louie@sayshell.umd.edu (Louis A. Mamakos) (12/05/90)
In article <8818@adobe.UUCP> baffico@adobe.UUCP (Tom Baffico) writes: >Illustrator on the Mac and Illustrator on the NeXT >will be able to interchange files, no problem. If I'm not mistaken, we've been hearing rumors about Adobe Illustrator for the NeXT for quite some time now. So when can someone actually BUY this thing to get the capability described? I need a good structured drawing program that's compatible with existing Mac platforms. Until I can get it, I have to consider it vaporware, just like the beta version of Improv that I'm testing. Speaking of vaporware, and regarding a previous message that I sent about my order for WingZ. I got lots of mail from folks saying that the have actually received a copy of WingZ. After talking with Campus Technology (the people that distribute educational versions) and Informix, I think that I have the story. It seems that Informix is having difficulty getting blank OD media to ship the product on, and this is part of the delay. It also seems that the relationship between Campus Technology and Informix is not as smooth as it could be. Campus Technology told me a month ago that I had to change the vendor on my purchase order from Campus Tech to Informix, as Informix was going to ship the product directly. Campus Tech also told me a week or so ago that "Informix had removed the product from the market"... this is what finally prompted my call to Informix to get the real story. Informix seems quite concerned that I was told this. I asked them if they could ship on 3.5" media, and they are going to check on the possibility. This is a very serious situtation where a product exists, but can't ship to anxious customers because of a shortage of media! I predict that if you don't have a floppy on your system in the future, you can forget about using commercial software. It is hard to imagine that the OD media situation is going to improve, rather than worsen. I think Informix is making a big mistake using Campus Technology to deal with their educational customers. Would I recommend that we buy WingZ for the NeXT workstations in our Labs? Hell no, I can't even BUY a copy to test the stupid product! Most every other vendor that I've worked with deals directly with their educational customers, rather than removing them futher from company. And now, I could get Improv for free if we upgraded the CPUs in those machines. They lost on a window of opportunity to capture the NeXT spreadsheet product, when they were the only game in town to fill a void. They might have a wonderful product, but I sure wouldn't know it. louie
asmith@questor.wimsey.bc.ca (Adam Smith) (12/06/90)
louie@sayshell.umd.edu (Louis A. Mamakos) writes: > In article <8818@adobe.UUCP> baffico@adobe.UUCP (Tom Baffico) writes: > > >Illustrator on the Mac and Illustrator on the NeXT > >will be able to interchange files, no problem. > > If I'm not mistaken, we've been hearing rumors about Adobe Illustrator > for the NeXT for quite some time now. So when can someone actually > BUY this thing to get the capability described? I need a good > structured drawing program that's compatible with existing Mac > platforms. > I have been speaking with Adobe on this matter for a while. There have been numerous mentions of people witnessing Illustrator demonstrations on the NeXT. The official word is that it will be released March 91. This is Adobe's *official* word. I asked why it was so long in the wait and was told thast Adobe plans to slow down production/etc at the start of the year to give everyone a break. Unofficially (take it as you wish) I was told that the parties involved would not be surprised to see it released before March. My suspicion is that they are waiting to see how the slab does, and perhpas waiting for the colour slab. My bet is on mid to late January. Anyone else want to take a guess? Start a pool? ======================================================================== Adam Smith Genius - Graphic Artist - Bad Mood Guy The Chameleon Papers Vancouver, BC CANADA "I'd give my eyeteeth to have a Macintosh--unfortunately, due to Apple's pricing policies, that's not enough" ========================================================================