Quote - So I have read through here on the debate and I really have only 1 question to the artists out here.  I use Poser 7, I'm happy with 7, do I really need to even upgrade to 8 at this time or invest in a new product with PoserPro 2010?

What do you do with Poser?  Do you animate, render for yourself or render professionally or use Poser in part of a pipeline? 

Poser 6 and 7 are stable aps that a lot of people use very effectively, and not everyone needs new flashy bells and whistles.  It's like with new Photoshop versions every year - I really only crop and cleanup pictures, old versions work great for me, but designers who like fancier things can take advantage of the new hot things.  People do a huge variety of work with Poser and require different levels of power and features from the app.  I'm working on user stories now, and I'm just blown away with the eclectic nature of this community and the artists that use the software. 

The quick elevator speech for Poser 7 users, with Poser 8 you'll get faster rendering and better lights, with Pro 2010, you'll get even more improvements in rendering, lights and get network & background rendering that is very helpful to the high volume artist.   There are lots of features in Poser Pro 2010, and there will be a comparison chart vs Poser 8 available, as well as a lot of details about the product available and you should be able to see for yourself if there is a compelling need to upgrade for your use.    Launch is close. 

A few more screenshots on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=152299&id=106113697478&ref=mf

Quote - Before I blow from anticipation, are we talking about the Pro 2010 version release within the next 30 days? 

Yup!

Quote - Will there be a regular 2010 version and Pro 2010?

There will be Poser 8 and Poser Pro 2010.

Quote - Thanks for that - just seen you posted basically the same thing in the other thread, sorry - busy times... ;)

...edit: Any chance of further discounts for me and onimusha for drumming up interest with these threads... :-)

I wish I could give you all tons of discounts!!

If you enter the Poser video contest - there is a chance you could win a copy for free!  Only 2 entries so far - and we're awarding up to 25 copies of Poser Pro 2010!  All you have to do is record yourself saying "I'm a Poser" and submit it to us!

Peggy -

Poser Pro 2010 details are pending, they have not been announced.

You can upgrade your Poser 7 to Poser 8 for $99 or sidegrade to Poser Pro for $199.99.  If you sidegrade to Poser Pro before the launch, you will get a free upgrade to 2010 when it is released.  (Yes, you end up with an extra upgradeable Pro application serial here.)

If you wait until Pro 2010 is launched, you can still upgrade to Poser 8 for $99 before March 31st, or get Pro 2010 for $199 until March 31st.  

Willber - Product details for Poser Pro 2010 have not been released, you may be reading the current Poser Pro details?

rty - it's spelled out clearer on the landing page than in the emails - http://poser8.smithmicro.com/sale.html

*Mods: just answering a question, if you need to remove the link, please do.  :) *

Quote - So, I have Poser 8, I can buy the sidegrade to Poser Pro (previous version) within the next 30 days for $199. I will get Poser Pro licence and then, when Poser Pro 2010 is released, a free full download and licence for that?

I.e.
I have one Poser 8 licence now.
If I get Poser Pro (using the P8 licence to sidegrade) I will have a Poser Pro licence - do I still have a valid Poser 8 licence?
When I get the free download of Poser Pro 2010 will I get a third licence? If so, are the other two still valid licences in their own right?

Yes. 
Use your Poser 8 serial number to sidegrade to Pro NOW and get a free download of 2010 when it's launched.  You will then have a Poser 8, Poser Pro and a Poser Pro 2010 license - all eligible for future upgrade pricing, all considered full versions with full eligibility for discounts that apply to owners.

Quote - Do we have a feature comparison against Poser 8 yet...?

It's not live yet - but there is one that will be available for you.  

Quote - > Quote - If you own Pro and 8, the upgrade price until March 31st is $50.

Yes, got that, but the question is what does that mean for the P8 license used in this upgrade scheme: Can I keep using it and upgrade it to P9 afterwards?
If yes, it's a very good deal and I'm buying ASAP.
If not, it's a very bad deal (as I said above, $249 instead of $179.99).

