#3DS Max and the R4 Blue
7 messages in this thread
>>mixed feelings…
Hey Lydell, I thought I'd respond since I initially had similar mixed feelings,
especially about hardware that might be required. Then I started putting this
hobby in perspective:
My first computer in '76 was an 8-bit, 56K, 1 Mhz monster, hand soldered.
Cost: about $8000. (The floppy drives were $2300) I had to write my own 3d
graphics software in assembler AFTER I designed and built graphics interface
hardware.
The next quantum jump was around '83 to an orig 4.77Mhz IBM-PC, 512K with an
external 10Meg HD, CGA color. Spent nearly $6000 for everything. Oh, the
power! (No good graphics software available.)
Then a succession of state-of-the-art 286 thru P5 machines: each with more
power at lower cost. Today we can buy a new 32-bit machine capable of running
NT for about what a good color monitor & printer cost just a few years ago!
Some more bucks for a high-end machine and some video hardware, but taken in
perspective (especially when inflation is considered), the power/$$$ still
boggles my poor aging brain. <g>
So even if our current machines won't handle 3DSM adequately (though it
probably will), you can bet that our next ones will! In the mean time, it
sounds like ADESK has no plans to abandon 3DS "Classic" (don't you hate that
name?!)
JKJ
JKJ:
>> I had to write my own 3d graphics software in assembler AFTER I designed and
built graphics interface hardware.<<
I was getting ready to hear you tell me about walking 5 miles to school in the
snow 🙂
But you are right, this is all a perspective thing. Thanks for the interesting
background. I am afraid I am much more interested in the final product than
the bits and bytes that go into it, but I still appreciate an elegant program.
It is just that except for here on forum, it seems like a lot of 3d users have
even less equipment than I do, and I was hoping we all wouldn't be neglected in
the migration…things like raising the migration price from $495 to $995 if we
don't migrate before shipping started to make me think there would be price
penalties for being small potatoes. The rich get richer and the poor get
poorer in a new context!
Also, it would be nice to have IPAS development software shipped free with
3DSr5 similar to the plans for 3DS Max, not because I would program, but
because it would increase the number of useful IPAS's out there.
I think Gary already has reassured me sufficiently.
Lydell
>>5 miles to school…
<G!> ( Nah, we had buses even way back then 🙂 I guess I'm too old not to be
awestruck every time I sit down in front of my monitor.
>>free IPAS development kit for 3DS…
I think you hit on a limitation of the plans to support both 3DS and 3DSM –
future 3rd party IPAS development. Unless the independent developers sense a
real market (i.e. profitable) for continued 3DS IPAS development, the major
effort will shift towards enhancing MAX instead of 3DS. As you imply, it's the
"power" users who will always buy the new expensive stuff and the developers
will follow them. Also, the fortunate thing about IPAS development for 3DSM is
at the same time unfortunate for 3DS: working under NT with the MS compiler vs
the expensive and unforgiving PharLap/DOS mess.
Look on the bright side, though… I consider that even if new development for
both 3DS and IPAS were to cease completely today (which I don't expect), the
current 3DS with the existing battery of IPAS ammunition will never get any
less useful than it is right now (and it's incredible, huh?!). No one can
argue that we can't do amazing and valuable things with what we are all running
today.
You heard it here: JKJ's prediction of the week is that after the MAX takes
off, the price of 3DS and the existing IPAS routines will drop significantly.
This will provide an even more gentle entry into the animation world. (and more
future MAX customers <g>) More people will buy 3DS (which will run just fine
on tomorrow's home computer), make some money with it, then move to MAX. In
fact, I think perhaps the rich will get richer AND the poor will get richer!
Hey, thank you for a thought-provoking exchange. 🙂
JKJ (card-carrying optimist)
>>limitation of the plans to support both 3DS and 3DSM –
future 3rd party IPAS development.
Precisely my reason for speaking up about not being forgotten…
>> I guess I'm too old not to be awestruck every time I sit down in front of my
monitor.
I don't think you have to be "old" (whatever that means) to be awestruck! I
get shivers almost everytime I create something that has never been seen before
by human eyes. And to think when I was in college we only had an HP2000
mainframe with numeric output to calculate electrical field relaxations, etc.
(ok, so I didn't write my own VR programs…. (G))
I drag men, women, and children in to see my computer, and would put a sign out
in front of my house except my homeowner's insurance is not good enough to
cover all my investment! I would quit my day job if I could afford it. 3DSR4
is truly awesome, and when I read books like INSIDE 3D STUDIO I realize how
much more I could be doing, the possibilities are truly infinite.
Thanks for the positive thoughts….
Lydell (a card carrying realist-optimist)
>>"old" and awestruct…
That comment was prompted by a conversation I had with one of my sons a couple
of years ago (he was about 10). I was gushing over with enthusiasm about some
video or graphics magic and he was trying to be patient. He said something
like "but dad, you have to remember, I grew up with this computer stuff around"
– all this was everyday and commonplace – certainly nothing to get excited
about. ! Probably the way we feel about TV or radio compared to those who grew
up before it was invented.
Hey, are you a member of the club of those of us who used a slide rule in high
school and college? <g>
JKJ
PS: Good point about strangers and homeowner's insurance. I put in a burglar
alarm system, a big fence, got two dogs, and fixed it so I work at home most of
the time. I'm not so much worried about losing the equipment as I am my
archive of 3DS work and all that time spent configuring everything!
>>Hey, are you a member of the club of those of us who used a slide rule in
high school and college? <g>
Well, I have to admit I owned one at one time, but mainly because my dad used
one, and I wanted to be like him. And before I got really good at using it
Voila! –here is a calculator that does it all instantly, so I never got good
at using it. I think I got thru college with a TI30 or something similar with
ugly red digital display, but I really wanted a Hewlett Packard with "reverse
Polish notation" and at the time they were (in my budget) way too
expensive..something like over $300 if memory serves.
>>got two dogs
Me too! Great watch dogs at that. I am kindof lucky.
>>I'm not so much worried about losing the equipment as I am my archive of 3DS
work and all that time spent configuring everything!
Ditto. In fact, since I do 3D only part time, I think a higher percentage of
my time is spent figuring out things like the Targa board installation
instructions have the output plug reversed (thus making TV Framebuffer display
impossible) or esoteric error messages that MAY come from Pharlap, OR Dos, Or
3dS, Or AniPro…things like "write error, disk f" . But
You may wish to consider BACKUP somewhere ELSE (I am looking forward to the
JAZZ.) I suppose 8mm tape drive would be ideal, but haven't settled on which
one. (I have mere Colorado backup and actually put project files on Syquest).
So this was one of my main UNEASINESS-causers since I thought I had just about
got the swing of the 3DS rhythm, and now they want me to switch hardware, move
to Windows NT (I HATE Windows problems, love the 3.1 interface, just never want
to deal with Autodesk type problems with it.) For someone who is working only
part time, this means DOWNTIME! But if I don't move now, it will cost twice as
much ($995 vs. $495) so there you have it.
I am going to stick it out with R4 for a while and build up hardware. And if
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I am lucky, actually get some animation done! (I have been focusing on HiRes
prints for the time being)
Lydell