MA3 Pre-Release chitchat - Page 6

kenmeier · 10-12-2009, 10:20 AM

It's been almost two weeks now that Nova has had this availbe to purchase but still zero from serenescreen. It seems like they don't give a dam about their mac users and I'm about to give up on them all together and forever.

DrNemoJr · 10-12-2009, 11:26 AM

Unfortunately, it doesn't appear that SereneScreen updates their site very often; the latest "news" was posted in February!

indigo222 · 10-12-2009, 07:03 PM

Originally posted by Jim Sachs:

The program changes rapidly because people keep asking for features, and I keep putting them in

Hi Jim-

Well, there's always the option of releasing the LONG awaiting 3.0 and add whatever features are important in 3.1, 3.2, and so on.

We've been waiting for a couple of years for the new Mac version that I hope will run on PPC and Intel Macs.

We hope that version 3.0 for the Mac will be out in time for the holidays (pick your holiday - Thanksgiving or Christmas?)

Duke · 10-12-2009, 07:17 PM

"We hope that version 3.0 for the Mac will be out in time for the holidays (pick your holiday - Thanksgiving or Christmas?)"

How about Columbus Day...

JimO'Connor · 10-12-2009, 08:22 PM

Indigo222,
PPC -- yes, if you have a strong video card (My 1GHz 17" PowerBook G4 doesn't get shaders, but it squeaks by otherwise)
Intel Macs -- yes, early low-end machines won't get shaders
Holiday -- I know I'll rejoice when it shows up.

glenng6 · 10-12-2009, 11:20 PM

Originally posted by JimO'Connor:

Marine Aquarium 3.0 for Mac doesn't do monitor spanning. That was something we had to prune to get done in time.

Hey Jim,

I got your email, but get a delivery failure when I reply. I would like to take you up on your offer.

Thanks, Glenn

JonathansCorner.com · 10-13-2009, 09:25 AM

What's the status? Do we have an ETA? -Jonathan

JimO'Connor · 10-13-2009, 06:09 PM

They're working on it. I'm not going to make projections, but this is getting cycles. Updating a running e-commerce site without breaking it is a pain.

JimO'Connor · 10-13-2009, 10:50 PM

It is tough to plan when there is such a long and variable dependency chain. I need Jim Sachs to get to a certain point before I can do anything (and I have to be free to do it), then after I'm done the right people at Prolific have to have time to do their thing.

A simple update to handle a compatibility fix isn't a big change to the site, so that can be done pretty quick. A new release involves a lot more steps.

BuckyBadger · 10-14-2009, 09:52 AM

Originally posted by robrob:

In the meantime, I imagine, many of your old, established, and faithful customers will get disgusted and take the attitude of, "I'll miss it, but I really don't need a stinking aquarium from a company that doesn't really care about their established customer base."

Sad to say, that has certainly become my attitude!

Adios

No kidding. I'm just tired of hearing how hard everything is going to be and how people have to be available, etc. FYI, everybody works hard and needs to make time to do work!

Just do your work and charge us for an update already. Years have gone by.

feldon34 · 10-14-2009, 10:14 AM

Originally posted by JimO'Connor:

It is tough to plan when there is such a long and variable dependency chain. I need Jim Sachs to get to a certain point before I can do anything (and I have to be free to do it), then after I'm done the right people at Prolific have to have time to do their thing.

Unless Prolific made a last-minute deal with Nova, then Prolific has known that there would need to be a MA3 SKU and MA3 UPGRADE SKU for about a month now. They do not need the final download to set that up. Once the product is in the database and the site is setup to handle orders, they can just plugin whatever DMG file you give them. I think really it could have been setup a while back as many folks would pay a pre-order.

JonathansCorner.com · 10-15-2009, 02:30 PM

Originally posted by JimO'Connor:

They're working on it. I'm not going to make projections, but this is getting cycles. Updating a running e-commerce site without breaking it is a pain.

Which is to say that your e-commerce site is a real liability and has cost you some offended customers; you are fortunate that people like your product enough to tolerate such difficulties, and in many cases honor your pleas to not buy your product from Nova.

Have you looked at other solutions? Speaking as a web developer who works in e-commerce, your website is offering you quite dubious service if you run it at this cost, and ecommerce solutions need not be so bad.

This isn't costing you so much money as reputation among customers, and that really costs worse.

-Jonathan

JimO'Connor · 10-15-2009, 02:41 PM

Hi Jonathan,

It is the publisher's job to publish. It is my job to write the Mac code. I work for them.

