"The one I have a problem with is compatability to 'usual software/drivers/hardware'."

Ok, that was vague. But you merely have to look at new "pre-fab" systems to determine the 'usual'.

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Software:

• Anti-Virus: Anyone not running one would certainly be remiss in this day and age. All basically function the same, with differences usually in the reference files and, possibly, the AV engines that drive them.

• Browsers: Only two major contenders - IE and Netscape. Since Poser is not a browser, there should be little to no issues.

• Firewalls: Anyone connected for a majority of the time would be remiss not having one, from dialup to Broadband. BlackICE (although this is "intruder detection" vs a real firewall last I checked), Tiny Personal Forewall, and ZoneAlarm being the major players; except MS XP's firewall which, I believe, has to be turned on.

• IMs (AOL, ICQ, MSN, Trillian, Yahoo): Most Internet-connected have one or more of the above, so they should be considered.

• MS Office/Works: Standardized bundle on most system purchases.

• Norton/Symantec: Norton definitely has a large enough marketshare with their software and utilities, and their products should be considered.

• OS: Poser 5 users are Windows users (until they release the MAC version), so that includes all Windows OSes back to 98, since the other versions are no longer supported. Plus the usual "Microsoft Fluff" that comes with their OSes.

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Drivers: Could be tricky depending upon the system configuration (ie, manufacturer, chipsets, components, etc). However, there are many chipsets, for example, that are widely used across many manufacturer's motherboards (ie, SIS, VIA, etc). It should be easy to determine if you have an adequate cross-section of the populace based upon the beta testers' and internal testers' system specs; which I presume would be recorded and taken into account.

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Hardware falls into a "generalized" category. Most systems have:

• CD/DVD: Pretty much the same in functionality except one can play DVD-encoded files. Many use Microsoft provided drivers.

• CD-R(W)/DVD-RAM: Could pose a problem based off variety, but generally (for install purposes) act like CD/DVD drives unless you are burning disks.

• Floppy Drives: Standard in all systems and predominantly uses Microsoft drivers.

• Hard Drives: Usually use Microsoft IDE drivers, USB and Firewire externals generally relegated to the "early adopters", and SCSI for some serious usually tech savvy users' systems. On some occasions, you may run into "overlay" software to make older systems function properly, but that is becoming less the norm.

• Memory: Due to the variety available, this could be a problem, but usually not other than amount. Type (ie, SIMM, DIMM, PC100, PC2700, etc), and other factors hardly seems to account for much incompatibility in my experience.

• Monitor: Most are driven by .inf files, basically giving instructions to the OS/Video adapter on the capabilities of the particular monitor (ie, refresh rates, resolutions, etc).

• Motherboards: See above in drivers.

• Processor(s): Intel and AMD the most prominent. For most intents and purposes core functionality is compatible, with the exception of some added instructions sets depending upon model, etc.

• Video Cards: Most that I have seen people using are nVidia or RIVA based cards. However, Poser does not use anything but basic functionality, so this would rule out any "advanced features" of the cards Poser does not use.

Then you have the peripheral devices that should not generally interfere with the overall functionality of the system unless being used at the same time.

Most companies, at least the ones I have worked for, have mass purchasing agreements with the major system manufacturers (ie, Compaq, Dell, Gateway, etc). Therefore, most internal testing is, most likely, done on very similar systems; unless users are allowed to "customize" their workstation - which is a major no-no in most companies due to security and other reasons.

So, although there are a myriad of configurations, the vast majority of the hardware is "standardized" to some degree; and some seem to have no relation whatsoever to a 3D application. I have not seen any posts claiming any extraordinary system specs or software that would preclude an all-purpose 3D application not to run across the board. Most of the posts with problems have had fairly "plain vanilla" installs with nothing out of the ordinary that would draw attention away from Poser being the source of the problem(s). Likewise, the vast majority have used previous versions of Poser, so the systems must have been compatible to that extent, without system-based issues.

Given the fact that many problem posts state that Poser is the only application that exacerbates or exhibits these problems, it further presents that Poser seems to be the common denominator.