Jaqui... with all due respect, you can't really believe that CL will port to Linux? Where is the market? Poser is already a small niche market and porting to Linux would give them how many more sales out of that niche market? Lightwave users have been asking for a Linux port as well and they're user base is quite large. Newtek though did recently add network rendering support for Linux - but NOT Lightwave itself. It takes alot of coding hours (as I'm sure you understand) to revamp code for a new operating system. Right now Windows and Mac are the winners. Perhaps when Lindows appears you'll be able to use Poser 5 on that platform. Here's hoping! Maclean... you probably shouldn't even waste your breath. The majority of the people here that are against CL's copy protection system won't be changing their minds. Those that vow not to buy the software will eventually buy it because they can't bear NOT to have a certain feature or features. And if they don't, who cares? It's NOT the majority and sales will soon see that. Like you said: People don't know when they're well off! C1rcle... you're right about that: (Anybody who's used or even installed WinXP knows what the protection is going to be like, it's not such a big deal as some make it out to be, but some people just don't want to listen to reason at the moment.) No, they just want it THEIR WAY and if they don't get it THEIR WAY they'll go sulk in the corner after shouting that they're not gonna buy it. Aleks... you say: (and i made until today at least 100 authorizations, the internet-based codes exchange doesn't work in 15 %. either is server down, java & co. are disabled, firewalls let nothing through and similar.) SO? So what if the internet authorization for Poser5 DOESN'T work "today?" You have a GRACE PERIOD of probably two weeks. Try to use reason. Okay, it didn't go through today... I'll try tomorrow. And if it doesn't work tomorrow, then you send CL sales an e-mail or get on this forum and since luckily CL people constantly check this forum you'll be taken care of. Morgana... you want what Maya has (a $2000 program in it's least-active version; spend $7000? for the full version) in a program that costs less than $350? I have no idea what CL is conjuring for the next release and I hope it's what you're asking for - but don't expect it. There's a rather large price difference:) Come on people. Try to use a little REASON. I know it's difficult when you're upset but go take a 24 hour timeout. Geeze.

Hey glassylady - just for your information, Microsoft has already announced that it will not continue to support NT. I'm not sure if this support will end this year or not - but it will end. So... you'll be able to run your applications you've got for now, but soon you'll have to upgrade to something because new programs that you may want won't be running on NT. Like many (if not most) programs now won't run on Windows 3.1. Good luck.

As do I Anthony. I'm just glad that CL grabbed up Poser and ran with it. Thanks in advance for Poser 5 - can't wait to give it a try!

Unbelievable! Those of you complaining about the few minutes it'll take you to register... TOO BAD! DON'T BUY IT. Roy G hit the nail on the head. It's an inconvenience, but it ain't that tough. And how many of you who DON'T buy it right now WILL buy it later because you'll see all of the cool images that everyone who has it will post? I'll bet the vast majority. "Oh NO I won't... I'm not gonna give in to that! I'm gonna take longer to do my art because I'm NOT gonna take the two minutes it'll take to register my Poser!" Yeah... right. Cut off your nose to spite your face. Always been a wonderful concept. Again... yeah, right. But you WILL end up buying it, and then you'll realize.... gee, this isn't so bad. Why did I make such a big deal out of this? And then... will you feel dumb. I already do this with several pieces of software. Now it's part of the routine. NO BIG DEAL. Again, you people are UNBELIEVABLE!

