You're probably right Carolly......seems to be the nature of the "Rendo Beast" :) CL seems to bring out the worst in people. I think they're a bit like the boy who cried wolf.....too many times......noone believes them anymore.

I do. But then, I have three reasons for it: 1 - I remember vividly when Poser 4 came out how nasty everyone was about it. I remember becuase I had just started to become familiar with Poser 3, and was trying to get the hang of things by reading here religiously, and the flames that went on were easily as bad as those for Poser 5 -- I'd daresay worse in some cases. 2 - I know what it's like to go through what CL's been through as a company. Not fun. A lot of the "broken promises" are repeats of what someone else once said they had thought they heard would be in the next version, or were made by Metacreations -- who made a lot of big, huge promises about three months before dismantling everything -- and tying much of the stuff with some programs, including poser, up in court. 3 - I lack mental capacity for rational thought. hee hee hee hee hee hee hee

Don't make promises your not going to keep. pretty simple. SR4 announcement was jan feb 04, now it's been pushed back to feb march 04. yet again getting peoples hopes up and then dashing them. Cl is not the only ones doing it. it's become a business practice that I really hate. Daz Mimic 2 update planned Dec 03, it' mid Feb and no info. Newtek lightwave 8 4th quarter 03, now it's coming out when its done, no release date. LucasArts announces Full Throttle 2 then scraps the whole thing. I'm just tired of companies dashing my hopes. I would much rather CL just say they are working on something and not put a release date and then keep coming back saying they are working on it get closer than have hopes dashed when release dates are passed by and forgotten about. If a release is missed by a week it's one thing, but missing releases by a month, sometimes a full quarter makes me wonder if that company doesn't need to invest in MS Project and work on thier milestones a bit better.

Well, if nothing else, the reason for the delay is clear enough: they want to make sure it works very well. And given the fire they've recieved over the last year or so, they aren't going to let anyone know what's in it until they just gotta do it. They know they won't make everyone happy -- heckfire, look at the list above and note how much of it is incompatible with the price point we're talking here. 300 bucks ain't chicken feed, but it's a damn site better than 1000 -- but they are trying to get fixd some things that are important to them -- doubly important since this is supposed to be the last SR. lol -- not sure ms project is the system I'd want to use for software folks, lol, but the point is very well made. And it's not a new development -- been that way in computer software for the last 15 years. That's not merely a practice -- that's simply how it's done. Gettin one's hopes up isn't something someone else does, btw... ;-) (huggs, hon -- mine are up there too)

"the reason for the delay is clear enough: they want to make sure it works very well. That's the same excuse we heard for P5 taking so long (4 years). And of course they couldn't fix the P4 bugs because they were working so "hard" on P5. "but they are trying to get fixd some things that are important to them" Yep. Too bad they won't work on things that are important to US.

Hi, Thank you all very much for the feedback. There are some very good points throughout - both could be seen as good and bad - and well taken from within CL. Just a point or two. The date of release expectation as it relates to a companys communication externally. Most companies prefer not to communicate too many date expectations but rather prefer to wait until all of the development and business pieces are properly put together. Working within forums however, more details are desired. I believe in this thread earlier, the mention that there are many mainstream companies such as Adobe who refrain from posting and interacting within forums. Mostly because it is conversational with very visible and often conflicting expectations from the various forum or product users. The date expectation of SR4 release for example. I think any company would prefer not to announce an expected date, but rather to just say we're working on it. But as many of you feel and/or have read from other posts, it can be unacceptable to not have a bench mark of expected date from a company that interacts within a forum. CL has tried to post dates only when it can be trusted to be accurate by at lease 90%. With in software development, not to state this too simplistic, but programming and testing and fixing bugs can be a bit like a puzzle. You know the focus, you see the end picture you need to put together and you know how a puzzle works, but can not always be certain of how long it will take to complete. With SR4, we first through Jan/Feb04 was that 90% benchmark, but quickly after re-announced a winter expectation due to the additional time needed during this verification/test period. With the plug in development; weve been working with 3rd party companies to help develop the plug in products whether it be working with e-on or Eovia while they develop plug in support, or through Reiss Studio who has been handling the 3rd party plug in for Maya, 3D Studio Max, upcoming Cinema 4D or Lightwave. With this, its impossible for CL to set a date of expectation because the development is not happening solely in house as it is with Poser. Many have commented on Lightwave. All I can say is that this is due out this year. Its work in progress. There will be times with dates that no matter what we try to offer in communication, that it will cause a certain % of people frustration. I wish that wasnt the case, but hopefully if CL can stick to offering only whats 90% certain, and notify when and if there are any delays, our hope is that most will understand. Thank you again for all of the valuable feedback both in this thread and the other 2 threads started by Numanoid for associated program use and phython use. With appreciation, Katherine

Personally Katherine, I have low expectations where dates are concerned. I would much prefer you "get it right", and especially that you continue to support the import of .pz3's to Vue :) I finally did finish that blasted survey BTW.....after disabling my firewall. That really is something I don't like to do. I realize the structure of your website may not be a top priority right now, but please pass on to the web folks that they should design the site with software firewalls in mind. I'm sure Norton and others would provide them with the information they need to ensure that your site is not viewed as a "pop up ad" or a Trojan Horse :)