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Better Quality Control at Next Limit
Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2007 12:05 am
by Ernesto
If the current Maxwell version would be anounced as Beta, everything would be OK, because we as beta testers would know that we will deal with lots of bugs, and I would be free to, not to buy it until it reached an acceptable level to be called version 1.5 if we want.
Anyway we are using an offitial version, but although new features have been aded, its unpredictability hasn´t changed compared to the so called Beta versions.
As I understand it, the diference between a beta and a working version is the % of bugs, and the only way I know to solve it is improving quality controls.
I wish NL can improve their quality controls, so that they could fix most of the bugs before they release the new version. In this way, the users could find new bugs only from time to time, making more comfortable working with Maxwell Render.
This, in my opinion, would be understood as a sign of respect towards user. Otherwise It is normal that there will be people that will feel insulted in their inteligence, because they have to deal with an amount of bugs accordingly to a beta version, when the current was marketed as 1.5, because it was so deep developed that couldn´t receive the name of 1.2!
Sincerely
Ernesto
Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2007 12:34 am
by numerobis
i think the
CALL FOR TESTERS is a step in the right direction.
Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2007 3:41 am
by Bubbaloo
What bugs? You are talking like there are alot. I know of the sky being pink, but it's not a bug, it's a flaw and its being fixed so they say for the next patch. What else? On some computers, the coop rendering doesn't merge them correctly. They have outlined a work around until the next fix. I really don't know what all the fuss is about. The only thing I fault the NL team for is using the marketing strategy of "as easy as taking a photo". I think some people expect this program to be super easy to learn and pick up and make beautiful renders quickly. But there is a learning curve and the more time you put into learning this program's intricacies, the more you'll get out of it. I've only been using it for about 6-8 months and can't get enough of it. I use it (with Max9) at work all day, then come home and work on personal projects. Seriously, I couldn't be happier with it. I wait in anticipation for new developments. If I had a problem I couldn't solve on my own, I would probably contact support and get it worked out. Complaining all the time on a forum I would like to ask some of you what has that gotten for you? Now since my rant is over, I am going to get back to modelling a new scene in Max9 (which has it's own problems and bugs).
Have a nice day and get to rendering!
Brian
Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2007 7:13 am
by 4 HeRo
Bubbaloo wrote:What bugs? You are talking like there are alot. I know of the sky being pink, but it's not a bug, it's a flaw and its being fixed so they say for the next patch. What else? On some computers, the coop rendering doesn't merge them correctly. They have outlined a work around until the next fix. I really don't know what all the fuss is about. The only thing I fault the NL team for is using the marketing strategy of "as easy as taking a photo". I think some people expect this program to be super easy to learn and pick up and make beautiful renders quickly. But there is a learning curve and the more time you put into learning this program's intricacies, the more you'll get out of it. I've only been using it for about 6-8 months and can't get enough of it. I use it (with Max9) at work all day, then come home and work on personal projects. Seriously, I couldn't be happier with it. I wait in anticipation for new developments. If I had a problem I couldn't solve on my own, I would probably contact support and get it worked out. Complaining all the time on a forum I would like to ask some of you what has that gotten for you? Now since my rant is over, I am going to get back to modelling a new scene in Max9 (which has it's own problems and bugs).
Have a nice day and get to rendering!
Brian
Very well said sir!!
Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2007 7:49 am
by JDHill
Bubbaloo wrote:The only thing I fault the NL team for is using the marketing strategy of "as easy as taking a photo". I think some people expect this program to be super easy to learn and pick up and make beautiful renders quickly.
I think that marketing is pretty accurate...see this simple consumer-grade camera, picked at random:
Here's the table of contents for its online-manual ( from:
http://www.kodak.com/global/en/service/ ... 4toc.jhtml )
LS443 Zoom Digital Camera Manual
Table of Contents
Product Overview
1 Getting Started
Install Software First
What Can I Do With My Camera?
What Can I Do With My Digital Pictures and Videos?
