I don't think that they support the new Kinect V2. The SDK is brand new and beta only, and yes, you would need Windows 8 for it. The new Kinect transfers a lot of data, it seems that the USB 3 driver was changed in Windows 8.

They told the alpha developers that there would be a Win 7 version of the SDK, but they could not get it to work. It's too much data for the (slower) USB 3 implementation of Windows 7 (all according to MS)

The V1 version works on every Windows PC, if you have the SDK installed. It does not matter if you have the Xbox or the "for Windows" variant, both work. The "for Windows" variant has the near mode, and you may use it for commercial projects.

You can get both Kinects on Ebay. The XBOX-Variant is pretty cheap (I've got mine for 30 Euro), but you will need an adapter to connect it to the PC. The "for Windows" variant is around 200 Euros here. 

The SDK works for both. I've done 3d-Scans with my XBOX-Kinect, using the MS SDK.

I'm still downloading, so I could not check if it works. But I suspect you can use the cheaper XBOX Kinect, if you don't plan to work commercially.

There is an open driver for Mac, no idea if Poser supports that. If it does, both V1 Kinects will work, along with Primesense and Asus sensors.

A ship in port is safe; but that is not what ships are built for.
Sail out to sea and do new things.
-"Amazing Grace" Hopper

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