JimO'Connor · 10-15-2009, 02:45 PM

The main advantage for the customer of buying from SereneScreen is a 50% savings. So my plea is to their advantage, assuming that they value the money more than the time (not always a valid assumption). It is to my advantage, too. No doubt about that.

Wizwad · 10-16-2009, 05:38 AM

That's true - as long as there's a product available to make a 50% saving on. If there isn't then your point becomes moot.

Sorry Jim, not having a go at you. It's just that someone somewhere needs a kick in the ass.

Duke · 10-16-2009, 06:59 AM

The delay in adding the Mac 3.0 version to the website is starting to border on the ridiculous....

peace · 10-18-2009, 09:13 AM

Tip for everyone that is frustrated: I have a previous version of MA, but instead of waiting for it to appear on the serene screen website and use the upgrade option I decided to buy from the Nova development site using a 30% off coupon that I found online (NOVAREG30). That way the price is only $3 or so more than the upgrade price and you can get it NOW! Love the screensaver...

Duke · 10-18-2009, 10:04 AM

Great suggestion. Thanks for passing along the code.

Duke

JimO'Connor · 10-18-2009, 12:04 PM

Thanks, Peace, for telling us about a good alternative for waiting!

Ralph · 10-18-2009, 10:02 PM

Meanwhile, the dithering continues... Makes me wish I had a Mac so I could play.

10-12-2009, 07:03 PM	#103
indigo222 Registered Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: CT, USA Posts: 3	New Features etc. Originally posted by Jim Sachs: The program changes rapidly because people keep asking for features, and I keep putting them in Hi Jim- Well, there's always the option of releasing the LONG awaiting 3.0 and add whatever features are important in 3.1, 3.2, and so on. We've been waiting for a couple of years for the new Mac version that I hope will run on PPC and Intel Macs. We hope that version 3.0 for the Mac will be out in time for the holidays (pick your holiday - Thanksgiving or Christmas?)

10-12-2009, 07:17 PM	#104
Duke Registered Join Date: May 2002 Location: Tampa Bay, FL Posts: 17	"We hope that version 3.0 for the Mac will be out in time for the holidays (pick your holiday - Thanksgiving or Christmas?)" How about Columbus Day... Last edited by Duke; 10-12-2009 at 09:12 PM.

10-12-2009, 08:22 PM	#105
JimO'Connor Mac Development Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Kenai, Alaska Posts: 678	Indigo222, PPC -- yes, if you have a strong video card (My 1GHz 17" PowerBook G4 doesn't get shaders, but it squeaks by otherwise) Intel Macs -- yes, early low-end machines won't get shaders Holiday -- I know I'll rejoice when it shows up. Jim O'Connor Order N Development

10-13-2009, 09:25 AM	#107
JonathansCorner.com Registered Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 7	Status? What's the status? Do we have an ETA? -Jonathan

10-13-2009, 06:09 PM	#108
JimO'Connor Mac Development Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Kenai, Alaska Posts: 678	They're working on it. I'm not going to make projections, but this is getting cycles. Updating a running e-commerce site without breaking it is a pain. Jim O'Connor Order N Development

10-12-2009, 10:20 AM	#101
kenmeier Registered Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 6	It's been almost two weeks now that Nova has had this availbe to purchase but still zero from serenescreen. It seems like they don't give a dam about their mac users and I'm about to give up on them all together and forever.

10-12-2009, 11:26 AM	#102
DrNemoJr Registered Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 4	Unfortunately, it doesn't appear that SereneScreen updates their site very often; the latest "news" was posted in February!

10-12-2009, 11:20 PM	#106
glenng6 Registered Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 4	Originally posted by JimO'Connor: Marine Aquarium 3.0 for Mac doesn't do monitor spanning. That was something we had to prune to get done in time. Hey Jim, I got your email, but get a delivery failure when I reply. I would like to take you up on your offer. Thanks, Glenn

10-13-2009, 10:50 PM	#109
JimO'Connor Mac Development Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Kenai, Alaska Posts: 678	It is tough to plan when there is such a long and variable dependency chain. I need Jim Sachs to get to a certain point before I can do anything (and I have to be free to do it), then after I'm done the right people at Prolific have to have time to do their thing. A simple update to handle a compatibility fix isn't a big change to the site, so that can be done pretty quick. A new release involves a lot more steps. Jim O'Connor Order N Development

10-14-2009, 09:52 AM	#110
BuckyBadger Registered Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 7	Originally posted by robrob: In the meantime, I imagine, many of your old, established, and faithful customers will get disgusted and take the attitude of, "I'll miss it, but I really don't need a stinking aquarium from a company that doesn't really care about their established customer base." Sad to say, that has certainly become my attitude! Adios No kidding. I'm just tired of hearing how hard everything is going to be and how people have to be available, etc. FYI, everybody works hard and needs to make time to do work! Just do your work and charge us for an update already. Years have gone by.

