. You may check with
our customer service department at 913-228-8000 to inquire, also." Message
from Chuck B on 16 May 1995.
I think the only fair process here is honour the upgrade for those who were not
informed or had similar messages on time straight from the horses mouth.
I would like some kind of response from NewteK management please.
Muir
I already got my upgrade, but I'm behind you poor guys 100%!!
I think that it was _very_ unprofessional to weasel out on their upgrade
offer without any prior warning.
While I understand that this might garner them a _few_ extra dollars in
the short run, they will be hurting what little remains of their standing
in this community. (Even ignoring the fact that some users might not buy
the upgrade _at all_ at the new price, they do stand to earn more cash
from immediate sales.)
I just got back from demoing LW on the SGI for three days, and several
people expressed their comtempt of this 'new pricing policy'. Many of them
felt that the upgrade price would be available up until the damn thing
shipped, at least!
Considering how NewTek has recently burned its customers, you'd think
they'd want to stay friends with the few that remain loyal?
Keep On Toastin'
Erik Flom – ELF Works 3D Construction Co.
>>I already got my upgrade, but I'm behind you poor guys 100%!!<<
I too, ordered the upgrade on the last day. I'm miffed that I was "forced" to
go for the Amiga version. Though I may be getting a Pentium or Alpha soon, I
don't have either now. Of course, there's the further snub of closing off the
upgrade before the software is even shipping, but…
Frankly, besides a couple from Hank Teller, I recall seeing only my messages to
Chuck regarding the flip-flop and subsequent cancelling of the upgrade program.
I was quite surprised to see virtually no discussion of this rather "dubious
customer service".
I really wonder what was going on with NewTek marketing, since Chuck had to
reverse his own message stating no cancellation, the very next day. All of
this occouring just two weeks prior to the end date. Did marketing just forget
to tell everyone, or did they just wait until it was impossible to get hold of
all of us?
I'm damn loyal to LightWave. It's been relatively cheap, easy to learn, and
has helped earn me not only a fine supplement to a salary in the past, but my
entire income now, for almost two years. But, things like this do nothing but
shake my confidence. Everyone I have talked to, including dealers, have
expressed great surprise that the upgrade program was given a time limit at
all. In their view, and mine, this type of program should grow with the
software, and be increased relative to the further up the revision scale you
have to go. After all, isn't that what an upgrade program really is?
There. I feel better. :->
Trent/ReAnimators
Maybe if you keep the 'upgrade' unopened, you'll be able swap it for the
platform of your choice in the next week or two?
As you pointed out, the only messages about it have been contradictory,
and the 2 week 'warning' was basically worthless.
Oh well, they've got us over a barrel….
What're we gonna do? Buy other software?…..
Keep On Toastin'
Erik Flom – ELF Works 3D Construction Co.
>>Maybe if you keep the 'upgrade' unopened, you'll be able swap it for the
platform of your choice in the next week or two?<<
Hmm, never thought of that. Good idea, if it arrives in the next couple weeks
that is! :->
>>What're we gonna do? Buy other software?<<
Yeah, I hear that!
Trent/ReAnimators
Whatever, I hope you get the upgrade you want, and didn't just give NewTek
some money because they scared you into buying without notice.
NT has to remember that they aren't on the Amiga platform.
On the PC, They've got real competition in the field of 3D rendering.
It's not like the only other option is Imagine……..
Keep On Toastin'
Erik Flom – ELF Works 3D Construction Co.
>>NT has to remember that they aren't on the Amiga platform.
On the PC, They've got real competition in the field of 3D rendering.
It's not like the only other option is Imagine……..
Keep On Toastin'
Erik Flom – ELF Works 3D Construction Co.<<
That's for sure. Between 3DS (which has a very loyal following) and Truespace
(who is not sitting still on adding advanced features for its price(direct
deformation, real time render) competition is going to be a fierce battle.
