[dilbert]

I've only been using Maxwell a couple of months now, and don't really understand many of the complaints people have. Yes, Maxwell is a little buggy here and there, but then again it is a brand new software. After using Mental Ray for the last 5 years, I was impressed enough with Maxwell to switch it to my primary render engine for still shots. My opinion is that for this software to be this good at version 1.1, any improvements that come in the future will be icing on the cake.

One last comment on the "speed" of rendering in Maxwell. When I was using Mental Ray, I used to have to wait an extremely long time with many renders for the "Final Gather" process to run, during which time I had no preview render to look at. With Maxwell, I get a grainy preview within 30 seconds at the most, and within 5-10 minutes a decent enough preview to evaluate the composition and materials in my scene. This has been saving me huge amounts of time for adjusting material settings at render time. Yes, the final render might take longer to get to production quality, but you have to add up all the editing time into the equation. Just my two cents though.

[michaelplogue]

....Maxwell is new technology.

I've only been using Maxwell a couple of months now, and don't really understand many of the complaints people have. Yes, Maxwell is a little buggy here and there, but then again it is a brand new software.

No offense, but many of us have been waiting for quite some time (I purchased my first license over two years ago). Certainly more than a couple of months....... And some of us invested quite a bit of money purchasing multiple copies this software when it was still in its Alpha stage. I'd recommend being very careful making any snap judgments regarding anybody's impatience or complaints until you've walked in their shoes.

IIRC, NL began pre-selling licenses for Maxwell in late 2004, with software that they had already been developing for some time. It's hardly "new" anymore. In "technology years," that's around middle-aged looking forward to retirement in the Everglades.......

[dilbert]

michaelplogue, I meant no offense, I just meant that when you buy any software you get what you get. As far as I know, there's no obligation for a software company to make any upgrades, period. I've never purchased a single piece of software that I'm 100% happy with, that's why there's so much choice out there, as each product does a particular thing "the best".

As a consumer, the only way you can show your dissatisfaction is to simply stop using/buying a product, and move onto a competitor if you're not happy with what you're getting for the investment you made. So far, I've made a $2000 investment in Maxwell (2 licenses), and I'm more than happy with what I'm getting for my money. Unless you're a stock holder in Next Limit, the length of time that you've invested in the software is irrelevant. That's the free market economy at work (at least it is here in the USA, I understand things may be different in other countries).

[michaelplogue]

Well, I can remember taking part in this sort of conversation numerous time in the past, and believe me, I've been on both sides. There's no point in re-hashing them here yet again.

I guess I just had a knee-jerk reaction to the statements being made. When you have been walking quite a few miles down the road, you never like having someone who has barely taken a few steps down the block to question why you are complaining about your shoes giving you blisters.

Normally I would go out and buy another pair of shoes. But unfortunately, I bought a whole closet full, and can't really afford to go with another brand at this time.......... So, I guess that means I'm going to be stuck with blisters until the treads wear completely out, or I build up a such a thick layer of callouses that I no longer feel the pain.

I wish you luck with your new pair of shoes; perhaps they will fit you better.

[jo]

michaelplogue, I meant no offense, I just meant that when you buy any software you get what you get. As far as I know, there's no obligation for a software company to make any upgrades, period. I've never purchased a single piece of software that I'm 100% happy with, that's why there's so much choice out there, as each product does a particular thing "the best".

Unbeliavable!!!
And what about the broken promises of NL and their misleading marketing?

As a consumer, the only way you can show your dissatisfaction is to simply stop using/buying a product, and move onto a competitor if you're not happy with what you're getting for the investment you made. So far, I've made a $2000 investment in Maxwell (2 licenses), and I'm more than happy with what I'm getting for my money. Unless you're a stock holder in Next Limit, the length of time that you've invested in the software is irrelevant. That's the free market economy at work (at least it is here in the USA, I understand things may be different in other countries).

So you mean: "Shut up michaelplogue! Go away! Don't even think about complaining... It's all your fault!!!"???

I'm happy you are happy!

