Once again, and at the price of prolonging an unnecessary ‘dialog’, I would like to make several points very clear.
1. I have paid $99.- for Houdini Apprentice HD. The software is certainly impressive, but $99.- is all it's worth to me, i.e. if sidefx was selling it for $199.- I probably wouldn't buy it. And I could not care less if other people paid $20,000.- or more for it.
2. Sidefx web site
(http://www.sidefx.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=589&Itemid=221) [sidefx.com]
clearly states that the Apprentice HD software has no watermarks. When I installed and ran the software I saw that, lo and behold, watermarks are present in just about every view, pane and dialog, i.e. literally in hundreds of places inside the program.
3. I consider that the screen pixels belong to me. As a matter of fact my whole computer belongs to me. If something is written somewhere on the screen, it must be with my agreement. Anything that happens in my computer (web access, disk access, printing, pop-ups, advertisements or what have you), must be done with my consent. If a program does something without my consent, either the vendor must change the program to suit me, or I will not use that program. It's as simple as that.
4. I agree that Houdini displays a ‘Apprentice HD Non-Commercial’ in the application window's title bar. But this is the extent of what I agree to.
5. I consider that the presence of watermarks in hundreds of places in the program is a clear vioaltion of my right of ownership of the pixels on my screen. It is also a clear violation by sidefx of the terms of the license agreement and the statements made on their web site product page.
6. Therefore, since a sidefx representative clearly stated that the watermarks will most likely not be removed, I will, IF YOU PERMIT ME, not use Apprentice HD anymore. I will trash it, along with the license keys and I will use Truespace 7.6.
7. If some of you are not annoyed by these watermarks and tend to even like them, well good for you.
Thank you for reading. END OF DISCUSSION.
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Houdini Indie and Apprentice » Why Is Houdini Apprentice HD So *AWESOME* In Its UI?...
- dr_bernie
- 11 posts
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Houdini Indie and Apprentice » Why Is Houdini Apprentice HD So *AWESOME* In Its UI?...
- dr_bernie
- 11 posts
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Improv
I'm using one of the darker grey skins with HD. I had to open HD to even see what he was on about. Upon looking, there is an area approx 2“ long by 1/4 ” high that is taken up by the ‘HD Non-Commercial’ logo on my 22" monitor.
I had honestly not even noticed it until this thread. Looks like anyone who has the time to even bother complaining about such trivialites has way too much time on their hands! :roll:
BTW-Bernie? It's not a watermark unless it's on your finished work of ‘art’. In this case, the printing is discretely on one corner of the interface. And that is NOT a watermark.
It looks like anyone who doesn't notice such ‘trivialities’ shouldn't be doing high-end 3D in the first place…
The devil is in the details my dear…
Houdini Indie and Apprentice » Why Is Houdini Apprentice HD So *AWESOME* In Its UI?...
- dr_bernie
- 11 posts
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varomix
I like it
if you don't, get another more money and buy HOUDINI ESCAPE, but I can tell you this, no one else give more than sidefx, they offer a no time limit apprentice edition, non-obtrusive watermark, lots and lots of videos.
when was the last time you saw autodesk give away almost 3 hours of fluids training?
be happy that you can buy a HD version, for 99 bucks and make good use of it, couple of years back you got 2 option, apprentice, and $16000 or so for the master version.
even the apprentice version has even MORE than ESCAPE, apprentice does everything that master does, ESCAPE is limited a little.
I love it, don't remove it , they won't anyway
You like it? Then keep it… As far as I am concerned I will uninstall Apprentice HD from my computer the minute I get a chance… Nobody puts a watermark in my workspace…
Truespace 7.6 it will be… BYE…
Houdini Indie and Apprentice » Why Is Houdini Apprentice HD So *AWESOME* In Its UI?...
- dr_bernie
- 11 posts
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arctor
SESI is doing all of us a favor..
for $99 you get almost full access to a program that used to be $17000 and that had no demo/apprentice/ple version available at all.
for $99 you can render still images with no restrictions at all
for $99 you can render HD res animations
you will not find a better deal. period.
Apprentice HD is a non-commercial version - there MUST be an obvious, constant reminder of that fact at all times when using the application.
as someone who make his living using Houdini I'd really rather SESI edit the web page (and anyting else that mentions the restrictions of HD) than make changes to the application - which is a huge waste of developer time.