Fortunately, 3DS is not expected to be finished porting to NT until Jan 96,
maybe later, and Truespace animation capabilities is lacking features like
envelope controls, bones and IK NewTek has a good nitch to fill.
I would like to see some direct competition aimed at 3DS. The new plug-in
framework is a start, an animation scripting language like 3DS would be good
and perspective matching tools like 3DS would also be a good fight against 3DS.
I would also like to see the ability to render flic and Avi as textures.
LightWave does still have a lead – but as you point out, the competition
is running pretty fast…..
HIIP should solve your image/anim output problems. Elastic Reality seems
to be interested in giving away the interface just to set a standard.
Keep On Toastin'
Erik Flom – ELF Works 3D Construction Co.
>>LightWave does still have a lead – but as you point out, the competition
>>is running pretty fast…..
As much as I like Lightwave, I don't know how you could qualify LW having the
lead. By # of licensed units 3DS has the lead, Alias on SGI has the lead for
top of the line effects. I don't mean any disrespect to you or LW but I am not
sure what qualification it leads in.
Unless it the first major company to port to NT first??
Let's not get into a religious war. I delete enough of those threads from
comp.graphics….
If you feel differently, great.
I don't give a rat's ass whether it's in the 'lead' or not.
This is a NewTek/LW forum – I was trying to be polite.
Keep On Toastin'
Erik Flom – ELF Works 3D Construction Co.
I think he may have been referring to feature richness as opposed to sales.
wmc – via Autopilot!
I talked to a girl at NT today (8/14/95) and she said I could order the s/w by
tommorow and wait on delivery til the complete LW 4.0 vers I want ships to
decide on the platform. What a deal???
….John
Certainly different to what I was told…
Trent/ReAnimators
I failed to u/g in the time NewTek gave me. I got plenty of render power if I
need it right now (4 040 Amigas). For many of us this LW addiction is just a
hobby and learning experience. So I haven't had to fold to NT or another
platform. I got plenty of toys now and can probably hold for a while, with my
fingers crossed.
….John
Erik.
I think you are so right. I for one feel that the least NewTEk can do is
inform those customers they have not contacted and offer them the chance to
upgrade as they promised, if the customer declines then OK. I for one refuse
to pay full retail price for an "upgrade" which I was offered at $149.
I am afraid that this is the first time I have come across a company so keen to
frustrate it's current user base. It is sad and from everything I know about
customer service will just hurt NewTek in the future.
I would certainly like more than a "pasted copy of a NewTek message" from
Chuck (or dare I ask …Marketing) as a response to my question concerning
getting the upgrade as committed for those not informed.
This will probably be my last public posting on this but I needed to vent my
anger and disbelief at NewTek. I am hoping for a positive ending to this tale
!
Muir
Cyberstormed A4000/Mac Quadra 900
The original Taunus Amiga
Vent away! I wouldn't blame you for jumping to another package, if only to
spite NewTek.
Surely NewTek must realize that they'll probably lose more customer's than
they could ever replace with the extra few hundred bucks made on the
packages sold. (You figure if only 2 out of 3 users choose not to upgrade,
then they've lost any benefit to the rate hike….Unless they're trying to
_decrease_ the installed base of LightWave users?!?)
So, how does LW do on your CyberStorm? What sort of speed improvements
have you seen? (This is assuming you have an 060?)
Keep On Toastin'
Erik Flom – ELF Works 3D Construction Co.
Erik,
Thanks for the moral support.
On the speed question I have a 40MHz 040, so can't give you a real feel for the
speed of the 060. I thought the benefit of the Cyberstorm on rendering was
good (2-4x better) with the 040 and on-board Fast RAM …. from what I have
read the 060 is ca 2 times faster than this.
Muir
Cyberstormed A4000/Mac Quadra 900
The original Taunus Amiga
You're running the same speed as my 'Warped' 4000.
I just saw the 'Cyberstorm' and thought 060….Oh well….
Good Luck!
Keep On Toastin'
Erik Flom – ELF Works 3D Construction Co.
