As per the blender alpha port, there were many hitches porting, it is out now, but you don't seem interested.
As per being proprietary, only for advanced features will you need to pay a small amount of money(100 USD). For everything else, the awesome animation and modelling package it has become until now, it will remain to be, for FREE!!! Any old joe, who is only interested in checking out what the program has to offer, can download the freeware, which can already rival in most things most high-end, EXPENSIVE, commercial software on the market. Once this 'old joe' decides he wants more features, he can spend a one time cost of approx. 100 USD and get all he needs. What people don't seem to understand is that Blender has been one of the best programs out there. Notice I said has, and not will be.
I am sorry, but Blender is can currently compete with the BEST commercial 3d modelling programs out there, and by currently, I mean now, not with the new, advanced features, like network rendering, and sequence and texture plugin suport, as well as motion blur. You don't need the extra options, of which have been disabled since the first freeware version was released up to a few weeks from now. So what is the big deal and all of the gripe when a person decides to disable advanced features unless you spend approx. 100 american dollars, so he can make a living?
It is already the most intuitive 3d program out there, and personally, I don't see a problem charging 100 bucks for advanced features. When you can spend upwards of 1000 dollars for one plugin for a program like 3d studio max, should there be a big deal?
Besides, as per this program being of poor quality, play around with it for a little while, and compare it to 3d studio. I think you will find a big difference. With blender coming out ahead. As for it disappearing, Ton has promised that if Nan goes under, the source will be gpl'd immediately, and I believe he has also promised to make this proggy eventually 100% freeware.
Slashdot Mirror
As per the blender alpha port, there were many hitches porting, it is out now, but you don't seem interested.
As per being proprietary, only for advanced features will you need to pay a small amount of money(100 USD). For everything else, the awesome animation and modelling package it has become until now, it will remain to be, for FREE!!! Any old joe, who is only interested in checking out what the program has to offer, can download the freeware, which can already rival in most things most high-end, EXPENSIVE, commercial software on the market.
Once this 'old joe' decides he wants more features, he can spend a one time cost of approx. 100 USD and get all he needs. What people don't seem to understand is that Blender has been one of the best programs out there. Notice I said has, and not will be.
Andy
I am sorry, but Blender is can currently compete with the BEST commercial
3d modelling programs out there, and by currently, I mean now, not with the new, advanced features, like network rendering, and sequence and texture plugin suport, as well as motion blur. You don't need the extra options, of which have been disabled since the first freeware version was released up to a few weeks from now. So what is the big deal and all of the gripe when a person decides to disable advanced features unless you spend approx. 100 american dollars, so he can make a living?
It is already the most intuitive 3d program out there, and personally, I don't see a problem charging 100 bucks for advanced features. When you can spend upwards of 1000 dollars for one plugin for a program like 3d studio max, should there be a big deal?
Besides, as per this program being of poor quality, play around with it for a little while, and compare it to 3d studio. I think you will find a big difference. With blender coming out ahead. As for it disappearing, Ton has promised that if Nan goes under, the source will be gpl'd immediately, and I believe he has also promised to make this proggy eventually 100% freeware.