XX5 - Woooo! Another Let Down

[handrawn]

post #42 Paul

post #45 Odat

well said both

I remember professional animators who said similar sorts of things of Flash tweening, that some here say of XWD -and look where Flash is now

And the point about what has to be done re-coding etc is very pertinent

[Boy]

I hope that's helpful

Your words clarify the rather heated debate about Xtreme's core functions (vector drawing) and its newer capabilities (bitmap editing and web site authoring) and their respective proponents. I start to understand the anger and frustration of the former who feel that the drawing functionality in Xtreme is seriously neglegted in favor of newer tools that they don't take very seriously/don't need in Xtreme.

Clearly, Xtreme is being developed in the direction of a Swiss army knife, by adding all sorts of smart functionality for professionals (and amateurs) active in various design areas and is, therefore, no longer a specialist's tool (much to the anger of the specialists).

[pauland]

Boy - spot on.

[w00dy]

Evolve and survive!

[JokeArtist]

Clearly, Xtreme is being developed in the direction of a Swiss army knife, by adding all sorts of smart functionality for professionals (and amateurs).

That's a really good metaphor I like it. I remember as a kid having a swiss army knife and there was something on there for taking a stone out of a horses hoof, a little saw, a pair of tweazers, scissors, etc. etc.

But at the end of the day you get the knife because ... erm ... it's a knife. The other stuff is fun but you hardly ever use it because there are better tools for the job or as a boy you never have need to use them, see implement for taking stone out of horses hoof. It just looks cool to have swiss army knife, look what I can have!

For the last 4 / 5 years the blade had been looking more and more dull /blunt - i.e. main function of Xara Xtreme in the first place. And the knife sharpener is no where to be seen.

[tonylondon]

Good point. Another word that one might apply is bloatware!

Tony

[pauland]

I'm rather bemused that Xara went to the trouble of developing XWD then replicates that functionality in Xtreme. I thought they'd decided to have programs that targetted the usage of the product and could make XWD the easy web design program and leave Xtreme as the designers tool. If Adobe had followed this path Photoshop and Illustrator would also include Dreamweaver. I'm rather dissappointed they've chosen this route and now XWD has become Xtreme Lite, or more realistically Xtreme is now XWD Plus. I guess for Xtreme owners with XWD it's a question of paying twice over for the equivalent functionality (XWD has already more than paid for itself, before this Xtreme release).

When using XWD I liked the fact I could do things in Xtreme and move stuff to XWD with ease and I think this is the model that Xara could have followed and left XWD as a web specialist tool, but have Xtreme as a design tool with great interoperability - then you would have dual revenue streams (will Xtreme owners continue to upgrade XWD at the next cycle?).

A nice touch would have been to have XWD detect that Xtreme is installed and add Xtreme's extra functionality to XWD - that would satisfy all-comers. Those that wanted web publishing only could buy XWD and get a web design tool. Those that wanted a design tool without web bells and whistles could use Xtreme and those that wanted extended web design capability could buy both and have XWD enhanced.

I can't say that I like this "buy XWD for the web, upgrade Xtreme for more of the same plus a bit more" tack.

[Boy]

But at the end of the day you get the knife because ... erm ... it's a knife. The other stuff is fun but you hardly ever use it because there are better tools for the job or as a boy you never have need to use them, see implement for taking stone out of horses hoof. It just looks cool to have swiss army knife, look what I can have!

Yes, I remember similar childhood experiences. However, the Swiss army knife is really used by the Swiss army: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swiss_Army_knife. An essential tool to them, I imagine, if only being able to open their cans and bottles in the field.

I agree with you that the knife (i.e., the core function) needs continued sharpening.

[ankhor]

I guess for Xtreme owners with XWD it's a question of paying twice over for the equivalent functionality (XWD has already more than paid for itself, before this Xtreme release).

Let me see, I bought Pro because it had flash capabilities.
The next version that flash capability was also in Xtreme.
I bought XWD5 and now I see the capability, and even more
capability, is in XX5(pro).
Am I happy about this? No.

But you get an extra discount if you have XXPro4+XWD5
But I think that also means I can`t give away XWD5 to
anyone. So I have to let go of that discount and just
give my nephew the extra XWD5 and xara3D6 (which I have 2 of now)

[Boy]

I'm rather bemused that Xara went to the trouble of developing XWD then replicates that functionality in Xtreme.

I was very surprised when it was announced that Xtreme now contains XWD's functionality. A more modular approach, as you describe in your post, would have made more sense, both from marketing and user points of view: more revenues for Xara and more flexibility for the user.

I have come to really like XWD and now I am told that I can junk it (I also own XX4) if I want to move forward. That hurts a bit. Yes, there is some convenience in having all tools together in one app, but I had the same experience as you had: there was a certain charm in moving stuff from XWD to XX4 and back on those occasions that I needed to. Not everything was fully compatible/portable, but I imagined that would be rectified in future updates.

The biggest problem I have with XWD being joined with XX5, however, is the following: ever since the release of XWD I have been looking forward to updates to iron out wrinkles and upgrades to add new/improve functionality. But with the release of XX5 such hopes are pretty much gone (especially concerning the latter), because we'll have to wait for another year for a new release.

Or else XWD is upgraded before then and XX5 users feel left out. Or both are upgraded and people get upset because of having to upgrade (pay) too often or because they don't want to spend money on improved tools they don't need.

In my view XX5 should have been made more compatible with XWD but not include its tool set, unless through a mode of interoperability that you mention. And XWD should have been reinforced with additional Xtreme features (such as the bevel and contour tools).

There are other issues, such as the great difference in price between XX5 and XX5 Pro that those who primarily use Xtreme for web design will have to pay just to be able to have maximum use of the new Objects Gallery.

As far as I know, Xara did not poll preferences among its various client pools. It somehow doesn't add all up. Perhaps Xara employees or insiders have a more nuanced view of the recent developments