<<I just saw the 'Cyberstorm' and thought 060….Oh well….>>
The 060 is pretty fast. In Video Toaster User, it says it "falls short of a
Pentium 100 computer." The average speed increase over a 040/25 is 3.1x
overall. There are renderings and options that make it as a high as 5.2x
faster. I'm getting one myself when Macrosystems makes one for the A2000.
Waiting for the MacroSystem's 060 accelerator to be released.
Chris Shepard: 030/50 Toaster A2000 & MacIIfx via Emplant.
I've got the Warp from Macrosystems – they say I'll have to send the board
in for an upgrade if I want an '060. (Not what they said when I bought it,
but is that a surprise?)
I'll be getting my 133MHz Pentium this week. Eventually, I'm going to have
to get the 060 just to keep from being frustrated by the slowness of the
40MHz 040…..:^)
Keep On Toastin'
Erik Flom – ELF Works 3D Construction Co.
Erik,what 133 are you getting? I've been trying to decide what to do- I'm
pretty interested in the DPS Perception system which need full length PCI
slots- lots of clones fail the test. I'd be curious to know what you've
decided – thanks
Mike
Mike,
Be advised, I had to clock my 100MHz down to 90 for the Perception to work. At
SIGGraph, DPS said they had a software fix in work for this, to be available in
the proverbial twoo weeks.
Don't know any specifics re: 133 MHz.
-Kent S. Lidke
I went for a Micron Millenia. (They seem to be this year's favorite clone
maker.)
Ack, never considered that the Perception might not fit! (Oh well, it
won't be the first time I hacked a case! }:^)
Bad news on the Perception though! I ordered it 3 weeks ago, and now
they're saying I _MIGHT_ get one by the end of August!!!
(Good thing I held onto my PAR for a while….And I have an ethernet
network…!)
Keep On Toastin'
Erik Flom – ELF Works 3D Construction Co.
Erik
I assume your getting the Pentium to use Stand Alone Lightwave, I also
got a Pentium to do the same. Just out of curiosity how are you going to
transfer the files back and forth? I have the Flyer and am not sure if you do
or not but how would you suggest I transfer the files from PC to the Flyer?
Any suggestions are helpful.
Bill Keller
If you can wait until Oct. You'll be able to read an article about it in
VTU. It includes step-by-step instructions on setting up TCP/IP for the
Amiga and Win95 or WinNT.
In a nutshell:
If you're making a one time leap from the Amiga platform, look into
TwinExpress, or AmiFiler from Media4 productions. (Comm programs also
work.)
If you want to keep your Amiga as a functional part of a network, your
best bet is to get an Ethernet card, and run TCP/IP on all your machines.
(If you have a Novell network, then get the ACS package from Oxxi.)
PS. The machine will be here tomorrow. Just got the 4GB drive (for
$1099!!) this morning….The tension mounts….
Keep On Toastin'
Erik Flom – ELF Works 3D Construction Co.
Hi Erik, Nice work on the LightRom 2 CD !
I am fed up with Newtek, and I will no longer sell their products untill this
bunk stops!
I have been trying in vain for an answer on the upgrade policy for new 3.1/3.5
software purchases,not like it would matter with the way Newtek screwed the 3.5
stand alone people.
AS a matter of fact, let me offer some advice. Pissed off 3.5 owners should
contact the local office of the attorney generals department of consumer fruad
ans complaint. (I don't know wat office serves Topeka)
The consumer fraud division is very effective at settling things like this, and
the more customers that jump on the bandwagon, the better!
I have not posted this suggestion previously, hopping that Newtek would come
around.I guess that they won't.
None of my clients lost out, or I would have made noise a long time ago.
Forum member please feel free to pass this suggestion to other bulletin boards.
Chuck B, feel free to pass this on to management.
I guess the policy will have to be" if they won't fix it,force 'em"
Mike Brennan, Sir Render A/V.
Thanks!