Quote - Full details on Pro will come shortly - but we wanted to kick off the Poser family sale and wanted to pre-answer any questions about the upgrade pricing for now.

Okay, I'll wait till the dust settles and SM make up their minds.

You can upgrade and sidegrade freely with discounts between the product lines. 

Your Poser 8 will still be eligible for upgrading to Poser 9, using it to get your extra discount on Poser Pro 2010 if you own Poser Pro will not burn your serial.

In addition, if you own Poser 6, 7, or 8 and choose to purchase Poser Pro (or 2010) as a sidegrade, that leaves your Poser 8 still eligible for upgrades to Poser 9 in the future. 

My apologies for the confusion between buy and upgrade - there is a sale on both full and upgrade versions for both lines for the month of March.  Those who buy Poser Pro before the 2010 launch will get a free upgrade to 2010, since as with usual Smith Micro policy, any purchase within 30 days of a new version qualifies for the newer version free.  Poser 8 purchases do not qualify for free upgrades to Poser Pro 2010.

LMK  - No pre-orders - but sales aren't far off!!

Quote - Is it cheeper to buy now and get Poser Pro 2010 free ? That would be the only reason to get Poser Pro now.

PP has background rendering and 64bit renderer and extra export options to higher end apps.

As I stated, the best part of that upgrade is the free 2010 upgrade. Maybe wait till almost the deadline so you have the 30 day money back. Then you could compare the difference in 2010 upgrade price from P8 and still have time to do something about it.

Never mind. I thought you were asking about the PP upgrade.

 

If you buy Poser Pro now, it will be the same price as buying Pro 2010 when it is launched (upgrades & full versions) however, you will actually have an additional license, since you will not need to burn your Poser Pro serial to get your free upgrade.  ;-)    The free upgrade is a digital download version only however, so that may be a limit for some people who really must have a boxed version - they are better waiting until the full launch to order the hard goods.

Normally, anyone who purchases software within 30 days of the launch of a new version from Smith Micro qualifies for a free upgrade, we're just pre-announcing that for anyone who may purchase Poser Pro between now and launch!

Quote - Count me among the confused.
I own P8, I own PPro, what options do I have if I decide to upgrade my PPro license????

I'd get it for $50, but I'd think it over twice for $180 (or even $179.99, as the newsletter suggests...).

If you own Pro and 8, the upgrade price until March 31st is $50.
Full details on Pro will come shortly - but we wanted to kick off the Poser family sale and wanted to pre-answer any questions about the upgrade pricing for now. 

Quote - Let me see if I understand this offer the ad reads:

Buy to Poser 8 for only $99.99. Upgrade today *but hurry, this Poser Pro upgrade pricing expires March 31st, 2010. Customer must contact customer service to **receive their free digital download of Poser Pro 2010 after launch.
**
*This is for Poser 8 (not the pro 8)

Second part of the ad:*  Poser 6/7/8 Owners:  Upgrade price to Poser Pro 2010 $199.00.

*So if I own Poser 8 and upgrade it will cost me $199.00, but if I purchase Poser 8 for $99.00 the upgrade to Poser Pro 2010 that download upgrade is free?????????????????

So it sounds like it is cheaper to purchase Poser 8 just to get the free upgrade to Poser Pro 2010 for free.....is this correct?

Sharen

Sharon - the free upgrade is for people who purchase Poser Pro only.  Sorry for the confusion.  It appears the email has an older cached version before we caught the typo, but the click to view here link has that part removed. 

This product hasn't been updated to include support files for figures in at least over a year that I remember.  But, from what I understand, you can easily set up new figures.  Contact tech support at Smith Micro for more information. 

Attached Link: Poser Open Feedback Form - Closes January 4th

If you haven't already, please take a moment this week and just share your 2 cents about the Poser product, and pass on the link where you can.  It's really important that we represent this community the best we can. 

Next week, I'll try and compile the feedback and see what I can do about posting it, that way if you think people are speaking for you, and they haven't done so, then we can do another round of feedback next month.