Pre-Purchase Questions about VSP X3

[Oatmeal]

Hello everyone. I'm a longtime PaintShop Pro fan and I think I'm interested in VideoStudio Pro X3. But even after some research I have some questions:
1) When do you think VideoStudio Pro X4 is coming out? I see it mentioned on Corel's site that it is due in 2011. Will be a January launch like X3? Only asking because I have this Corel coupon and want to weight my options of picking up one deal now ($50 less coupon) or waiting to see if there's a new version or better deal coming.
2) Do you have any idea about Corel's policy on handing out upgrades to recent purchasers? Some companies will offer recent customers a free upgrade if they purchased within the last 30 or 60 days.
3) I see some people complaining that X3 forces Windows 7 into Basic Colour mode. Does that happen to everyone or only under certain conditions?

Thanks
Rick

[Ron P.]

Welcome to the forums Rick..

1. There's no way of knowing when Corel will release the next version. I do know from past experience as a Beta tester for them, that an NDA (non-disclosure agreement) must be signed. That means that no information can be released about a product until Corel authorizes the release, and at those times, they will provide the specific wording of what can be released.

2. The only real policy is a 30-day money back guarantee. Now stop and think that is after you have had 30 days of trial, and purchased it. So in essence you will have 60 days working with the program to see if it works for you.

Just like Paintshop Pro, they have upgrade pricing discounts. So if you own an earlier version you qualify for the discounted upgrade. As far as free upgrades that's something I'm not aware of for Corel products. You would need to contact Corel at the time about that.

3. Don't use Win7, so I'm not able to comment on this issue..

[Black Lab]

As you may or may not be aware, this forum is a user-to-user forum, staffed mainly by users, although a very few Corel employees do visit. Even if someone did know of a release date they would surely be bound by a confidentiality agreement.

When VideoStudio was made by Ulead they used to have offer free upgrade if your purchase was within 30 days. I don't know Corel's policy. However, Corel does have a 30 day money back guarantee. So it really is sort of the same thing. If you purchase X3, and 25 days later X4 comes out, you could request a refund for your X3 and then purchase the new version.

And finally, your Windows 7 question. Sorry, still using XP on my editing computer.

[Black Lab]

And no, I didn't peak over Ron's shoulder and copy down his answers.

[Oatmeal]

Thanks for the reply. I realize it's a user-to-user forum and was just wondering if anyone had heard any news that I haven't stumbled upon yet.

Hopefully someone can confirm that the Colour Mode quirk is fixed... or that the quirk was caused by other software and not by VideoStudio Pro X3.

[Ken Berry]

Re the Win 7 question, I have used it since its first beta release, and now have it on three of my computers. I had never heard of any colour "quirk" and certainly have never experienced it. X3 works under Win 7 in full mode. It has never even given the faintest hint of forcing Win 7 (or Vista, for that matter) into basic mode...

[Oatmeal]

Thanks Ken. I installed the demo and it didn't kick into the basic mode. I saw that problem somewhere on this board and it had me concerned.

I got CUDA working so there's another concern erased. Now to get down to editing some AVCHD files.

p.s. if anyone is interested you can download a fully licenced copy of mediAvatar HD Video Converter at GiveawayOfTheDay.com until 2am EST.