I can understand your frustration – at least all your clients upgraded
before the deadline. (It was hard enough explaining it on the show floor.
I'd hate to be the guy who actually sold the stuff!)
I haven't looked closely at the original offer. Was there ever a NewTek
printed form or letter stating that upgrades would only be $149? And, are
there any disclaimers? The traditional 'terms of this offer may be
altered, or revoked, at any time, without prior notification' seems like
it would have kept NewTek's ass out of a sling.
Still, if NewTek doesn't make good on this offer, I doin't see why people
shouldn't at least try your suggestion.
Keep On Toastin'
Erik Flom – ELF Works 3D Construction Co.
Well, Chuck himself stated that the upgrade was in no danger of being cut, only
to have eat his words a few days later.(I have that message)
The offer was in print in all of the Amiga Rags,I believe that I have them
also.
My point is, that they ended an upgrade offer, before the product was even
finished, and notified _no one_.
If they had sent a registered letter to every user, and gave a reasonable time
frame for yanking the upgrade, then they would be within their rights.Of
course, I would still think that it was a bonehead move.
What are new Lightwave owners to expect? You shell out 1000.00 for Lwave, and
are we expected to pay full retail for every revision there after?
Like I said,I'm putting my money where my mouth is, and I will not buy or sell
another Newtek product untill Newtek management/marketing get their act
together. I just can't support a company that makes such unfair desisions.
Mike Brennan, Sir Render A/V
I will have an announcement later today or tomorrow concerning the future
upgrade programs for 3.5 LW SA owners, and NewTek will not be following any
such policy as requiring LW SA owners to pay full retail for each new revision.
In-house discussions have been very active on the issue, and the feedback
received. A permanent policy will be in place that will provide a sensible
template for advance upgrade offers, and post-release upgrade offers, and this
policy will be in-line with accepted industry practices, and geared for
customer satisfaction. Put simply, we'll have a good plan and everyone will
know what to expect come upgrade time, from now on.
I hope you will resume handling NewTek products with confidence, and I will
pass your concerns and comments to management.
Chuck.
Yay!
That's more like the old NewTek we knew!
Keep On Toastin'
Erik Flom – ELF Works 3D Construction Co.
The update program will be posted this afternoon. I'm trying to figure out
which message you were "YAY"ing. Gotta gotta Gotta, Gotta check those
threads…. (quote from "An Online Love Song")
Chuck.
Just happy to hear that you will have a permanent site for upgrade
information. Also glad to hear that NewTek has chosen to, again, try to be
responsive to the needs of their most vital asset – their customer base.
Keep On Toastin'
Erik Flom – ELF Works 3D Construction Co.
I had a good session today with Sales and Customer Service, on the best way to
use CIS, InterNet, and the BBS to post and distribute information for our
customers, very productive, very oriented toward making sure we keep our
customers informed and make use of the avenues we have for hearing whatever
they may have to say. We are developing some plans that will involve these
departments preparing material for me regularly to keep news here up to date.
Chuck.
Thanks again Chuck. It would do my heart good to see a firm plan put into
action. Kudos for your hard work in helping to resolve these issues. I'm
certain,that in the long run,Newtek itself will reap the rewards of it's
actions. I trust that the plan will be a good one.
Mike Brennan, Sir Render A/V
I will be posting the new plan today, and we will be implementing a standard
policy from now on, so everyone will know what to expect on advance offers, and
post-release offers, etc.
Chuck.
Thanks for sticking it out in the trenches for us Chuck! If I ever get to
Topeka, there's a cool one on me!
Trent/ReAnimators
I didn't really have to do much anything in-house, just pass along a little
feedback from here and the BBS. No real "work in the trenches", and was glad
to do so. Management already was in discussion on the issue, and as is
frequently the case, your voices and views helped shape the resolve.
NewTek's managers take an active interest in the goings-on online, and are
dedicated to making the company a great one for customers to deal with.
Again, what you see from me is pretty reflective of the place I work for.
