Thank you and good bye! I'm no longer Xara's target audience.

**JokeArtist** · 15 June 2009, 11:39 AM

Originally Posted by Daniel

... my credit card is waiting, I know JokeArtist's is too, and suspect that there are plenty others as well.

Damn right ... I've not upgraded since 3.2 but I've put my hand in my pocket for Illustrator CS4 ... just to have a play with it. When you're a professional design then $600 is the earth to get new tools to do your job better when it equates to a couple of days work.

**Xcellent** · 16 June 2009, 12:04 AM

Originally Posted by JokeArtist

Damn right ... I've not upgraded since 3.2 but I've put my hand in my pocket for Illustrator CS4 ... just to have a play with it. When you're a professional design then $600 is the earth to get new tools to do your job better when it equates to a couple of days work.

+1

I have upgraded to each new Xara version so far.

If Xara's price would go up to $599 with vector tool enhancements (...) - I would still buy it.

BTW, Adobe Master Collection CS4 cost USD$2500 for 14(!) tools (including Illustrator, Indesign, Dreamweaver, Photoshop, Acrobat and much more).
That is USD$178 per application.

**covoxer** · 16 June 2009, 05:55 AM

Originally Posted by Xcellent

If Xara's price would go up to $599 with vector tool enhancements (...) - I would still buy it.

Yes. And JA probably too. But, about 95% of others would not. Thus, to compensate the losses the price should actually go to something more like $5000. And in this case I doubt anyone would buy it. So, generally speaking, if we raise the price even adding whatever new features, we would be in a big trouble.

**Xcellent** · 16 June 2009, 06:10 AM

From what I see, no one could tell what would really happen if Xara comes up with a new Vector Xtreme tool that is particulary designed for Vector Art for Professionals (meaning: Users who make their income by using Graphic Software only). The only 'NEW' thing could be vector enhancements and tools but based on X5.

Professionals would have to buy it for the reason to be a time saver to finish their work, same as current users are using multiple software to achieve their goals.

Example: VectorMagic is an extreme niche product for a niche market, only good for one task and the price is ridiculous at first glance - but if you want results that work and the time you save - you get the money back with the first job you do by using it and saving yourself hours of fiddling with parameters and settings.

**JokeArtist** · 16 June 2009, 06:58 AM

Originally Posted by Xcellent

Example: VectorMagic is an extreme niche product for a niche market, only good for one task and the price is ridiculous at first glance - but if you want results that work and the time you save - you get the money back with the first job you do by using it and saving yourself hours of fiddling with parameters and settings.

Or to put it another way ... Xara Xtreme has never had proper vector trace or professional quality node editting. Which is a pitty for something that has a kick ass vector engine. It's akin to putting a Ferrari engine in a formula one into an un-aerodynamic body ... oh wait a minute (F1 reference ... lol)

**handrawn** · 16 June 2009, 07:39 AM

Is that a reference to the bitmap tracer? - for the time at which it was implemented, that was a good tool

Can't comment on the 'professional' node editing, as I don't do a great deal of that

To me a professional is some one who gets the job done - to spec, on time, preferably in budget, and consistently over time.
Its not a question of which tools they use, or even if they get paid, though most do [sorry if that offends any snobs there may be around here]

**JokeArtist** · 16 June 2009, 10:30 AM

Originally Posted by handrawn

Can't comment on the 'professional' node editing, as I don't do a great deal of that

To me a professional is some one who gets the job done - to spec, on time, preferably in budget, and consistently over time.

Interesting point ... but for example you design a logo and it looks good enough for screen / web, and even good enough to print of statationery, but say that client wants a massive sign printed of said logo. If all the nodes are not smooth / nice / right because you can't get it perfect then you'll spot the mistakes because Xara's node editting is not perfect. That is to say you can't do things like symmetrical nodes, etc. So the only chance you have to get some things right is doing them by eye - which is not a perfect situation by any stretch of the imagination.

That what I call professional design ... I think you're mixing up professional business like manner with professional design ... there's a wealth of difference. And I'm sure lots of forums out there that cater to the cravat of talking about being professional in a business sense