CompuServe Thread

#Frustrated Beginner

3 messages in this thread
#2568From: Dave EbertFeb 3, 1995 5:25 AM
Not to mention the hardware issues you raise, there is better software perhaps that could jazz up your presentations. My pick right off would be that you purchase Astound version 1.5 for Windows. I use it, I love it. You can really get productive in short order, and stay in control. Full multimedia capability, charting including pictographs, 3d rotation charts, solid, patterned, gradient backgrounds (switchable across the entire project or item by item), Supports Drag and Drop features. NOTE: Interactivity <<<< it's got it! Royalty Free runtime package – self-running. Text and Titles and Transitions Video for Windows support Video Overlay – provided you have the hardware, ie VideoBlaster etc. Realtime Recording of Narration over the presentation as it runs. (Don't like the narration, do it over till it's right.) Timeline window, sound level control. Supports Animation files .awm .awa .scm and .aim (mostly Gold Disk files you create with Animation Works, Animation Works Interactive, Add Impact, or Screen Craze) Supports either .mov (Quicktime) .avi (VFW) IMPORT a presentation from MS PowerPoint or Lotus Freelance <<<< You can use what you already have produced. There's more, but enough for now. Top this off, they ship it with really useful documentation, and you can get results that – Astound. I have no connection with this company, just recognize this will make you happy. (Also could recommend Adobe Primiere 4.0 , you might have trouble remembering that you are in the gas business and start going Hollywood.)
#2585From: Timothy LiebeFeb 3, 1995 9:16 AM
Dave: >My pick right off would be that you purchase Astound version 1.5 for Windows. I use it, I love it.< You think 1.5's good, wait till you see Version 2.0, which comes with "Astound Studio"–a bundled collection of element editors. I just finished reviewing it for WINDOWS SOURCES…and I must confess, I like its ease of use. (They sent me a beta version w/out an instruction manual or help screens or templates–slight oversight on their part–and was *still* able to use it to create a presentation w/an hour or so's fiddling around…). >Royalty Free runtime package – self-running.< OTOH, someone else I've talked to on this Forum was less than happy–he said that he bought v.1.5 for the runtime package which the advertising led him to believe was included, only to find out he had to pay extra for that feature. Was that your experience? Tim
#2610From: Dave EbertFeb 4, 1995 2:13 AM
I think the advertising aspect smells a bit too, but what's a little promotion matter. My preference would be not to always have to reveal the tools used, but then when you use the package the way I do it seldom matters, ie. it never shows on the video. The package is more like a project folder the way I use it. Never heard or read anything that indicates the runtime requires a payment. For now, I doubt that very much. However, you can not distribute anything other than that, the way I read it, the situation is the same as Video For Windows runtime etc. OH, you say he had to BUY the runtime feature, sure why not? I actually own 1.5 B – and geez, I think it came with the runtime included. Lots of companies charge extra for their runtimes, in my case I was upgrading from 1.0, so what the hay? I'll gladly upgrade again to 2.0 when I get the offer. In fact, I'll put that on my list to contact them about upgrading near term. Thanks for the TIP OFF.