hmmpf....
why do people place more time and energy on labels than they do on what's beneath the label?
Oh well, nevemind...whatever.

Because marketing sells products, not engineering.

I think you're on to something Dylan. Doesn't that mean that anyone with half a brain should look below the marketing before they shoot their mouth off.

<<<-- Originally posted by John Threat : vegas video sounds like a toy or a tool geared for porn producers -->>>

That's one of my favorite reasons for using Vegas+DVD !

"Doesn't that mean that anyone with half a brain should look below the marketing before they shoot their mouth off."

OK. Bottom line is SoFo's bottom line bled red because their marketing guys didn't have a clue. Their software developers came up with some of the best products in the industry and their sales numbers decreased in real terms over the last three years. Engineering matters. Marketing matters. Distribution matters. Every part of doing business matters, when you come down to it.

I ignored Vegas for at least six months because I didn't take it seriously. Call me stupid if you want, but I have better things to do than spend my money on software that sounded like a bad joke. Finally I got the word on Vegas, more in spite of SoFo than because of it.

If SoFo had been anything less than a trainwreck at selling their excellent software, we wouldn't be having this discussion.

<<<-- Originally posted by Bill Ravens : I think you're on to something Dylan. Doesn't that mean that anyone with half a brain should look below the marketing before they shoot their mouth off. -->>>

Yes, but that's not the problem. Most people looking for an NLE have never heard of Vegas Video. I talk to alot of indie film/video people here. They look at me like I'm a newb when I say I edit on Vegas because they haven't heard of it, because SoFo doesn't market it very well (if at all).

It doesn't matter how good your product is if you can't sell it.

Does anyone remember what Final Cut Pro was originally named when Apple bought it from Macromedia a few years ago? <g>

I am a long term Vegas user and certainly do like the product above the others I have tried. Having said that, I am beginning to think that wasting time worrying about what Sony does is really a waste of time. Simply put, if Sony were to throw Vegas on the scrap heap it really wouldn't affect my professional career. I would merely chose another NLE and learn to live with it. I am one of the few former Premiere user who really did like aspects of the software. I have used Avid and could learn to live with that. What I am saying is that life goes on and tools will be created and will disappear---what remains constant is our love for video and editing.

>>How do you know that Matsushita manufactures Denon home theater products? I am sure that Denon is using components and assemblies from other companies, including Matsushita's; I think that the relationship ends there. <<

Panasonic owns Denon, Matsushita owns Panasonic. As far as what components they use, I am merely saying that Denon is considered one of the better Home theater brands. They have their own engineering people, just like Pana and JVC. In fact Denon is using tech developed by several well regared US based audio/video chip vendors. They also make one of the best (and expensive) all format DVD players you can currently purchase.
My point was about Sony not being the only quality brand around. Nothing more.

<<<-- Originally posted by Ken Tanaka : Does anyone remember what Final Cut Pro was originally named when Apple bought it from Macromedia a few years ago? <g> -->>>

No, what was it?

I don't recall, either. Just as few will recall the "Vegas Video" name if Sony chooses to rebrand it. It will suddenly seeem like a new product.

Joe Carney: Panasonic owns Denon, Matsushita owns Panasonic.

Matsushita sells products as Panasonic, Quasar, in the US; in some countries as National. They own over 50% of JVC. Denon is an independent company.

Denon is owned by D & M Holdings. They operate Denon and Marantz as wholly owned subsidiaries.

Isn't Marantz owned by Philips now?

The latest financials I found were as of 3/31/2003 and at that time D & M Holdings owned Marantz. They reported a little over a billion Yen profit in the first quarter. If Phillips owns Marantz it was sold in the last 45 days.

I guess I'm out of date. Pana used to own Denon at least thats what all the audiophiles told me awhile ago. glad to know they are not, makes them seem even better.

Joseph, Philips owns about 15% of D & M Holdings. However, they are not the largest shareholder, nor control day to day operations. They got the 15% of the stock when they sold Marantz last year. The sale involved stock swaps, cash etc. and Philips received 15% of D & M for their 49% ownership (stock) in Marantz.