The former content from this page is being rebuilt HERE:
(We're responding to your viewing patterns.)
Seekingcenter.com is under new management with a focused editorial style. All of the best articles, products, images and advertisers have been culled down to a more concise format with a central theme.
Subjects like archaeology, Arizona fine art, hiking, discovery, interpretation and towns are now a collection of imprinted items. T-Shirts, mugs, caps, mousepads, giclee prints and more. Connections to books, shoes, hats, bags and more are here. We've even kept our best Arizona clip art with FREE thumbnails.
e-on Software's VUE 7, 8 - It's FREE ???
April 2009.... Essay by John Vroom
We wanted to create some 3D interpretive renderings of some of the archaeological ruins recently discovered by Mr. Thomas so we took a look at what the 3D world is offering to an office without any budget. Also, since these ancient sites are essentially environmental we looked for software that focused on atmosphere and outdoor textures. Bryce, of course, seemed the obvious choice but we had purchased a copy of e-on's VUE some time back and we thought that we'd give it a look. We didn't want to hold back on our consideration of VUE 7 even though VUE 6 would not run on our Macintosh G5 dual tower. In reality we'd never used the program. It was a pleasant surprise to come across the e-on web site and discover that the "full program" was available FREE.
Now, around here we've all been using computers for over 25 years and we "know" that this "full product" isn't their star program. But if it isn't crippled it's still an opportunity for us to try out our ideas for this project.
It didn't take us too long to discover that renderings created from this FREE program are overprinted with their logo. So it's free to work with but not free to produce work. We continued.
The very first online tutorial we viewed showed some great modeling techniques using Hexagon software first, then IMPORTING the modeled item into VUE. Working with Hexagon is also on our agenda so we decided to try this connection first.
We created a simple organic polygon model in Hexagon, saved it and jumped over to VUE 7 Pioneer. The ability to import our item was unavailable. No reference whatsoever! Couldn't OPEN it, IMPORT it, etcetera. Nothing in the owner's manual. We sent an inquiry to e-on software asking if we missed something.
We had. The program is crippled. It CANNOT import anything, from Hexagon, Poser, etc. To do so requires we PURCHASE another software program that includes IMPORT filters. Second hurdle. Still not free. Still not a full program, for us.
We decided to give a try at building a basic environmental scene, just to familiarize ourselves with the GUI and execution. Above you can see that we plugged in a simple terrain shape and here we've tried to change the material. After just a few selections we again discovered that this FREE program is really just a marketing tool, used to whet our appetite so we'll buy more stuff. We always believed that a good program did that anyway.
Trying to select a water material from the choices shown brought this invitation to buy it. It isn't expensive but it isn't free.
We jumped over to the selection of plants. By now we've observed that more than half of the icons have a little logo overprinted. This is a subtle way to announce in advance that we're about to be hustled.
Once again making a selection brings us to an "item FOR SALE" page.
Here is where our experiment stopped. VUE 7 has been put back in the box and placed back on the shelf. We remain too offended at present to even continue with what is obviously a super software program. "FREE" isn't truthful.
Would we buy it? Yes. Does it appear to be a good solution for our project? Yes. In fact, it looks exceptional. Our objection is not with the program, just the hustle. Why is it that so many fine companies resort lately to the sleaziest marketing offenses in order to trick the potential consumer. It remains bait and switch at its elemental worst. Yes, it appears that most of the program is fully functional. We accept it as a beginner's version. But we feel strongly that the sales approach is well overstated. To REALLY make use of this program, even at an elementary level, requires the purchasing of several other components. These add up and we suspect that if you were to keep track the real expenditure will be very high.
Now, the day may come when we choose to shell out the thousand dollars for a more professional version and goodies from Cornicopia, but for now we feel that this choice has been hustled, our freedom taken away. We'll wait.
"Vue 7 Pioneer can be extended with 12 optional modules that add specific functionality to the base product. Thanks to this modular approach, you can progressively upgrade all the way from Pioneer up to Vue 7 Complete."
Based on what we read, this review also applies to VUE 8.
While under construction and remodeling... Dig deeper..... Find what you are looking for.....
TYPE AND CLICK
The Web has evolved. It used to be a place where people came to just search for simple information. Now it’s a place where people come to also share information. Information today that is multi-media and more complex. Information today that is real-time and social. We’ve designed an evolved engine to help you get the most from it. Better.