I've been trying to think of why you have a problem with a UI watermark that is tiny and I honestly can't think of one, is there one?…if your entire argument is about what a web page says versus what you see in the viewport then I've wasted my time posting in this thread.
Arctor,
I am answering your post. And please don't answer this one unless you really want to waste your time, and mine.
1. I would like someone from SESI tell me that a favor was done to me.
2. I wil not find a better deal, period? I remind you that Truespace 7.6 is now free and is supported by Microsoft. Please don't tell me to go with Truespace then, because I will not consider it as an acceptable answer to the watermark issue.
3. I think your voice has been heard and SESI will probably decide of what to do (Change the program or change the web site statements)
4. There must be a constant reminder of the fact that this is a non-commerrcial version? The application window title bar clearly states: Houdini Master HD Non-Commercial.
5. You don't see why I have a problem with the watermark? Because I simply don't like watermarks. Period.
Houdini Indie and Apprentice » Why Is Houdini Apprentice HD So *AWESOME* In Its UI?...
- dr_bernie
- 11 posts
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arctor
it's understood that this is refering to a rendered image, not the viewport…could this be made more clear to prospective customers? sure why not…can't hurt…
and frankly I don't understand what you feel you are loosing with the (very small) watermark in HD…it isn't taking away UI space from anything else, it's just on top of what is already there…
for $99 you're getting HD res watermark free animations and unlilmited res still images…and the entire Houdini Master toolset…
Nothing in that web page refers to the render watermark. It just says: Watermark: no.
You are talking as if a favor was done to me and I don't think it's the case, if you don't mind my saying so.
The solution I offered above makes sense, and I don't see why it can't be implemented.
Houdini Indie and Apprentice » Why Is Houdini Apprentice HD So *AWESOME* In Its UI?...
- dr_bernie
- 11 posts
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Please visit this page:
http://www.sidefx.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=589&Itemid=221 [sidefx.com]
where it clearly states that Houdini Apprentice HD has no watermarks.
http://www.sidefx.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=589&Itemid=221 [sidefx.com]
where it clearly states that Houdini Apprentice HD has no watermarks.
Houdini Indie and Apprentice » Why Is Houdini Apprentice HD So *AWESOME* In Its UI?...
- dr_bernie
- 11 posts
- Offline
Arctor,
I am not talking about a PLE, I am talking about a duly paid version of Houdini.
And I really don't see why a team of programmers who designed such a complex application wouldn't make such a simple change in the program, as long as it makes sense and as long as it makes everybody happy?
I am not talking about a PLE, I am talking about a duly paid version of Houdini.
And I really don't see why a team of programmers who designed such a complex application wouldn't make such a simple change in the program, as long as it makes sense and as long as it makes everybody happy?
Houdini Indie and Apprentice » Why Is Houdini Apprentice HD So *AWESOME* In Its UI?...
- dr_bernie
- 11 posts
- Offline
Wolfwooddr_bernie
Allegro,
I do perfectly understand your concerns regarding accidental mixing of commercial with non-commercial files, but this concern will be, in my opinion. better addressed with a warning message at save time, such as ‘You are saving a commercially produced file with a non-commercial version. Your file can no longer be used in a commercial production. Are you sure you want to do this?’…
At which point its too late to migrate your work over to a commercial version. The constant subtle reminder is the safest solution I can think of.
IMHO Houdini's Apprentice/Apprentice HD view pane watermarks are the least obtrusive of all the 3D applications.
OK, we have 2 problems here:
1) Commercial users run the risk of having their commercial files converted into non-commercial ones, which explains why there are watermarks in Apprentice/Apprentice HD's views/panes.
2) I have paid US $99.- for Apprentice HD, and I believe my rights to a watermark-free workspace are violated, especially since the license agreement does not mention it, as far as I can tell.
So how about we do this:
Apprentice HD's workspace is made free of watermarks by default. When a commercial file is opened with Apprentice HD then:
1) A warning pops-up telling:' You are opening a commercial file with a non-commercial edition of Houdini. Doing so will make your file unusable in a commercial production. Are you sure you want to do this?'
2) If the user opens the file THEN display the watermarks all over the place, just as it is now.
3) When the user saves the file display a warning: ‘You are saving a commercially produced file with a non-commercial version of Houdini. Your file can no longer be used in a commercial production. Are you sure you want to do this?’.
This way my rights to a watermark-free workspace will be protected AND the commercial users will not run the risk to have their commercially produced files turned into non-commercial files.
How does that sound? Would that work?
