Light ROM 4/Light ROM 4 - Disc 1.iso/text/maillist/1995/0795.doc/000701_owner-lightwav…bcom.webcom.com_Sun Jul 30 12:30:29 1995.msg

Internet Message Format | 1995-08-06 | 8KB

Received: by webcom.webcom.com
    (1.37.109.15/16.2) id AA083072629; Sun, 30 Jul 1995 12:30:29 -0700
Return-Path: <[e-mail]>
Received: from sos.sos.net by webcom.webcom.com with SMTP
    (1.37.109.15/16.2) id AA074911484; Sun, 30 Jul 1995 12:11:24 -0700
Received: from pentium (dialup06.sos.net) by sos.sos.net with SMTP id AA02832
  (5.65c/IDA-1.4.4 for [e-mail]); Sun, 30 Jul 1995 11:40:51 -0700
Message-Id: <[e-mail]>
X-Sender: [e-mail] (Unverified)
X-Mailer: Windows Eudora Version 1.4.3
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Date: Sun, 30 Jul 1995 12:02:01 -0700
To: [e-mail]
From: [e-mail] (Andy Stevens)
Subject: Flyer: The bright side
Sender: [e-mail]
Precedence: bulk

I have been a subscriber of the Lightwave and toaster newsgroup for about
two months.  In that time I have gathered a lot of useful information that
has been beneficial.  I have responded in kind to those who I could help.

During this time there has been much more negative press regarding the Flyer
than positive.  I realize that the folks using this service are looking for
answers to problems they've encountered but at the same time I wonder how
may Flyer systems there are out there that are working to some degree of
efficiency.

My objective in this post is to offer some positive posturing for the Flyer
system. Let me furnish some background for reference and qualification purposes.

Early on, in December of '93 I purchased a complete 4000 system, complete
with the Broadcaster, (then manufactured by the now defunct DMI,) along with
a Fastlane and two 2Gig Barracuda drives.  This was the leading edge of the
technology at the time as far as Amiga digital was concerned.

The purchase of this equipment was a nightmare from day one.  The company I
purchased it from, Anti gravity, shipped the computer with screws missing,
floating around in the housing, hard drives not formatted properly and the
list goes on.  This was purchased as a plug and play, ready to go system, as
per advertisement I might note that they were never of any assistance
through out the following ordeal.

DMI, the manufacturer,  was as helpful as they could be and I can honestly
say that they did try.  The Barracuda drives however, had the quote, "wrong
firmware" and the only solution would be to have Seagate change this.  Ha - ha!

To make a long story short, the Fastlane SCSI board had to be returned to
the US distributor for service before the hard drives could be formatted
with any lasting degree of success.  A process which took several weeks.
Once Fastlane was up and running the formatting finally worked but the
drives would not sustain the necessary transfer rate.

As helpful as DMI was with their technical support, the system was still a
long way from being useful.  Finally the Fastlane's home office in Germany
came up with a software program, (which I have a copy of,) to reset the firm
ware.  This worked but the board itself was an ongoing problem.  DMI had a
"fix" in the form of an upgrade in the works and the boards were to be
returned to them on a take a number and wait basis.  I sent mine in and waited.

DMI went bankrupt and the present manufacturer of the Broadcaster Elite
system under took meeting the obligations promised the original purchasers
of the system.  They returned, to their credit, the upgrade of the board
that I had sent back to DMI when they went out of business.  It worked and
still does.  Their software upgrades have all been excellent, each offering
advancements in the operation of the original product.  To my dismay how
ever, I have pre-paid for the promised Elite replacement system which at
this time is over six months overdue.  I'm still waiting on this system to
be completed and delivered as promised.

But that's the price of living on the edge of technology.  I have used the
upgraded Broadcaster  system in repeated productions encompassing everything
from corporate training videos to television commercials.  In short, this
system, given all of it's headaches, has made me a lot of money.  It is even
better for animation than the PAR system because of it's flexibility and
will continue to be serviceable for a long time to come.

The first toaster system I purchased was still in the BETA stages.  I still
have the beta documentation.  I grew with that system and the bugs that came
and went before it finally became a stable and totally useful product.
NewTek was always there,  sometimes not as timely as I would have liked but
in the end they furnished the solution.  This was defiantly leading edged
technology.  The toaster system and Lightwave, through it's stages and
upgrades have been instrumental in the production of several hundred
successful productions and two ongoing television shows since I originally
purchased the system.

The Present.

I pre-purchased the Flyer system and after a long wait, as for every one, it
arrived. Having been through the "Hard-Drive Wars" and being no stranger to
the inherent problems that could arise through the purchase of inadequate
drives, I contacted New Tek and got their recommendations.  Quantum ATLAS
SX34300s 4Gig drives with a firmware designation of f76D of 576D.  After
finally getting the budget together I purchased two of these drives and one
1.3 Gig Western digital for audio.

The original system arrived with the 4.0 software.  Upon receipt of the
drives and the necessary cabling I set up the system as per instructions, in
a 4000 system. Prior to installation, I downloaded consecutively 4.04a and
4.04B.  I installed the original and the upgrades in order.

After two days of experimentation, (having had plenty of time to study the
manuals before hand,) I set out to implement some updates and changes to a
series of training videos that I had completed or were in progress.  This
was accomplished without a hitch.  Everything worked beautifully.

I next completed four commercials.  One was and old customer on his third
commercial with me.  Three were new one of which was a national company. All
were more than pleased.

I have began implementing the Flyer into the production of two ongoing
weekly regional television series which I produce.  One is a real estate
show and the other is a collectable car and rod show.  I have found several
ways to make my life easier with the Flyer in these ongoing productions.

I know it will be some time before I completely understand the capabilities
of the system and a lot of the usable ARREXX programs, etc.  What there is I
like.  The CG is definitely an improvement as is the Toaster paint program.
Each has a ton of accessible ARREXX features in addition to the normal and
improved upgrade functions.

I look forward of course, and check in two or three times a week to see if
there are changes to the system.  The only thing I can see that would really
make things less stressful would be for New Tek to post progress reports of
some kind on their system.  Something simple such as a text file that be a
sort of newsletter.  Just a couple of paragraphs on a regular basis would be
nice.  The FAQ's are there but they're written in stone as of...

In any event, I have faith that there is a bright side to the Flyer system
and the plus's sure out weigh the minus's.

Andy Stevens
Producer/Stevens Video Productions

Ulti-Media Productions
Stevens Video Productions      Andy Stevens
P.O. Box 444                         [e-mail]
Anacortes, WA 98221

1-206-293-7044
1-206-299-2524
--
[e-mail] (Andy Stevens) sent this message.
To Post a Message           : [e-mail]
Un/Subscription Requests To : [e-mail]
(DIGEST)                 or : [e-mail]
Administrative Items To     : [e-mail]