Don't be afraid to upgrade; DAZ Studio continues to amaze!
RoLoW
Posts: 346
I have been using DAZ Studio since version1.7 and WOW has it changed. And I know that for many people, change is scary or makes them nervous about what will the new thing be like.
In the case of DAZ Studio, like any modern software applications, change is inevitable. One of the best reasons to keep current by at least installing the latest stable (non-beta) release is that many new products will require the latest version to be fully utilized.
Let me tell you a story that might encourage you to upgrade. Several years ago someone who was very close to me and I discovered the joy of 3D software with DAZ Studio. As time went on, we both upgraded to DS version 2.3 but that is where it all changed. My associate got very comfortable with this release and was very good at using it. He had written some user guides that were not only popular but free. He became one of the people who dedicate their own time to conduct the DAZ monthly freebie render challenges and did so for several months. However, when DS version 3 was released I moved on but he did not. I tried time and again to show and explain that version 3 looked and felt almost exactly the same with many new features to no avail. He had found his comfort zone and would not budge. At the time of this writing he is still using DS 2.3 with the content he had accumulated, created or still works in that release, while the rest of use are (hopefully) using the latest General release.
The moral of this story is that if you don't stay in the race and up-to-date on software versions of any kind, then eventually you will be left behind and none of us wants that.
DAZ has done a great job of improving DAZ Studio with each new release, and if you stay abreast of each upgrade you will not be overwhelmed all at once with all the new features. Like I said in the title and implore you now, please don't be afraid to upgrade. I really and truly believe that in the end you won't regret it.
Regards, RoLoW
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Comments
While DS changed a lot for a better in latest years, the race for the latest and shiniest thing should never be an ultimate purpose of upgrade. Tools, such as DS, are only good if they fulfill your goals in a way you are finding comfortable to use. If DS 2 fulfills the goal for somebody, it is their own preference and it isn't for anybody to judge this decision, especially publicly. There is no moral to be had here just as there is no moral in preferences between gatorade and home-made apple juice.
As to why not to upgrade immediately there are many reasons: new release can introduce workflow-breaking bugs (such as some of DS4 releases created broken GoZ functions), and questions 'is latest DS stable/bugfree?" appear with consistent regularity on forums. Some plugins were never upgraded for DS4 and their functionality isn't yet implemented back. If I rig for pre-Genesis figures I prefer to use Setup tools in DS2/DS3 as DS 4 made them slightly less comfortable to use even if both work fine by themselves. While it isn't related to me directly, by the time of DS 4.6, DS4+ versions are much less comfortable to use on non-widescreen monitors, and some people can't buy new hardware due to financial reasons. There is quite common to jump over an update or two within the version just to avoid the hassle of updating too often or even roll back if favorite plugin isn't yet updated.
Reasons not to upgrade are many. This is just a matter of personal preference and everybody is doing it on his or her own pace.
Very well said, Kattey. I am on the "upgrade always" side of the coin (because I always think I'm going to miss something cool that I can't live without, lol) but your explanation of why it's not always the best route is very well phrased and makes a lot of sense to me.
Greetings,
Sure, there are many reasons to not upgrade. But those reasons end at the end of your computer. (To borrow from the old adage 'Your right to swing your fist ends at my nose.')
[... ~5 paragraphs of refusenik problems elided ...]
So honestly...upgrade, or in your heart and keyboard accept that you're going to get left behind, and be okay with that.
-- Morgan
You are absolutely correct in what you are saying Kattey. The point that I guess I missed on was for those who "want" to upgrade not to be afraid of the changes. As for older versions of software and plug-ins, once again you couldn't be more right. Lastly, I do not suggest upgrading for the faint at heart to any beta or testing versions, most of us should wait until the stable release is available.
If you don't want to be a beta tester or don't have the time to beta test - wait a week or two and read the release threads.
;)
(By the way: the same goes for Poser and it's Service Releases - no application wars by me - see my signature)
I'll second that. Daz 4.6 worked fine. Loaded Daz Studio 4.7 wasted Sunday afternoon and still trying on Monday evening to get it to work properly. So yes change is good but get someone else to debug it.
I've noticed an overall slowdown from upgrading 4.6.5.2 to 4.7.0.12. This new version is not as snappy for me than the previous one, and some of the bugs I thought would be sorted, for instance; the cursor dropping off the translation manipulators, gen 4 figures not loading their saved morphs so I don't to re-inject them after I load the scene is done loading are still present.
So while don't be afraid to upgrade applies don't expect this new version to be without some outstanding issues either.