That said, has anyone ever seen a company put their main software product up for sale (even if for pre-ordering) without telling what it really does? Without a "What's New" list? - Qualien

Yes. In fact in the case of professional software it is quite common. Heck, many high end programs have "support subscriptions" where you pay fairly big $$$ to get the new versions - without even knowing when, what and if such versions may be (no roadmap).

They aren't forcing you to buy it, they are offering a discount. If you don't think you have enough information then don't order. It isn't a trick or a scam... it's just an offer.

Besides, given how many people are waiting to rip P6 to shreds - regardless of whatever is in it - I think they are smart. Giving out too much info now is only going to give ammo to those looking to start the hue and cry.

Even if the only changes to P6 are the render improvements and UI improvements already shown in the postings, it is worth the upgrade - especially an upgrade offer that includes the excellent Shade LE.

"I'm already seeing the day coming that Poser 6 is released and we get lot's and lot's of angry customers that wished they'd never buy it, just like it was with Poser 5 in the beginning." - aeilkema

Of course we will... because there are so many people so entrenched in their anti P5 / CL stance that it woudln't matter what happened. This is inevitable when companies upgrade. Many Windows users will never upgrade to Windows XP, many Mac users will never go to OSX, Many DOS users never went to Windows and so on. Some people simply hit a wall at what they can handle in terms of features or they get so comfortable with their hard won knowledge that they won't accept change.

You have to accept that any major upgrade (and P4 -> P5 was a major change in features) will leave some users unhappy and railing for the "good old days". When you add in that the Poser merchant community is composed of many who are not professionals or heavily technically savvy you get a whole new layer of resistance: merchants who can't make the leap.

I have absolutely no doubt many voices will rise up in horror at P6. Many of them the same ones who still complain that P5 won't run on their 16 meg Win95 box. There isn't anything to be done about it.