All of my new machines are Athlons. Both desktop PC and laptop.

The last Intel machine that I bought (and still have) was a 233MMX - the last of the Socket 7's. I keep the machine around for old time's sake. I ran Poser 2 and Bryce 2 on that machine.

Athlon. I can recommend it highly.

Absolutely. Build it, I'll buy it.

I have not bought the P5 upgrade yet. But I will buy it, after I spend some time surveying the lay of the land here in the forums.

And if DAZ comes out with its own app, then I'll probably buy that program, too.

It's too bad that CL felt the need to cook up this Microsoft XP-style of copy protection. I, for one, could do without it.

CL should take a lesson from the world of CADD applications. At one time, AutoCAD and Intergraph were about equal in the marketplace. Now, AutoCAD dominates almost everywhere. Why?

Because AutoDesk allowed people to use the AutoCAD software in ways that Intergraph would not permit. Intergraph had a policy of attempting to contractually tie clients up; Intergraph slapped all sorts of restrictions on the use of its software.

AutoDesk permitted much greater freedom.

Attempts at exclusivity only lead to unhappy clients. And, when somebody else comes along with an equal or better mouse trap, well..............

I can see both sides of this issue.

Yes, a lot of grinning theives are more than happy to steal software - or anything else that isn't nailed down. As a result, software companies are coming up with elaborate copy-protection schemes.

On the other hand, end users like myself are extremely irritated by the hoops that we are being forced to jump through. You pay $$$$$ to a company, and then you feel that you are being treated as a suspect.

I think that once an authorization code is given, it should work for as many repeat installations of the purchased software as a user might need. Yes, let CL have its copy protection, but CL's customers should also be shown some respect.

Like I mentioned in an earlier thread, I will follow the "don't buy it first" policy for new software.

We'll see how things progress.

Looks like the old policy of "don't be the first one to buy the new software/operating system/whatever" applies here.

I'll keep an eye on the forums for a while. Maybe I'll upgrade to P5 in a couple of weeks or so.

One thing that I've noticed -

Most of the "regular" posters are only around for a while - and then they vanish into the ether. Or is that the aether? I don't know.

But I do know that a lot of the regulars from last year have gone away somewhere ----- they got bored, maybe. Or perhaps something ticked them off.

Now returning to lurker status...........

@ DragonWalk -

Sorry, but I don't have much info on A&C, L&H, or Marx Brothers - I'm not a particular fan of any of them.

I am a fan of the Stooges.

However, I do know that Groucho did not enjoy a pleasant retirement. As an old man, he was abused by people that supposedly took care of him. It's hard to picture the smooth talker as a senile old man. His "caregivers" forced him to smoke pot - among many other mental and physical abuses.

So much for the advantages of fame.........

And @ The doubtless lovely Kate...

Thanks for the kind words.

None of you have got it exactly right -

At first, it WAS Moe, Larry, and Shemp. They were originally called "Ted Healy's Stooges". Ted Healy was a big-name stage comedian during the 20's. He gave Moe, Larry, and Shemp their start.

Then, Shemp left the Stooges in order to pursue solo comedy acting - he solo'ed in a couple of hundred or so now-forgotten "B" comedies during the 30's & 40's.

Moe then picked his younger brother, "Babe", as Curly was called by the family, to replace Shemp as the third Stooge. The Stooges then left Ted Healy to go solo themselves.

Ted Healy was later kicked and beaten to death outside of a bar following an arguement with three college men.

During the mid-30's to the late 40's, Curly was the third (and the most popular) Stooge. However, in real life, Curly was not a happy man. Curly was emotionally severly depressed. He was married and divorced several times, he drank heavily, and he partied hard every night - frequently dancing and drinking until past 3:00AM, and then going to work the next morning.

This lifestyle took a toll on Curly's health. Curly suffered a stroke while filming "Half-Wits Holiday" in 1946. Curly suffered several more strokes in the years following. He died in 1952 at age 48.

After Curly could no longer act for health reasons, Moe decided to bring Shemp back to the Stooges. So now it was once again Moe, Larry, and Shemp - the original three.

Shemp was with the Stooges from 1947 to 1955. Then, in 1955, while riding in a taxicab with friends, Shemp died suddenly of a heart attack. He was 60 years old.

For a brief time, Joe Besser took over the slot as the third Stooge. Joe was never a good fit. He didn't like being hit.

Finally, the last Stooge, Joe DeRita (Curly Joe), joined the Stooges for their final years.

In 1970, Larry suffered a stroke which left him unable to perform. The Three Stooges never acted as a group again.

Larry passed away in 1975. Moe died about two months later.

If Dina had looked like this to begin with, I might have bought the character long ago.

A character like this - perhaps will persuade me to purchase Dina.

Does this character work with the latest version of Dina?

Thanks.

As soon as I log in and see her posted in the marketplace, she's bought. Thanks, Blackhearted.

Xena, she looks great to me. @movida - I think that I will go buy Priscilla. Right now. Thanks for encouraging me to do so.

Got it. Now, to try it out.....looks very promising.

Got it. Thanks.

Thanks. Now I need to go re-download Andrea.