10-14-2009, 10:14 AM	#111
feldon34 Forum Administrator Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 10,939	Originally posted by JimO'Connor: It is tough to plan when there is such a long and variable dependency chain. I need Jim Sachs to get to a certain point before I can do anything (and I have to be free to do it), then after I'm done the right people at Prolific have to have time to do their thing. Unless Prolific made a last-minute deal with Nova, then Prolific has known that there would need to be a MA3 SKU and MA3 UPGRADE SKU for about a month now. They do not need the final download to set that up. Once the product is in the database and the site is setup to handle orders, they can just plugin whatever DMG file you give them. I think really it could have been setup a while back as many folks would pay a pre-order. "Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed. Everything else is public relations." - George Orwell "If voting changed anything, they'd make it illegal." - Emma Goldman

10-15-2009, 02:30 PM	#112
JonathansCorner.com Registered Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 7	Originally posted by JimO'Connor: They're working on it. I'm not going to make projections, but this is getting cycles. Updating a running e-commerce site without breaking it is a pain. Which is to say that your e-commerce site is a real liability and has cost you some offended customers; you are fortunate that people like your product enough to tolerate such difficulties, and in many cases honor your pleas to not buy your product from Nova. Have you looked at other solutions? Speaking as a web developer who works in e-commerce, your website is offering you quite dubious service if you run it at this cost, and ecommerce solutions need not be so bad. This isn't costing you so much money as reputation among customers, and that really costs worse. -Jonathan

10-15-2009, 02:41 PM	#113
JimO'Connor Mac Development Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Kenai, Alaska Posts: 678	Hi Jonathan, It is the publisher's job to publish. It is my job to write the Mac code. I work for them. Jim O'Connor Order N Development

10-15-2009, 02:45 PM	#114
JimO'Connor Mac Development Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Kenai, Alaska Posts: 678	The main advantage for the customer of buying from SereneScreen is a 50% savings. So my plea is to their advantage, assuming that they value the money more than the time (not always a valid assumption). It is to my advantage, too. No doubt about that. Jim O'Connor Order N Development

10-16-2009, 05:38 AM	#115
Wizwad Only me... Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Essex, England Posts: 2,584	That's true - as long as there's a product available to make a 50% saving on. If there isn't then your point becomes moot. Sorry Jim, not having a go at you. It's just that someone somewhere needs a kick in the ass. Mark ----------- Intel i7 12700K \| Aorus Z690 Pro \| Corsair DDR5 5600 32GB \| Asus Dual RTX3060ti 6GB v2 Mini OC \| Corsair RM850 Gold PSU \| 1TB NVMe M.2 WD Black SN850 \| 4TB Seagate BarraCuda HDD \| Corsair Airflow 5000D Case \| HP 32QHD 4K Monitor \| Windows 11 x64 Professional

10-16-2009, 06:59 AM	#116
Duke Registered Join Date: May 2002 Location: Tampa Bay, FL Posts: 17	How much longer? The delay in adding the Mac 3.0 version to the website is starting to border on the ridiculous....

10-18-2009, 09:13 AM	#117
peace Registered Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 1	Tip for everyone that is frustrated: I have a previous version of MA, but instead of waiting for it to appear on the serene screen website and use the upgrade option I decided to buy from the Nova development site using a 30% off coupon that I found online (NOVAREG30). That way the price is only $3 or so more than the upgrade price and you can get it NOW! Love the screensaver...

10-18-2009, 10:04 AM	#118
Duke Registered Join Date: May 2002 Location: Tampa Bay, FL Posts: 17	Great suggestion. Thanks for passing along the code. Duke Last edited by Duke; 10-18-2009 at 10:24 PM.

10-18-2009, 12:04 PM	#119
JimO'Connor Mac Development Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Kenai, Alaska Posts: 678	Thanks, Peace, for telling us about a good alternative for waiting! Jim O'Connor Order N Development

10-18-2009, 10:02 PM	#120
Ralph Retired Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Edmonton Alberta Ca Posts: 2,443	Meanwhile, the dithering continues... Makes me wish I had a Mac so I could play.