#3DS and Windows 4.0
24 messages in this thread
Oh please, don't send 3DS to Windows. There's just no reason to………… 🙁
Why not? I suppose you don't ever want or need to be able to use your
machine when 3DS is rendering. I for one can't wait to be able to
truly multi-task 3DS.
I hope this doesn't bring back too many bad memories, but you may want
to have another go at OS/2 2.1. I have succeeded in rendering in the
background under it.
I say keep 3DS in DOS!!! I have never seen such a stable program. I
let the thing render for days and it never… never crashes on me.
Who wants Windows screwing things up!
Bless you. Can I save your message as a reply for anyone having
problems?
Lee Eyerman says…
> I have never seen such a stable program.
I agree. I'm very impressed with the stability of 3DS. I have been able to
lock it up (capping a loft of some text, but I haven't investigated enough to
call it in), but compared to other software of 3DS's magnitude, this thing is a
ROCK!
Okay, I've swelled your head – now back to reality. Even though 3DS is
extremely stable and powerful, I really hope you've got SERIOUS experiments
going on with other platforms besides DOS. I'm using 3DS under OS/2, and it
works fine, but what would life be like if you were using native 32-bit code
instead of DPMI to get the tons of memory you need? It won't be long before we
have PowerPC machines, and I just saw a demo in the Motorola booth comparing 2D
rendering between PowerPC and a DX2. Of course PowerPC blew the Intel chip
away. How easily will an OS/2 app move to PowerPC? I'm sure it'll be much
easier than moving a DOS app!
I keep trying to get Gary hyped about OS/2 – heck, I'll come out there and
install OS/2 on your machines if you'll let me. It's the only way to see that
the thing is for real!
— Doug Azzarito
You're preaching to the wrong boyo, Doug. With my Matrox board (and its lovely
drivers) I can't even get 3ds to run inside Windows. Better wait for Gary to
get back and hammer him again. Or, better yet, hammer at Autodesk.
– J
Doug,
3DS is a native 32 bit program. It will use every bit of RAM you can
stuff in a PC as flat memory. The Phar-Lap DOS extender "reboots" the processor
into 32 bit protected mode.
I am not looking forward to the time when 3DS is not a DOS application.
With DOS, 3D Studio gets to use almost all the memory available unlike the
memory hit a much larger operating systems gives you. The beauty of DOS lies in
how efficent and fast in can be. None of the graphically multitasking operating
systems can compete with DOS with a DOS extender.
Keith.
"The beauty of DOS…"
Taken out of context, I never thought I'd see _that_ combination of words. <g>
Just following this thread… very useful comments guys… and some of the most
humorous I have read for awhile thanks MP
Interesting compliment to Microsoft (and Phar Lapp). The big question
might be: "A port of 3D-Studio to WinNT would allow the use of faster
(and maybe more) processors, such as NewTek's Screamer. Might that not
provide a greater inducement than just having access to all available
memory?"
David P.
clap, clap, clap 🙂 I have said that a dozen times. Full resources to your
favorite 3d program. But we have to think in the benefits of a GUI operating
system too.
ana /krazy images
> Better wait for Gary to get back and hammer him again. Or, better
> yet, hammer at Autodesk.
I know – I'd love to pay you a visit and show you folks what you're
missing. IBM did a visit at AutoDesk, and I begged them to make sure
you guys were included, but apparently not.
You can't get 3DS to run under Windows, so don't try. Install OS/2 on
that machine (Matrox has OS/2 drivers, and 24bit color drivers in the
works). Then you'll see what we're all so excited about!
I thought when Gary disappeared a couple weeks ago he was planning to
come out to Comdex to show off the new release – what happened?
AutoDesk has a TINY presence here, but other CAD & rendering
companies are all over the place. (has the new boss lady cut the
marketing budget? 🙂
I try not to deal with marketing and budgets. There's enough work
involved in designing and documenting.
I don't know about budgeting cuts, but Autodesk is usually not very
visible at COMDEX. Usually the Retail Products has some showing, but
mainly we're present as guests in other booths, like IBM's. Not easy
to find in the catalog!