Like anywhere else, there can be miscues and miscommunications, sometimes with
bizarre results, and there was some element of that in the recent events
regarding upgrades.
Chuck.
"My point is, that they ended an upgrade offer, before the product was
even finished, and notified _no one_."
That's almost exactly why I think they've made a terrible marketing
decision! (I had heard about the price increase about one week before the
deadline passed, but they sure didn't try to notify all registered users!)
Keep On Toastin'
Erik Flom – ELF Works 3D Construction Co.
Hi Erik. Yes, a terrible decision indeed ! I often wonder how things like that
happen. Is MehdI Ali working for Newtek ????
I'm sure at some point, they will come around. But bad feelings about it will
take some time to diminish.
I really like Newtek's products,and I admire Chuck B for being in the hot seat
and somehow keeping things together. I do applaud Newtek for putting Chuck
here! But the bottom line is that they have to remember that part of what they
should be selling is peace of mind. Yea, that's it.A peace of mind promise.
Sort of like POMP under any…..Oh, wait a minute, I think I hear Henry
Teller's layler at my door…..
🙂
Mike Brennan, Sir Render A/V
>>My point is, that they ended an upgrade offer, before the product was
>>even finished, and notified _no one_.
Not quite. They notified me. Got a postcard in the mail that said the offer
ended Aug 15. I got that card about July 15.
wmc – via Autopilot!
Mike, some of your comments are simply uncalled for. The issue on 3.1/3.5 has
had answers posted, including one from Hank which quoted a dealer's letter.
To recap:
Video Toasters shipped after 1/1/95, and which have 3.1/3.5 software in the
package are eligible to receive 4.0 free when it is ready; they must register
the product, and the software will be shipped automatically.
3.1/3.5 Upgrade packages sold off the shelf at this time, would also be
eligible for a free automatic upgrade when VT 4.0 is released, and they nust
nust=must, excuse me; must register the product to receive this.
These answers are always available with just a call to our 800 numbers for
dealer sales or customer service, and if you check the library you will find
that I recently posted a NewTek directory with all the phone and fax numbers
anyone might need to work out a situation with NewTek.
For future: I will develop a file for the library which lists all current
upgrade and special programs, and will replace that file whenever there are
changes.
Lastly, I should have an announcement to post for owners of 3.5 Lightwave very
shortly. Until then letters and faxes regarding the upgrade situation should
still be submitted to Customer Service at the main address or at the fax
numbers listed in the directory or my other postings here.
If I somehow missed getting these answers directly to you, my apologies.
Chuck.
Chuck:
To your credit, I was aware of everything you just posted, so the message
is getting out there. Keep up the good work!
I can understand Michael's confusion, though I had a feeling he was
misinterpreting parts of the current upgrade policy.
Your text file should solve all these problems….Yeah, right! }:^)
Keep On Toastin'
Erik Flom – ELF Works 3D Construction Co.
Thanks for the kind words! As we get time to figure things out and establish
good communication habits, misunderstandings and missed cues should drop way
down. The "phonebook" file and a regularly updated file on current update and
special offers should help.
Chuck.
To support Chuck, I am a pc owner, never used an Amiga, but reading this forum
regularly, even I knew the upgrade policy.
Thanks, Doug. I will have some news to post on upgrade policy later today or
tomorrow.
Chuck.
THanks,Chuck.
_You_ , I have faith in.
I hope that you understand my need to clarify. Newtek lost me with the 3.5
Bull, and I've been unable to make any moves on your products due to the fear
of sudden unfair revision.
Again, thank you for your help.
Mike Brennan, Sir Render.
You are welcome, Mike, and I hope that in time it becomes generally understood
that I am pretty much representative of NewTek and NewTek's intention to
provide great products and unmatched service. What I work at here is to try
the reflect the view that Tim Jenison has of how NewTek should relate, truly
nothing more or less than that.
