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Date: Sat, 22 Jul 1995 16:23:44 -0400 (EDT)
From: "J. David Johnson" <[e-mail]>
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Subject: Re: FOR SALE FLYER/TOASTER
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On Sat, 22 Jul 1995 [e-mail] wrote:

> TOASTER/FLYER FOR SALE
> VIDEO FLYER
> FLYER SOFTWARE 4.04B
> (2) 2- GIG IBM NEW TEK APPROVED DRIVES
> VIDEO TOASTER


Well, it looks as if the revolt has begun.  This is one of a few Flyer
Systems for sale I've seen to date, but exepect more to come.

I have a Flyer System, and am almost ready to give up.  I've read
countless messages regarding Flyer's not performing, stuttering video,
backups not responding, etc. and have experienced many of these myself.

Last I talked to Newtek Tech Support, there is only ONE drive that
currently does not stutter (at least occasionally) - the Quantum 2 GIG -
which based on the Flyers need for 6 megs per minute is practically useless.

They say that the Seagates which I bought (AND HAVE THE DAMN NEWTEK
APPROVED STICKERS ON) have a thermal recalibration problem.  And that
they are 'negotiating' to instate a no cost firmware upgrade policy.

They also told me that Segate didn't believe them, saying that there was
no thermal recal problem.  What this hints to me is that Newtek has found
a major requirement of thier VTASC coding (burst data speed) and that
when data drops to an acceptable level, the HD's recalibrate only to be
caught with it's drawers down cause the Flyer says I need 6 megs per
minute ( a nanosecond ago!)


Meanwhile, I paid $2800 for drives that are now $1400!!! AND they don't
work - not now not then!!!  I lost $2800 for their special pre-order $500
discount.  Add to that revenue lost from the past six months. (I'm only
counting from the day I got it, not the 13 months since I ordered it.)

Bottom line is this...  Newtek should change codecs and go with JPeg or
some other compression scheme until harddrive technology reaches an
acceptable level for VTASC.  We've all been put on hold while they
"hoped" the drives would be there when they shipped the Flyer.

They are not.  I'm not talking about buggy software... I'm talking about
incompatible hardware, and technology that isn't available.  That's why
Seagate is having their doubts... (Look our drives work great with
Perception boards, AVID systems and various other high resolution
digitizing systems... and you want us to specially develope a product for
YOUR board AND give it away free to existing customers?)


I'm really hot right now If you can tell!  It comes after calling Newtek
Tech Support asking why my Python 4 gig umcompressed drive is seen by the
card, but just keeps telling me to put in a new tape.  "Gee, I dunno, I
suppose your drive isn't compatible with the Flyer"  Then when asked
about audio drive being accessed when no audio is being played resulting
in a stutter.  "Gee, maybe you need a bigger audio drive or maybe it's
not compatible with the Flyer (after being told that any SCSI or SCSI2
drive would be fine and that a half-gig would be more than sufficient.)

I'm gonna hang on a little longer in hopes they can pull it off soon.
But I'll tell you, a good corporate lawyer would have no trouble in a
group consumer lawsuit against Newtek.  I've seen plenty of people here
and on the Newtek board as well as other I personally know with the Flyer
that would be interested in joining such a suit.


I don't want to see Newtek sued or go under at all, on the contrary I
believe that the Flyer's INTENDED operation is revolutionary and someday
will be a sight indeed.  And sore eyes will surely be watching

But Newtek has $3500 of my money.  And has caused me to pay out at least
another $5,800 in harddrives that don't work.  And most importantly has
put my business on hold.  Before anyone flames me, let me point out that
some people have linear based systems that they can fall back on till
technology allows the Flyer to "get off the ground".

I do not have this luxury.  13 noths ago I read an advertisement that
said -

      "Introducing D2-quality, Non-linear editing for under $4,000.
          What will we think of next?"

   Other excerpts:  "Now the world's first all-in-one, broadcast quality,
desktop-video production studio can be turned into a sophisticated
editing suite.  Fact is, Video Toaster 4000 combined with Video Toaster
Flyer delivers the same high-end editing capability you'd expect from a
$50,000 digital deck."


Upon reading this I opted to buy the Flyer instead of an S-VHS or Hi-8 A/B
roll editing system. I wish now I had bought the linear system, I could
have made enough money to pay for the linear decks AND buy a Flyer system
next year when it works.


Oh, I just saw Newtek's buffer:  "Features, specifications, and prices
subject to change without notice."


Yeah, like it won't work at all, compatible drives do not exist, and
delivery dates may need a year or two added to them.


Like I said, I'm waiting a while, but I just sent for a free demo tape of
the Perception's video editing capabilities with Razor or Adobe Premier.

I will not be caught without an option...


J. David - Video GT (someday to actually begin business)

(Oh, I did manage to get a 6 minute marketing tape done, fortunately it
was a 5 mini segment tape that faded to black between segments.  Thank
god for my state of the art Sony Control-L editor that allowed me to go
down a Hi-8 generation with my camera and cuts edit the mini-segments
together! - Then down another generation to customer copy VHS.

And now I can't back it up on my SCSI2 compliant 4 gig backup I paid $800
for cause they said any SCSI2 compliant tape backup should work.

Gee, I wonder if my next client will like all those fade to blacks in
their marketing tape?

Fade - to - Bllllll-aaaa- Bllllll (stutter - stutter) ack.
--
"J. David Johnson" <[e-mail]> posted this message.
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