Hi everyone. I am doing the first tutorial, and I am getting random type2 crashes on the Mac when saving files. Based on what I am seeing in this forum, the Windows version of Car seems much more stable. Has any one else on the Mac had this problem? Obviously there is no workaround to saving a file - this is the most basic test anyone could possibly run. I am on a powermac blue&white G3 350 with 320M of RAM and 103 dedicated to Car. I am using MacOS 8.6. I feel like I am running 'beta' software out of the box. Can anyone help? Thanks. -Tuck

I have only had 1 type 2 error in two weeks of usage. I chalked it up to my running it on an unsupported machine (PowerMac 9600 w/G3 upgrade). I created an extension set with the bare minimum extensions for all my 3D programs, and when I used that with Carrara, I haven't had that type of error again. I agree with you, that the program feels like a beta. It has obviously been created with the PC in mind first and the Mac version ported. Hopefully you are using the .pdf tutorial instead of the printed tutorial, as that is loaded with inaccuracies and key commands/menu items that don't exist or don't work. You can tell Mac people didn't put that manual together. The only major difficulty I'm having is in the area of animation with Physics applied; changing or selecting anything in the scene causes the machine to slow to an intolerable slug's pace. Until I find out differently, I'll assume it's because of the G3 upgrade. Nice to know there are other Mac users of Carrara out there. Enjoy Michael

Thanks for your reply Michael. I am using a stock b&w g3 350 with onboard openGL in the ATI card. It may be that openGL is buggy, so I'll try the defaults and see what happens. The g3 upgrade shouldn't be causing you any grief - I recently heard windows Car was in beta for 3 months before the code freeze. The Mac version was in beta 3 DAYS before the freeze. We've got bugs a plenty - it IS beta ; ) I'll try minimal extensions and see what happens. Thanks. -Tuck

I realy need to go buy a MAC for the office. (Clint shivers in his seat at the thought) I need one to test my products on the MAC platform. How much is a decent MAC gonna run me? I havent looked into them yet. Any information would be very helpful. Thanks all, Clint

Clint - a decent Mac - read really nice one - is the powermac G4/350 - you can get it for $1,599 at the apple store. This is the entry level 'pro' model. But if all you need to do is basic office stuff, an iMac would more than suffice and they start at $999.00 both can be found at: http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore This should get you started. If it's for 3d apps I'd go for a g4-350 or g4-400. -Tuck

tuckersaur, Thanks very much for the reply. I'll be looking into it. Have a great evening! Clint

DVM00, I dont know if you are on the Carrara List Server or not (OneList) but there have been some posts to the list that make me think MC will continue with Carrara. Poser and Bryce, Well I'm not sure about those - I dont follow any news groups or list servers so I'm kinda out of the loop. But, I know some of the Carrara team is back at MC. I'm not sure exactly what they are doing but they are posting and reading the Carrara OneList messages. I hope they get it together and keep Carrara alive. We will have to wait and see. Carrara does seem like it might have shipped a bit early. ;) http://www.onelist.com Regards, Clint

Hey everybody: I received this notice form Metacreations and it sure sounds like They will continue to support and upgrade Carrara & Poser. mclarsen To our valued customers, MetaCreations is pleased to introduce the MetaCreations Creativity Magazine on our Web site for the benefit of all of those who use our graphics software products. The purpose of the MetaCreations Creativity Magazine is to offer practical advice, innovative ideas and creative inspiration. Simply point your Web browser to http://letters.metacreations.com/scripts/flo.exe?x=dhAAhEEYwEhguw , and you'll find step-by-step tutorials by MetaCreations product experts, as well as up-to-the-minute details on product introductions and upgrades. Further, you'll meet artists who use MetaCreations products in remarkable ways, and they'll even tell you how they create their imagery-in the hope that you'll be similarly inspired to experiment with new products and techniques. And watch for more information about product updates to Painter 6, Poser 4 and Carrara - all expected over the next several weeks. We thank you truly for your continued support of MetaCreations and our products. Sincerely, Mark Zimmer President and CEO MetaCreations Corporation

mclarsen, Thanks very much for that information. Have a great day! Clint

Folks, Let me add my late 2 cents. Carrara is a complete bust. I am running a 350mhz G3 w/256m and 15 Gig of disk. You can't save anything you render, I get type 2 errors, type 11 errors,etc. It is so totally unreliable that I have not been able to do any work on it for more than 15-20 minutes before it crashes my machine. I have given up on it and have reverted back to RD 5.5. I think MC has really lost the handle.

hehe, I crashed RDS 5.5 about every 15-20 minutes lastnight. Must have crashed 10-12 times in 3 hrs. I was working the MFM really hard and furious. I make a few changes and save...I save about every 5-8 minutes. Gets to be a pain in the butt. I can almost predict when its gonna crash. It starts doing some strange things to the screen and gets really slugish. PC Platform. Clint