We've had some difficulties in communications and have not been present in some
venues we should have been serving, such as this Compuserve area, formerly, but
those are all issues that NewTek has been applying itself to during the last
year or more, since the major changes in management.
I am learning and developing in my role here and on the BBS, and as I learn I
will be able to find ways to correct difficulties and get information to those
who need it in a timely and effective manner, and get responses and input from
our customers here back to the managers who need it in our own halls.
From this point on there will be a clear policy in place on advance offers for
forthcoming upgrades, and on the upgrade pricing program which will follow
actual release of a new revision of software, and that these will be in line
with the established practices of this industry. We've learned from the
experience of this program lapse, and will have a good-sense approach to the
issue in future.
I will pass your comments along to management, and I hope you will resume
dealing with NewTek products with a renewed confidence. I will be posting an
announcement for LW SA 3.5 owners later today, or tomorrow.
Chuck.
Very good news, indeed ! Thanks again for your hard work.
Mike Brennan, Sir Render A/V
Thank you for the kind words!
Chuck.
I agree. As a registered owner of a Toaster system I have yet to receive any
information about updates, trade-ups, PC lightwave the flyer, etc. I even
called Newtek asking them to send me info about such things and all I got two
week later was two advertising slicks.
I will pass your message to management for their consideration, as well as the
additional comments from those who have posted replies. I'm sure the company
will consider the message my error. In speaking with customer service, they
state that the ending date of July 31st was an extension of June 30th ending
date for the $149 upgrade/crossgrade program, set last December.
When it did sink in on me that $149 ug/cg was going to be over July 31st, it
still never occurred to me that nothing would replace it; I had conversations
with marketing staff that indicated no plans for a new program, and simply
thought that meant they hadn't decided yet or I was misunderstanding them.
Instead….
To cut to the probable outcome, my apologies for any incorrect information I
provided you in May, and if you missed any corrections to that which I posted
subsequently. I will work to make sure any information I post regarding any
special price programs or upgrade offers is completely accurate, and I will
never again assume, when I hear something that seems too outre to believe, that
I am misunderstanding someone. I will get the issue completely clarified.
Chuck.
Chuck,
Thanks for the explanation. I certainly do not blame you but I think you are
dead right not to trust what you are told.
Incidently I bought my LW3.5 software last October and there was no mention of
a time limit to the upgrade offer anywhere in the package. Talk about your
"customer service" folks operating in a vacuum.
I sincerely hope that whoever needs to decide on these things does the right
thing and make a once off offer to those folks registered with you to get the
upgrade at the quoted price.
Maybe you could give us the name of someone high enough up who would appreciate
some customer feedback and would be able to make a decision on this issue if I
and others care to write officially.
Muir
Cyberstormed A4000/Mac Quadra 900
The original Taunus Amiga
Customer Service informed me that any communications were to be directed to
them, but a letter to them and a separate copy mailed to Tim Jenison would be
appropriate.
Chuck.
Thanks and will do.
Muir
Cyberstormed A4000/Mac Quadra 900
The original Taunus Amiga
I will be posting an update on the Upgrade program later today.
Chuck.
>>To cut to the probable outcome, my apologies for any incorrect information I
provided you in May, and if you missed any corrections to that which I posted
subsequently.<<
Although there was certainly some confusion, I think Marketing would have done
better to notify SA users by mail, since the decision was made in December. I
don't think any fingers should be pointed at you.
Cheers!
Trent/ReAnimators
Thanks for the kind words! Still, there's gotta be a way to keep such
upleasant surprises from happening, and I'm going to do whatever I can to make
sure every one who uses this venue gets no such surprises.
Chuck.
Do you know if LightWave will support the Creative 3D Blaster?
-Jonathan
MAC Quadra/486PC compatible courtesy Amiga, Emplant and BB. Emplant beta
tester. Running AP v1.80. E-mail: JonathanB@delrina.com
http://www.delrina.com
Lightwave will not include custom card support in the initial multi-platform
port. Support of the most common graphics display modes for traditional
image-file rendering with the successful transport of our modeling and
animation features is the traget for the initial port, and future revisions
will address such issues as OpenGL, support for specialized 3D graphics display
standards and hardware, etc.
