PAGCarr@AOL.COM on mon 23 apr 01
I would first like to thank Tony Hansen for responding immediately, and Ian
Macmillan for his suggestions. I apologize for not getting back to you
sooner, Ian and Cindy, but I was at an Ian Currie workshop when your postings
came out. Ian presented me with an entirely new outlook toward glaze
development ... now I know how to go after the surface(s) that I see in my
minds eye ... but that is another topic. It has taken me quite a while to
work through this, but I believe that I have it solved.
Ian, I quite agree that it is far superior to run a software program native
to your hardware and operating system. I am waiting for the Mac version of
Insight. However, for those of us who have lately purchased the Virtual PC
4.0 emulator, and who have the personalities of terriers ... we would prefer
to work with Mac programs, but where unavailable, we would like to be able to
use the PC programs on the emulator. We paid for it, and would like it to
work, no matter how slowly. The funny thing about computers and software is
that if we do not have identical (or nearly so) systems, we are not talking
the same language.
>I have been using Insight for PC for some time on my iMac with system
>9.04 using VPC v 3. It was important to download from within Insight
>and it installed correctly, runs and prints. I used IE from VPC for
>the download.
>
>Ian Macmillan
My system is not an iMac (no USB peripherals, but SCSI connections, i.e.,
printers), but a G3/233 MHz PowerBook, my operating system is 8.6 with 160
RAM (physical), my emulator is Virtual PC v. 4.0 with Windows 98, and my
printer is an inkjet printer (the oldie but goodie, StyleWriter). So for
anyone with Ian's profile who is having problems, please contact him, because
I cannot help you. However, for those with my profile, like Gail and Will,
this update may help you.
Tony, you will be glad to know that the problems are not with your software,
or even how you download it, but with Virtual PC 4.0:
For those using OS 8.5, I would upgrade to OS8.6 (free) and make certain that
you have at least 128 mB RAM. When you set up your Windows program use 80 mB
rather than the 64 mB default. There are some new updates to VPC 4.0 (4.01
and 4.02) that seemed to solve the "Object variable not set" problem
(translation: I am able to launch the PC Insight Demo, and it seems to be
working well!!! Matrix has always worked). These updates are also free, and
can be downloaded from the Connectix.com website. Printing from Windows 98
is another issue. The Connectix development researchers are aware of the
problem, and they are working on it. I was told that we should continue to
monitor the website for additional updates. Because I would like to print, I
am trying to save recipes to a shared file (shared between Windows and Mac).
I will then try to print it from the Mac side. I don't know how successful
this will be, but will keep anyone who is interested posted. If you find a
way to print the glaze calculation information from Windows to Mac, and your
system looks like mine, I would love to hear from you.
In conclusion, this version of the emulation software was/is defective. If I
knew than what I know now, I would have purchased VPC 3.0 or just used
programs written for the Mac. For all the time I have spent on it, I could
have solved the Seger formulas by hand, and worked full days in my studio! I
did say that I was tenacious!!! So back to you, Ian: I too prefer the Mac
programs on my Mac computer. Thanks for your help and suggestions ... you
pushed me in the right direction. Making the glazes should be the hard part!
I am looking forward to clay under my fingernails!!!
I hope that this helps you, Will. Let me know.
My best,
Paulette Carr
St. Louis
pagcarr@aol.com
Gail Dapogny on mon 23 apr 01
Thanks, Paulette. Your description has moved me a step closer to
downloading Virtual PC 4 (I do have 8.6 OS), after which I will send to
Tony for the Mac version of Insight, and hope that he gets the new Mac
version working soon! I've been really chicken, and have therefore managed
to find convenient ways to put it all off! Out of sight and definitely out
of mind. Your terrier-like courage has inspired me!
---Gail-
>I would first like to thank Tony Hansen for responding immediately, and Ian
>Macmillan for his suggestions. However, for those with my profile, like
>Gail and Will, this update may help you.
PAGCarr@AOL.COM on tue 24 apr 01
Gail,
If you are going to use the Mac version of Insight, then you do not need
Virtual PC4.0. Ian Macmillan has assured me that the Mac version,
(prototype) on the DigitalFire website, actually works quite well. He
doesn't even use VPC anymore. You should download the Mac version, and give
it a try.
If, however, you want to use another program that is written only for, or
best for PC, then you might want to use Virtual PC 4.0. I have only tried
one other glaze calculation program (Matrix) on Virtual PC4 for Windows 98,
and (other than the printing issue) it works very well. As I said earlier,
VPC4 is defective (glitches, conflicts and functions that do not work well,
or at all), and difficult to use for those of us who have had the luxury of
the seamless Mac OS. For one, you have to know how to use both operating
systems (Windows and OS) which is time consuming to learn, as well as the VPC
software (another time-eater). Unless you have a really compelling reason,
stick with Mac programs, and forget VPC. Since Tony said that the Mac
version of Insight (with the same features as the PC version) is nearing
release, and the prototype is currently available, and HyperGlaze is
specifically written for the Mac, why bother with VPC4!!! In the end, the
glaze calculation software is a tool for me, not an end in itself. My advise
to you is keep the VPC in the box.
Good luck!
Paulette
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