Okay then...thanks again all for your informative posts. I have recieved my new uter...am running it as shipped, BUT am currently shopping for the following pieces: 1) an External "one-touch" style back-up USB/firewire drive, probably 400GB, as a means of backing-up my system configuration and reconsolidating the data which will be split onto the two 160GB RAID-0 drives I got. Whew, I got an earful at the technical forum regarding the inherent unreliability (and nominal to non-existent performance gain) associated with RAID-0. I bought here on percieved PRICE...compared to the single 250GB drive option, I went with the two 160GB drives (at 10K instead of 7200)...an extra 70GB for $40. I had not, however, considered the reliability issues related to spliting data across two drives. Now I know. 2) a good PSU, and 3) some extra fans (I'll have to do some research on how I would configure/install them into my system)...the Dell XPS 400 is a kind of Mini-Tower and I'm not entirely sure how much space there is for that stuff. BTW, I ultimately upgraded the included 19" analog flat-panel screen to a 20" wide-screen digital flat-panel for an additional $160...crispy;)

Thanks all again...I keep getting great tips! I am going to focus on the core system without a pricey graphics card so as to run Poser on it for the first 6 months whilst I save for the card (then migrate Maya onto this sytem). I think I have most of the info I need to dive in, but am printing all this great info and may ping y'all back when I get it (next few weeks) and start thinking about nominal fortifications (those fans and power-supplies everyone seems so fixated upon ;) Thanks Again, michael

And it appears you're...ahhh, putting it to good use. Pretty intense, pretty rough and pretty cool;)

hmmm...excellent info all...thanks!!! Nickedshield: fans and power supplies...I did not see that level of component option on the Dell or HP sites. Are you referring to 3rd party accessories that I could look into upgrading later? I'd also sure like the 10K drive and 3MHz options, but those top-o-the-line bits seem to push me past the $2,000 mark :( Svdl: 1st off, you're Freestuff contributions (especially the dynamic clothing) are really, really cool. 2nd, did you build this monster rig yourself, or can I order one like it (if so, where)? Also, a couple clarifications please: "Athlon64x2 4400+" is a dual-core processor, right? Sounds like every component of your rig is custom integrated (by you)...so if you experience tech difficulties, you're not likely to have an "on-site service" option, right? Maybe this is a big trade off of going for a brand box? Finally, how does your 2 drive (73GB each) jibe with Kathym's comment regarding Poser's hunger for large drives (say one 250GB drive)? Thanks Again All, pdog

Follow-up comment + questions: I have the original Millenium Kids (PT and PS), not Luke/Laura. Are Luke/Laura considered part of the "unimesh" figure family? If so, shouldn't they take V3, M3, SP3, D3 and A3 textures?

Ha...what did I write? Okay, "venn diagram"...but you know what I mean...lots of ways to organize/visualize relationships or info. Hmmm, other reasons that such a master compatibility chart hasn't emerged are likely: 1) the various workarounds available (V3 UV Mayadoll, those V3head/V2body hybrid figures, P4V2, etc.) which sort of obviate or further confuse the matter, and 2) such a list might quickly become outdated. You'd think DAZ would maintain one for their products...maybe in their FAQs section.

Yeah, if one of those intersecting Horizontal/Vertical graphs would capture the data best...theoretically, you could post it in a thread like this and solicit comments for additions or changes...updating as necessary. But, is that the kind of diagram that would work best...maybe one of those circle-type things (a Bendiagram?) would be better. I don't know. I'm thinking you'd have to maybe create a compatibility graph for each character :(

I believe textures are the only reasonably reliable cross compatible element...and those seem to go roughly by "generations" (and sometimes figure gender): MillKids (PT Girl, etc.) take V2 texs, All the Gen3 (or Unimesh) figures take the same texs. Morph and poses may work, but not as exactly intended or envisioned because of various figure mesh and joint parameters...that's why the common qualifier of "with some tweaks". I guess it's that UVmap vs. mesh topology thing?! Yes, it would be great to have one of those compatibility charts that groups various figures by cross-functionality. I think you'd have to have experimented with every version of every figure to know how reliably character elements transfer. I guess such a graph would have various sections (Morphs, Poses, Textures)...interesting organizational challenge. Who's an Excel or PowerPoint wiz?

Yeah, real nice contrast between the reflections/highlights on the bodysuit against the soft facial skintone. Would it be possible to insert some very small backlighting to maybe give a little more definition to the bottom part of her hair (at least on her left side)...the side with her ear already illuminated. Just think that might add a subtle contrast to her skintone going across her face AND suggest a more realistic light source emminating from her left side. But it's beautiful as is ;)

quite cool :) some fine work here!

Wow, this forum's a bit on edge...

While I'm not presently logged into the DAZ freestuff archive to see the exact wording, I thought it said something about being "for the Int. Beauties Pack and the V3 Head Morph Pack"...well, I purchased the V3 head morphs, so I didn't see any harm in asking whether that meant I could use this freebie to generate some distinctively ethnic head shapes...apparently not. No big deal.

I don't have the fastest connection and don't have unlimited data storage capacity, so I generally won't download unless I know if/how I might use the files.

Thanks again to the first few respondents for clearing it up for me...if I were comforatable enough with the unwritten rules around here, I'd delete the thread entirely (but that might deprive someone of their opportunity to tell me I've posted a stupid question ;)

Message edited on: 10/17/2005 10:31

Thanks all again for the prompt info...I just wanted to know whether I could use freebie because the DAZ notes were, to my reading, somewhat cryptic about requirements. For the record, I think DAZ is pretty good about offering content to users...and sometimes the add-ons are adequate incentive to invest in other products (for example, I did purchase all the V3/M3 morphs after aquiring the free figures...before that I purchased V2, Steph1, the MillKids and much more). Yes, $60.00 is pricey for any package (pricey for any FIGURE even), but I didn't intend this thread to strike any kind of ingrateful tone. Thanks Again for the Clarification, michael

Bummer...I've got V3 and her Head Morph Pack, but not the International Beauty stuff :( Thanks All Anyway :)

PhilC's site also has a hardhat in the archive: http://www.philc.net/freestuff_archive.htm

The "priceless" thread above seems to indicate that many, but not all of the Aiko morphs are on the disk...apparently the file size is a bit lighter than the original DAZ pack. Still quite cool.