Chuck.
The 3D blaster support CGL and the other Microsoft API's. I saw it and got a
prototype at the Creativity 95 developer's conference. As I understand it,
TrueSpace, and Imagine will both support it shortly. Oh well. If you don't
know what it is… it is a 3D accelerator made for gaming and 3D design
applications.
-Jonathan
MAC Quadra/486PC compatible courtesy Amiga, Emplant and BB. Emplant beta
tester. Running AP v1.80. E-mail: JonathanB@delrina.com
http://www.delrina.com
I guessed correctly at the nature of the product. Again, support for things
like this is planned for the future, once the basic port is complete.
What is "BB", in your tagline?
Chuck.
BB = BridgeBoard
-Jonathan
MAC Quadra/486PC compatible courtesy Amiga, Emplant and BB. Emplant beta
tester. Running AP v1.80. E-mail: JonathanB@delrina.com
http://www.delrina.com
Ooooohhhh! Bridgeboard! Gee, I'd forgotten about those babies…
Chuck.
Hi… I hesitate to jump into this wild fray but what the heck.
Why is this getting so darn complicated? You'd think the geniuses who
practically invented desktop video and one of the best 3D packages ever would
be smart enough to know that software upgrades are usually offered AFTER the
software has been written. Is that such a tricky concept for them to grasp?
1. Write the software.
2. Notify the users.
3. Collect the cash.
That's the way it's done by reasonable companies.
Is NewTek so desperate for cash that they're ready willing and eager to screw
their own loyal users over a measly software upgrade? Trust me, this is not the
way for a struggling company to win market share.
What really gets me is that, from what I've read, LW 4.0 on the Amiga isn't all
that much of a major upgrade. Most of the money Amiga users are paying for the
upgrade was simply used to finance the port to other platforms.
As you can probably tell, I haven't ordered my upgrade yet. And for your part,
I think you're doing a terrific, invaluable job on this forum. But tell Tim
Jenison that this is no time to make the career change from full time whiz kid
to big time jerk…
Yours three-dimensionally,
Tim Burns
Or they do the following:
1) Order the t-shirts. 2) Develop a software package. 3) Figure out what the
market is. 4) Sell the software. 5) Beta test the software (end users are
great for this). 6) Sell bug fixes as upgrades.
-Jonathan
MAC Quadra/486PC compatible courtesy Amiga, Emplant and BB. Emplant beta
tester. Running AP v1.80. E-mail: JonathanB@delrina.com
http://www.delrina.com
First, may I assure you that Tim has not made a career change. I hope to have
some better things to announce on the upgrade issues later today (sigh of great
personal relief, here).
My experience with companies, especially in the Amiga market, has been that
there are frequently offerings of forthcoming (not finished yet) upgrades at
special prices, and on several occasions I paid my money and waited. The
result was that I paid substantially less than those who did not buy until the
upgrade was in release.
The code for LW on all the platforms is substantially the same, so no, Amiga
owners are not subsidizing ports and getting nothing in return. They are
buying a product. Product profits always roll back into development, since if
they didn't, there would never be new products or improvements to old ones.
We have devoted a lot of effort and expense to developing a product line for
future that will not be held hostage to the fate of any one other company or
platform, over this last year. We are at the point of success on this, and the
result will be that NewTek will be here to support and upgrade our products for
all our product owners on all platforms, including the Amiga, for a great long
time to come.
Would you prefer we had elected the alternative of so many other companies in
the Amiga market, and simply folded the tents and walked away from the orphans?
I think not, and I'm sure once we get through the remaining rough spots and
"educational experiences", the outcome will be well worth the effort, for all
involved.
I will pass your comments along to management, and appreciate your taking the
time to comment on what is a very important issue for Lightwave owners.
Chuck.