Edited by - Aug. 7, 2008 15:14:01
Houdini Indie and Apprentice » Why Is Houdini Apprentice HD So *AWESOME* In Its UI?...
- dr_bernie
- 11 posts
- Offline
Allegro,
I am not talking about a splash screen… I am talking about every view in the program… They all have a ‘HD Non-Commercial Edition’ in the bottom right corner…
By the way the Apprentice HD splash screen does NOT mention anything about it being non-commercial… It only says ‘Houdini Master. Version 9.5. Build 170. Copyright 2008, Side Effects Software Inc.’
I do perfectly understand your concerns regarding accidental mixing of commercial with non-commercial files, but this concern will be, in my opinion. better addressed with a warning message at save time, such as ‘You are saving a commercially produced file with a non-commercial version. Your file can no longer be used in a commercial production. Are you sure you want to do this?’…
I am not talking about a splash screen… I am talking about every view in the program… They all have a ‘HD Non-Commercial Edition’ in the bottom right corner…
By the way the Apprentice HD splash screen does NOT mention anything about it being non-commercial… It only says ‘Houdini Master. Version 9.5. Build 170. Copyright 2008, Side Effects Software Inc.’
I do perfectly understand your concerns regarding accidental mixing of commercial with non-commercial files, but this concern will be, in my opinion. better addressed with a warning message at save time, such as ‘You are saving a commercially produced file with a non-commercial version. Your file can no longer be used in a commercial production. Are you sure you want to do this?’…
Houdini Indie and Apprentice » Why Is Houdini Apprentice HD So *AWESOME* In Its UI?...
- dr_bernie
- 11 posts
- Offline
I recently bought and installed Houdini HD… The application looks good and impressive, except one point: In every view that I have explored so far (Scene Viewer, Channel Editor, Render View, Composite View, etc.) there is a ‘HD Non -Commercial Edition’ at the bottom right of the view… There is even the same ‘HD Non-Commercial Edition’ in ‘Open File’ dialogs…
I consider this to be an unacceptable intrusion of my workspace… I think that every pixel of the workspace belongs to me and I don't want to be annoyed by the software continuously reminding me that this is a non-commercial version…
When I purchased the software, I agreed to the license agreement , and now I want to do my work, and not have a ‘Thought Police’ watching my every move…
This kind of reminder, if there has to be one, belongs in the ‘About’ Dialog… And by the way, Houdini's ‘About’ dialog does NOT say anything about a ‘Non-Commerciqal’ version… All it says is "Houdini Master Version 9.5.170'… Besides. the application window's title bar clearly says ‘Houdini Marer HD Non-Commercial’, and that should be enough of a reminder…
I would TRULY expect that someone from Side Effects provide an explanation for this and explain why several hundred precious pixels of my workspace, and that includes operating system's file dialogs, are taken-up by these reminders… Because, as far as I know, this is not part of the license agreement…
I consider this to be an unacceptable intrusion of my workspace… I think that every pixel of the workspace belongs to me and I don't want to be annoyed by the software continuously reminding me that this is a non-commercial version…
When I purchased the software, I agreed to the license agreement , and now I want to do my work, and not have a ‘Thought Police’ watching my every move…
This kind of reminder, if there has to be one, belongs in the ‘About’ Dialog… And by the way, Houdini's ‘About’ dialog does NOT say anything about a ‘Non-Commerciqal’ version… All it says is "Houdini Master Version 9.5.170'… Besides. the application window's title bar clearly says ‘Houdini Marer HD Non-Commercial’, and that should be enough of a reminder…
I would TRULY expect that someone from Side Effects provide an explanation for this and explain why several hundred precious pixels of my workspace, and that includes operating system's file dialogs, are taken-up by these reminders… Because, as far as I know, this is not part of the license agreement…
Technical Discussion » How Can You Download Houdini HD Over A Dial-Up Line?...
- dr_bernie
- 11 posts
- Offline
I am new to Houdini (Hello everybody by the way). I just bought Houdini HD and I am trying to download it, but there is no way to do it over a slow dial-up line. The server does not have support for ‘resume download’ in case the line is disconnected.
The problem is, I believe, that the server gives you a session key that expires too quickly, so in case of a disruption the download manager cannot go back to where it left off.
So what am I supposed to do?
The problem is, I believe, that the server gives you a session key that expires too quickly, so in case of a disruption the download manager cannot go back to where it left off.
So what am I supposed to do?
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