I have a hard time using outdated products -- it grates on me to use an old tool when a newer one is available. I loved Poser 7, and I was really stuck when Poser 8 came out: I HATE Poser 8 with a passion, but I couldn't make myself go back to the older version. I plugged away at Poser 8 off and on for months and got nowhere with it, and after a lot of mucking around, finally took a whack at DAZ Studio 3 and got pretty comfortable with it. Similarly, despite DAZ saying that Victoria 4 is far from obsolete, I'll probably never use her or Michael 4 again, now that the Genesis figure is available. I just wish that the DAZ way of doing business wasn't so haphazard (for example, I believe they STILL haven't released the user manual for Carrara 8 yet, and trying to get a definitive answer out of them about something is next to impossible). The only other real worry is, like you said, all the content that I've acquired over the last couple of years (how much will I be able to use with DS4, how much will it cost to upgrade or replace tools and components, etc.). I've spent more than I could really afford over the last year or so on my content library, and I'd like to end this year with a paid-off credit card.  

Quote - I'm really underwhelmed by DS 4. I don't mind the interface, but I think it's a step backwards. Basically all I see is a different style of interface, new file format and the need to use it to use Genesis. AS to Genesis, I've seen the up and coming figure expantions, basicaly re-purchasing the same figures over that you already purchased. Yeah it bends better but so what.

Not to be contentious, but much the same could be said for how Smith Micro crafted Miki 3, and how she works with Poser but not with DAZ Studio. From what I've seen so far, at least, Genesis actually incorporates many of the improvements users have been asking DAZ for, whereas Miki 3 seems to be only Miki 2 with a slightly remodeled geometry. Genesis isn't perfect, and I'm hoping DAZ has a few tweaks left to add to it, but I'm really happy with what I've seen so far.

I'm running a pretty modest machine with Win7 64-bit, and I've had no trouble at all out of DAZ Studio 4 so far. I think the new UI really cleaned things up. I also love the new Genesis figure, and I can't wait for the morph and character packs to hit the market. I'm also anxious to see which tools are going to be updated and which are not. The only negative I can really point to is that I think DAZ rushed DS4 out the door before they were really ready: there should have been at least a few components available to flesh it out. Instead, all there is at the moment is the AutoFit Tool (which costs $50 on sale) which I STILL have not gotten a firm yes or no as to whether it will be included with DS4 Advanced or DS4 Pro.