PMJI, I have a theory as to why Autodesk isn't a big presence at
comdex. " It's Too Cluttered " The last couple of Comdex's I
attended had people selling Bubble shaped Aquarium's for cris' sak!
<BG>
There doesn't seem to be any set rule to how big they want this event
to be! Or to what market(s) this event is really addressing.
I actually attended one year when the Soldier of Fortune people where
having their little get-to-gether and was surprised to see guys in
cammo gear selling electronic communications and listening
devices…Spook-City! Give me a Break! What's next…I'm an old
Harley Davidson Fan lets include the Latest Harleys! I'd go to see
that!..Hey they got electrical systems don't they! <g>
If something has a transister or runs on electricity it's in!
I simply got tired of walking miles and miles trying to see the 4 or 5
vendors that were actually related to my portion of the business when
I knew full well I would be mailed all the same information via U.S.
Postal Carrier at the cost of a stamp verses my spending a fortune to
fly in and get the same information.
As a dealer I support the Autodesk functions and will attend an
occasional SIGGRAPH for the related personal Associations but still
don't feel I've missed anything if I'm not there.
There are simply too damn many of these events anyway.
If you check out all the Possible events that _could_ be related to
your business you wouldn't be working at running your business 40 to
50 working days out of the year at a travel and room cost expense
somewhere in the neighborhood of $32,000.
Is it no wonder these "events" are becoming a lower prioraty. For
what it's Worth-My personal Opinion. Murph'
I don't see any problem with leaving 3DS in DOS. As long as I can
multitask it under OS/2, I'm happy. I would like to see a command
line render-slave for other platforms, though.
I personally *never* need to render in the background. My meshes are
always completely efficient with the fewest possible vertices so they
render quickly, and they always render right the first time, so there
is barely time for a coffee break and voila! My project is finished.
Personally I do make my meshes a tad overcomplicated, not too much so,
just enough to sip down a cup of french roast. When I quit this coffe
habit optimal meshes will follow 🙂
Oh you have just given me a great idea. Currently I live in this
little beach cottage in a small community, and all the houses have
names — Arcadia, Templeton, and the like. You know, kind of like
"Tara" and "Twelve Oaks" but on a smaller scale.
There's no name on this house, and even though I'm only renting I'd
like to christen it. I toyed with "The Render Palace" but that's not
really accurate. I do most of my heavy-duty rendering elsewhere. But
"The Polygon Palace"…it has a certain ring, n'est-ce pas?
We have a 3DS user group meeting coming up here in a few weeks, so I'd
like to make a large banner and hang it up on the veranda. Should
get the local tongues wagging. <g>
Sounds like a fine name for an animator's retreat. My partner,
Kristine and I came up with the name for the company over breakfast
at an IHOPS in Florida. Ah Florida, miss it dearly. Been out here in
San Fran for 3 months and the southern strings are beginning to pull.
I have never lived in a cottage but will be soon. The first week of
December I'll be moving into a cottage in Arlington, VA. Looking
forward to it. Much happiness in your newly christened "Polygon
Palace".
Well I guess that is a matter of taste. I want multitasking 3ds also
but the chip technology we use just does not cut it. RISC based
concurrent processors have the edge on that (and my wallet to 🙂 ).
We all work a bit differently. I'm comfortbale with rough stills and
keyframer previews until production time and thats not much of a
wiat. When its time for production my machine is completely
dedicated, no HIMEM/EMM, no TSR's, zip….. I just let it rip and go
play volleyball or something!
I'm with you Jim, keep 3DS out of reach of MS Overhead 3.1, 4.0, and
NT. I might go for an OS/2 version though. I run everything, less
3DS, under OS/2 — and that may change if I buy a math co.
I agree. I am more apt to go with OS/2 but I'm willing to wait for the
right technology. I don't load up my processor with anything but 3d
necessities. I like the improvements in rendering speed with Rel 3
and I'm not about to hinder it. A better performance solution if you
have an extra PC is a pier to pier lan where to machine can share the
same 3d resources and stay CPU selfish.