Quote - I'm still looking at the 2 images posted to really determine the difference.... my eyes must be getting really old. It's not really a convincing (mini) review, based on the findings I wouldn't be rushing out to get the new Poser version at all."

I agree completely!!
There is only a very light & negligible difference at the very top edge of the ear.
But the NON SSS render is hardly "lifeless" by comparison,as the reviewer claims.
Frankly it is  as if SSS and to a certain degree Weight mapping in poser  is having some sort of
Placebo effect on some people.

Just knowing that it is "there" has people convinced that the render is automatically "better"

 

I haven't played with the weight mapping so I cannot comment on that but, depending on the subject matter Sub Surface Scattering can have a major effect on the render.  I do agree the short review does not do this justice which surprises me, particularly as it states that the BB set up was used.

Both on close up and full body nudes the use of SSS does move the render much closer to reality, if this is your aim.  However, with close ups it is also possible to create some great looking eyes and for the first time in Poser I have V4 smiling as the teeth now look much more natural.

I am fairly sure that this is not just a placebo effect as I was not completely happy with my first attempts with SSS but with using the shaders that BB developed, and others on the forums I have managed to get results I am really happy with but it has taken a couple of weeks of tweaking to get there.  

I really do think Poser 2012 is great but I would have been happy with my purchase if SSS had been the only improvement but that could just be is suits the renders I am looking to create.

 

 

I use Poser 13 on Windows 11 - For Scene set up I use a Geekcom A5 -  Ryzen 9 5900HX, with 64 gig ram and 3 TB  storage, mini PC with final rendering done on normal sized desktop using an AMD Ryzen Threadipper 1950X CPU, Corsair Hydro H100i CPU cooler, 3XS EVGA GTX 1080i SC with 11g Ram, 4 X 16gig Corsair DDR4 Ram and a Corsair RM 100 PSU .   The desktop is in a remote location with rendering done via Queue Manager which gives me a clearer desktop and quieter computer room.