Package Contents
Attaching the Wrist Strap
Loading the Battery
Using the AC Adapter
Mode Dial Settings
Turning On the Camera
Setting the Date and Time
Checking Camera Status Bar
Inserting an MMC/SD Card
Choosing Internal Memory or MMC/SD Card
Adding Optional Lenses
2 Taking Pictures
Taking Pictures in Auto Mode
Using the Low Light Auto Focus LED
Taking Pictures in Sport Mode
Taking Pictures in Night Mode
Taking Pictures in Landscape Mode
Taking Pictures in Close-up Mode
Liveview—Using the LCD to Frame Your Subject
Quickview—Reviewing the Picture Just Taken
Using the Auto Focus Framing Marks
Using the Optical Zoom
Using the Advanced Digital Zoom
Using the Flash
Putting Yourself in the Picture
Taking a Burst Series of Pictures
Still Menus
Setting Exposure Compensation
Setting White Balance
Setting Picture Quality
Setting Color Mode
Setting Exposure Metering
Setting Focus Zone
Setting ISO Speed
Setting Long Time Exposure
Placing the Date on Pictures
Setting the Orientation Sensor
Other Features
3 Taking Videos
Taking a Video
Quickview—Reviewing the Video Just Taken
Using the Optical Zoom
Video Menus
Putting Yourself in the Video
4 Reviewing Pictures and Videos
Picture and Video Icons
Viewing Single Pictures and Videos
Viewing Multiple Pictures and Videos
Playing a Video
Deleting Pictures and Videos
Review Menus
Magnifying Pictures
Protecting Pictures and Videos From Deletion
Running a Slide Show
Copying Pictures and Videos
Displaying Video Date
Viewing Picture/Video Information
5 Tagging Pictures and Videos
When Can I Tag My Pictures and Videos?
Tagging Pictures for Printing
Tagging Pictures and Videos for Emailing
Tagging Pictures and Videos as Favorites
6 Customizing Your Camera Settings
To Access Setup Mode/Menus
Setup Menus
Changing the Print Quantity Default
Turning Off Quickview
Turning On Liveview in Still Modes
Turning Off the Shutter Sound
Turning Off the Low Light Auto Focus LED
Setting Video Out
Selecting a Language
Formatting Internal Memory or MMC/SD Card
Viewing Camera Information
Changing Advanced Digital Zoom
7 Installing the Software
WINDOWS System Requirements
MAC OS X System Requirements
MAC OS 8.6 and 9.x System Requirements
Install the Software
8 Connecting to the Computer
Using the EASYSHARE LS443 Camera Dock
Connecting With the USB Cable
Printing Pictures from Your Computer
9 Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting—Camera
Troubleshooting—Camera Dock
10 Getting Help
Helpful Web Links
Help in this Manual
Software Help
Telephone Customer Support
11 Appendix
Camera Specifications
Original Factory Settings—Camera
Upgrading Your Software and Firmware
Tips, Safety, Maintenance
Storage Capacities
Locating Pictures and Videos on a Card
Card File Naming Conventions
Using the Battery
Power-Saving Features
Regulatory Information
Index
Now, even after you've read all those pages...I guess you might still be able to go out and take some completely horrendous photos.
JD
Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2007 7:50 am
by JTB
@Bubbaloo :
I agree, but you have to think of all the things you don't need from Maxwell and someone else does... Maxwell is a great renderer, the results are perfect if you know how, it is the easiest so far, so maybe the "like taking a photo" thing is true.
There are many things missing though...
1. Displacement... OK, I know we 'll see this soon.
2. Correct physical sky which supposed to exist before 1.1, so why did they mess with it?
3. Motion blur that comes and goes...
4. Compatibility with the materials of previous versions, or at least give us an upgrade tool for our MXMs
5. Plugins for some well known apps like AutoCAD that were also been promised and made some people buy Maxwell.
6. Animation is impossible with Maxwell unless you own a 1000 CPU farm
Also, some very annoying things have been said and writen like the RC advertisements (10 h with a single PC, 2.5h with 10CPUs... OK, so you will give us CPUs too?) and the licence policy was something else... (Good to see this changed)
You have to admit that the marketing policy of NL was not good, personally I think it was unacceptable...
Anyway, this is history, so let's see what we 're gonna get with the next patches, fixes, releases, you call it whatever you want...
8-9 months of programming and beta testing and we have to wait for patches for everything... File paths, sky model, motion blur,.... This really looks like software under development, not a final release...
So, like you said, have a nice day and get to rendering all of you people, I am confident that Maxwell will stay on top!