Now that was a bit harsh, yes ? reading this stuff here is actually starting to turn my stomach a bit queezy. I honestly didn't expect so much of a negative beginning, and was looking forward to full speed ahead and just a fabulous time.... Do you guys think the problems are with specific systems, or in the software overall? It seems some folks are able to plug away..but other than a few comments, everyone is still pretty quiet about any successes. Quite a few interface and rendering problems....

By the way...just so there are no doubts about my intent.... I was called the "crankiest old man I have ever met", by my niece.... I also rah rah as loud and as much as boo hiss..depends on what side of the bed I roll out on....and now in this case...the direction of messages concerning P5.... So far...I'm disappointed, but I'll see what hell springs forth when I load my copy in a couple of days.... STAND BY.... until then, I should withold judgement....however, it has now been discovered that certain elements have been omitted in the character morphs....that does not bode well in my eyes. I had made a commitment and promise to myself about 2 years ago to never buy a product when it first rolls off the assembly line. I've been burned a bunch of times by the bugs in the newly released software...then of course the months wait to get a patch out to even make the stuff functional...in the meantime the software is non-functional, sitting as limp as you know what---useless. I took the new Poser 5 features to heart...they just looked so great....and went against my better judgement and bought the product on day 1 of pre-release...I'm still praying that the problems noted so far are, for the most part anomilies, and that my copy will work just as I thought it would.

Well Dave Don't feel like the lone ranger.. I havent got my copy yet either but its in the mail So we will be in the same boat together...This is the first time Ive bought a program on its release too.. So Im sure we will be downloading a patch or two.. Crap! regards PE

I haven't gotten my copy either. I'm one of those "International customers" who has to wait another week or so for it to even be shipped. And I'm like you, Dave...my mood pretty much depends on the orientation of my sleeping apparatus disembarkation. But I'm optimistic that P5 will give me a lot of new tools to work with and if some fixes are required...well, I figure by the time I learn how to use the things that work they will have fixed the things that don't. Whatever it takes to stay sane. Doc

To be honest, I've had a few issues so far, but nothing a bit of creativity couldn't fix. I spent the day doing test renders to see when to use the P4 vs. firefly render engine. For the most part, firefly isn't that great. If you want to do close ups of the new hair, then you'll want to use it in Production Mode for the final render, but I'd stay away from it otherwise. The content is great. Folder organization is so much better! (I was almost sobbing with joy at nested folders!) They've made it easier to work with objects and their properties. (The mouse disappears on me when I do that, but if I move the mouse, it comes back.) Some of the strand based hair models look quite nice, though I think a mix and match between old and new types would work best. I'm very happy with P5, but I do think we're kinda gamma testers. Software isn't released - it escapes.

Well, it isn't as fast loading as Poser 4, that is one samll issue, example, when I can find a simple figure to load, it takes a little time to load, then when they appear and I want to change something on the head, I have to go ask to show the parameter dials, that is new....that is just something I have to get use to, they are just reloacated....the rest I don't know, it is still to new, I couldn't get the registration to work, so I had to email them, so I only have 7 days until it shuts down to play with it until they send me my code. A little nervous about that. Otherwise I do think it is worth the price, it does look great....Sharen

OK :) I'll keep reading and wondering...from what I have seen so far..now that its a new day, there is so much to figure out, so much new, that makes it all worth while....

Well, I have to wait some time before I can afford to upgrade to a better computer and THEN I can try to upgrade to P5, but I'm not sure that I'm going to, now that I found out that the "best" new features like hair & cloth effects are NOT exportable to other programs, and I will always do my rendering in Bryce, where I can build scenes with far more options in materials, lighting, etc. Now I'm hearing from people who went ahead and got it that it's even more "buggy" than anyone expected. So far I haven't heard much of substance to impress me that it's a must-have one must get as soon as possible.

'I have to go ask to show the parameter dials' Say WHAT??? Please say it ain't so, jo!! I mean, sharen.... Does it require permission to stop for coffee too? mac