You know.... some of you people annoy the friggin' hell outta me. Gotta have something to complain about. 1. Anthony has stated that you'll be able to put it on several computers without any flags being waved. 2. If you reformat your harddrive it "should" not require you to re-contact CL. (He'll let us know.) 3. We all know that copy protection doesn't work for the professional cracker. 4. This copy protection is primarily for the casual copier; making another copy for cousin, friend, etc. If they see what you've got and they like it, $350 isn't too much to shell out for a program that does this much. And if they can't buy it right away - they do what all honest people do; they use Mommy & Daddy's credit card or they SAVE for it. And I could go on and on. Contrary to (the apparently) popular belief that EVERYONE knows where to download cracked versions of programs... that isn't true. Not everyone wants to or does. And those who do and don't know how/where... well... maybe they'll buy their copy because they'll be reading this list and hear how absolutely fantastic the software is! You know what? If you don't like the copy protection system they've got, fine. DON'T BUY THE SOFTWARE. Again, you need something to complain about. Currently I'm sticking with W2k and not bothering with WinXP simply BECAUSE of that sort of copy protection. (Well, that and the fact that apparently W2k is more stable:) So... I'm NOT buying that product from them. On the flip side, I think Poser 5 is gonna be kickass. So... this copy protection may be annoying, but then I've got three seats of Lightwave so I'm used to this MINOR irritation. And YES, it IS minor. Someone brought up the fact that they don't want to have to call Ford every time they get into their car to go to work. What kind of lame analogy is that? It doesn't equate to this copy protection at all. You DON'T have to call CL everytime you use Poser - just when you switch computers. Well... if you move to a different state, you DO have to re-register your car in that state. And in NJ (where I am), if you move from this house to that house you also have to inform the state. Hassle? Yes! Necessary? Well, to the state it is. And... it's the law. Oh, you say you're registering with the state and NOT Ford? Well, like someone else here already said, you're NOT copying the car to the new state - you're taking the same car since it can't be duplicated. Software can be duplicated. Just think about it. It will sink in eventually. Legitimate questions are great. Can I install Poser 5 on a second machine? Do I have to re-register everytime I reformat? Can I put it on my laptop AND desktop? Can I put it on my work machine and my home machine? Etc. But to everyone who is complaining about this copy protection and saying that NOW they're NOT going to buy Poser 5.... fine.... again, DON'T FRIGGIN'BUY IT. I WILL buy it - already pre-ordered. And so have three other friends I have that DON'T have cracked copies nor any intention of looking for them. Curious Labs is NOT a big company. They are doing this because it's the cheapest way out for them and us. Perhaps next time they'll go with a dongle? You'd like that wouldn't you? YOU try being a small company and having your software copied and given to friends. Oh but Megalodon, it's going to be cracked anyway. Well... duh, I did say the CASUAL COPIER - not the experienced hacks that post it on the web. READ. Instead of giving major grief to the small company (CL) - why don't all of you who've decided NOT to buy the software (or even those who just want to complain) because of this copy protection system start a campaign against Micro$oft where it will do some "real" good. Start picking on the "Big Guys" instead of the smaller Curious Labs that live from software release to software release. It's SO easy to complain about your "incredible inconvenience." Hell, most of us in THIS country (USA) and those who CAN buy this software have it easy - REAL EASY. Start thinking of the others less-fortunate in this world and where does that put your "incredible inconvenience?" I can tell you where but I do draw the line at SOME language. Ohhh... boohoo... woe is me who has to call or e-mail CL every time I put Poser 5 on another computer. Oh, but Megalodon, I have twelve software packages that have me do the SAME thing. And now, another one? Ohhhh, that's SOOOO terrible. And those of you who have to reformat your drive five times a month?... you've got something wrong with your system. Fix it. People - get a life! MOST Sincerely, Megalodon

DragonWalk - Excellent!

Very nice caleb68. I personally have had several "arguments" with various people within these forums but none of them EVER had to resort to that kind of language. I actually use that language every day but NOT in a public forum. Regardless of how angry you are you do NOT need to use profanity. I would bet that the VAST majority of posters here would rather not see it as well. Either cool your jets or leave. It is obvious that your intentions were good, unfortunately you went about it the wrong way. Had you not been so combative, you could have learned the proper way to make everyone aware of the problem. But you HAD TO BE RIGHT and so you fought back. Now you look childish and irresponsible. Your best bet would be just to apologize (especially to ronknights for the language) and say you'll do better next time. That way everyone can get "back to work" and forget this nasty episode. Don't compound the problem and continue to be belligerent to everyone and play the victim. Everyone has a bad day - today was yours. God knows I have enough of them. Get some sleep and be fresh tomorrow! Best of Luck!

Hi Sharen! Just passing by... and looked at the image. Outstanding! The grass is fantastic, gazebo texture perfect (looks like it was just built) and the lamp light is very realistic. I would have to say that the background mountain does look too perfectly rounded - making it a little less even might help. And maybe it's the compression on the image, but the water horizon on the right looks like it's rising out of the water - is there an impending tidal wave? For me, aside from those two small items, the image is great! Keep up the good work!

Hi gg77! Like everyone has already said - both ARE great programs. It really depends upon what you are intending to use them for. Where I work, we use both. Vue4 is VERY easy to learn compared to WB3 - but overall there is less control than with WB3. With WB3 you have a great many parameters that you are able to change - much more so than with Vue4. Still, if you want to create beautiful images right out-of-the-box, you simply can't beat Vue4! I like them both - each is great for different tasks. Good Luck!

Attached Link: http://www.charactermotion.com

Attached Link: http://www.charactermotion.com/

Outstanding zoon! This looks incredibly simple (though I've said that before and lived to regret it! :) Thanks alot - I'll definitely give this one a shot. And thanks for the image too - it definitely helps.

Thanks alot for the suggestions cinacchi & Mike. With a little luck(?) this weekend I'll have some free time and will give a go of cinacchis' method - and a few others I've thought of. If I can figure out a relatively easy way to obtain the results I need, I will write that tutorial Mike! I'll let you know how it turns out. Thanks Again!

Uhh, that should read as "importing Lightwave objects into Vue4." Sorry.

Both programs are fantastic. We use them both at my office because they each have their own strong points. Actually, we're going to be getting into each of these programs more in depth shortly. I DO know that we'll never (at least at this point) go exclusively with one or the other. Regarding the number of plants - with the variations that forum members here have created and offered for FREE I'm sure that the quantity of plants is comparable. Check them out!