Ciao, Gio

[dilbert]

Wow, there's a lot of anger out there. I had no idea this was such a heated topic. I don't know the history of NL, or what they've done to annoy so many people, but I never meant to further anyone's annoyances. Like I said, I vote with my money, I'm not into the politics behind everything. If a newer, faster, better, etc. software comes out, I'll probably buy that to. It's kinda like upgrading your PC every year (you know you all do it), even though there's probably no real need to. We're all addicted to getting that little bit more, regardless of how good we already have it. Considering the thousands of dollars I've spent on Alias Studio Tools, Maya, Rhino, 3dsMax, etc., Maxwell is still a bargain for me.

[michaelplogue]

I don't know the history of NL, or what they've done to annoy so many people, ........

I believe that was the point I was trying to make, in my usual, oblique manner....

No hard feelings!

[dilbert]

No hard feelings at all By the way, your gallery is superb.

[Thomas An.]

Wow, there's a lot of anger out there. I had no idea this was such a heated topic. I don't know the history of NL, or what they've done to annoy so many people, but I never meant to further anyone's annoyances. Like I said, I vote with my money, I'm not into the politics behind everything. If a newer, faster, better, etc. software comes out, I'll probably buy that to. It's kinda like upgrading your PC every year (you know you all do it), even though there's probably no real need to. We're all addicted to getting that little bit more, regardless of how good we already have it. Considering the thousands of dollars I've spent on Alias Studio Tools, Maya, Rhino, 3dsMax, etc., Maxwell is still a bargain for me.

Dilbert,

You are making good sense.
I think new people like you offer a fresh perspective and a more accurate assessment of the software's current market value (bugs and all). New users evaluate the product based on the current market for what *it is* and they like what they see, while old users evaluate the product for what it *could* have been. Older users factor-in all the features that could have been in the software or used to be at some point but were later disabled for various development reasons.

A new user comes in with fresh perspective and sees good value at $995; bugs and all (and you have two licenses) ... now imagine if the software you were so willing to pay for full price, was given to you for $395/seat. Would you think that was a good deal ?

At some point I had a lapse of faith myself (a few months ago), but small things here and there have won me over again. The Rhino plugin used to be one of the most rudimentary, barebones, poorly functional one ... now the new Rhino V4 plugin is slated to be not only the best Rhino/Maxwell plugin yet, but among the top (if not the one) in the entire Rhino platform. They have done the same for 3dsMax and Maya plugins. Inch by inch they are getting out of the quicksand. I still see good vibe and willingness to succeed. This company has potential to remain the industry leader in spectral render technology.

[Aji Enrico]

Thank you for your fresh perspective Dilbert

Thomas, you nailed that one perfect! I would love hire or go into business
with people having these kind of insights like your.


....Come to think of it, a funny thing, thanks to Dilbert's posts here this thread
is now unbiased. =c) And thats the way we like it ;c)

[JDHill]

...$395/seat. Would you think that was a good deal ?

Remember plus-one? ...cost NL $1500 in my case.

[Thomas An.]

...$395/seat. Would you think that was a good deal ?

Remember plus-one? ...cost NL $1500 in my case.

Wow. Yes ! They did give us a free extra license. Thanks for the reminder Jeremy.

[Maya69]

this very good subject

for me i am just disagree with political communication of NL

for this i choice to work with another render

maxwell have a good potential but the workfow and many bug is very bad thing

i hope with 1.2 is great update.....

all render are not perfect .....

best regard

philippe BEAU

[Fernando Tella]

I'm happy with the evolution of the product. I bought Maxwell in early 2005 and I've seen (from my point of view) NL making efforts to satisfy their customers at their best, making changes in the way they give information, in the way release software (remember the RC stage?), changing the people and the way they take part in the forum; sometimes with more luck than others, but always trying to improve and putting a lot of effort and enthusiasm on it. There are bugs and problems to fix but they have the good attitude to do it. Maxwell is still too young to be perfect (from my point of view); I have just recieve a mail from Autodessys (FormZ) saying they are celebrating the 16th birthday since they released Formz 1.0; there's still a long way to run.

[Joss]

NL, please make sure you will fix memory leak bug in mxcl, when loading few large .mxi one by one.
3x1.5Gb mxi's - and your 4gb mem system is dead.