CompuServe Thread

#2.0 Manual

7 messages in this thread
#45317From: bruce gorenOct 9, 1992 10:07 PM
Bob, I am a freelance engineer/editor/animator working in the Los Angeles area. A new Hollywood studio/post production facility I am working with has a Toaster (2.0) and I am getting up to speed on Lightwave for them. The problem is that they only have one user manual and many freelancers. I would like to purchase my own copy of the manual directly from Newtek. Can you arrange this for me ? Your local authorized dealers would not help me except to offer to sell me a Toaster, very funny. The local copy shops will of course not "xerox" it because of copyright violation trouble. I am a well known Topas animator and trade journalist and am not interested in bootlegging your manuals, hardware, or software — just trying to use your product. Please contact me by C-mail or phone with pricing and instructions. Thanks ! Bruce N. Goren (805) 295-8487
#45442From: RAD Moose @ NewTek, Inc.Oct 12, 1992 5:41 PM
Hi, Unfortunatly, because the Toaster 2.0 upgrade is a few disks and a great big manual, we don't sell the manual alone. It would be too easy for someone less honest than yourself to copy off a bunch of disnd sell real cheap up-grades. The only time we will sell the manual is if one gets stolen or destroyed, and in those cases we require copies of police or insurance records. We do allow the tutorial section of the manual tobe copied by educational institutions, if we receive a written request on institutional letterhead. BobAnderson NewTek TechSupport
#45478From: bruce gorenOct 13, 1992 7:48 PM
Bob, Thanks for taking the time to respond. I thought that might be the case when my local dealer was willing to sell me a 1.0 manual but would only let me have the 2.0 if I bought a Toaster or at least the 1.0 to 2.0 upgrade. Not being an Amiga or Toaster owner myself that was a little much. I'll just stick to poking around during my bay time, would have been nice though to be able to "do my homework" with my own book. If you guys ever come out with an ISA bus version of the Toaster for Windows, NT or OS/2 please call, or send a press package c/o my editor Marlene Lane, at TV Technology magazine marked to my attention. I notice you've been advertising with us. I've written about Topas and 3-D Studio on the PC recently. Future plans are for a series on SGI applications. Bruce N. Goren
#45537From: Matthew J. W. RatcliffOct 15, 1992 12:40 PM
There are some decent tutorial videos out, and Video Toaster User magazine is always packed with handy info.
#45587From: Luke RussellOct 17, 1992 1:08 AM
Give me a break, guys! You know, for your pig-headedness, I may not purchase your "Toaster". Get real. No one would have even though of copying your disks and selling them with the manual had you not been so stupid to mention it here…really! Think about it, your dealing with professionals, not some Tom, Harry, Dick computer hacker! Sell them a manual already! Mark it. Do something, but have a little understanding. He's your customer after all! If some schmuck wanted to sell copies (or give, and then he'd really be a schmuck) of your "Toaster", he could copy the manuals himself, no? Get real, all your doing is hurting yourself. Show yourself to be the above average company, like I believed you to be, and sell the guy a few manuals! Soon, we're going to have to call you "IBM" if you keep treating your custmers like dirt. You don't want that, do you? Offer the support with the sale! Well, I feel better! So, are you really located in MN? I get there quite often on business. Depending on how well you support Bruce may make a difference on my purchase?! No, I have never met Bruce nor did he request me to send this message, I just guess I get upset with companies who are too concerned about their bottom dollars to offer simple courtisies to their faithfull customers. Oh, well, it's your business…drive it into the ground if you wish. Look where it's gotten IBM. Laid off 3,500 people last year… maybe more this. HMMMMMM, customer support, is it worth it? Luke
#45613From: BILL LEACHOct 17, 1992 8:03 PM
Luke; I'll write this to you but sure hope that NewTek will read it. I can well understand their concerns but agree with you. An individual that is a Video consultant wants to purchase a NewTek Video Toaster Manual — NewTek sells it to him. Now said consultant walks into client "B's" place of business, sees a Toaster, and sits down to talk about organizing a production. Said consultant says "Your Video Toaster can generate just the thing that we need. Oh, you didn't know that! Well, I'll show your people how to do that while we are working on this." or..they don't: "Video Toaster! This is serious work, needing professional equipment." Of course, if someone were to want to buy a dozen of these manuals… I would wonder what is going on. BTW, anyone that is stupid enough to pirate software for a multi-thousand dollar piece of production equipment is not worth worrying about! They undoubtedly do other equally stupid things too and will probably not last very long in business. -bill
#45636From: Wayne SteeleOct 18, 1992 3:56 PM
Luke: I agree that NewTek could be a little more flexible in this case. However, you are wrong when you say that no one would have thought of copying the disks and selling them with the manual as a cheap upgrade. It has happened in this industry before. In fact, it still does happen. Unfortunately, not everyone that uses a computer is a professional. 🙁 Wayne Steele Saving $ with AutoPilot