I feel that the new UI is a step in the right direction but it is still lacking. Sitting beside FCP, Premiere Pro, XpressPro... I'll stop there. VEGAS still looks like it has amatuer Graphics guys. All the other companies UI's look like they have top notch designers. VEGAS still has that 'Amatuer' look. Perception is BIG in the business and I don't feel that this effort by Sony is at all comendable. Maybe a pat on the back for the changes, but please don't stop designing. The UI still needs work guys.

Some of us like the Futuristic look while others prefer a Classic look. Do you think it would be possible to cater to both? The changes are not only within the Icons. What about the space which surrounds the icons? Give it some texture. Give it some life.

How, exactly, would a textured background make Vegas look more professional? You could put tailfins and a metric tonne of chrome on a Yugo, but it would still be a Yugo.

Vegas 5 looks as professional as any Adobe app in my arsenal, if not more so. In particular, Adobe's dialog boxes and palettes are drab at best, and (likely due to their Mac heritage) shortcut menus are woefully underpowered. All the tools you need are there, and then some, but it's a lot harder to figure out what you need for any given situation.

The bottom line is that Vegas has the gentlest learning curve and most efficient workflow of any NLE I've used. But if you're already used to the way Premiere or Avid works, there's no question that Vegas will be quite a leap.

Here's a suggestion: 'cheesehole' has posted screenshots demonstrating a clearly professional layout in Vegas 5. Obviously you and one or two other posters have a different idea of what appears "professional." Have you got any screenshots to post, so we have a better idea where you're coming from?

Sort of. Just with the menus at top.

I was playing with this layout yesterday because if you float the preview window and then doubleclick on it's titlebar the window needs somewhere to expand to. It's better off at the top in this scenario.

What I'd really like is for the screenshot tools to always grab at full/best. It means the window just needs to switch from 360x240/preview for a second while it grabs the still. There are some awkward things about the preview window but it does a few new things in V5 that are steps forward.

Rob Mack

Because you always look at the top of the app to find the menus?

That seems like a pretty good reason. I just think that they only got 80% there.

Rob Mack

THAT is a great idea. Maybe we should have an area to post people's fanciful Vegas GUIs.

Love it, love it, love it. Maybe Chienworks Site?

You know if Vegas were skinable then a few people would start doing it and posting the skins. It's a drain on the Sony guys but maybe there's aready something out there that'll skin individual apps.

Personally, I think people are being HUGE whiners about the GUI but there's so MUCH whining that I think the Sony folks will have to act and change the look of the entire product line.

Rob Mack

Okay, so now that I've downloaded and had a little hands on, I rescind my previous comments. For me, my fears were ill founded. So far no real issues or complaints. I run WIN XP Pro but run in " Windows Classic style ", perhaps that's why it doesn't look to funky to me. Don't hate the new icons, never minded the old ones. Overall I'm giddy as a school girl and happy to say I was wrong.

- Ray

www.undergroundplanet.com

Adobe has Bad @$$ software which is made specifically for doing graphic work. They have Photoshop/Illustrator 'Masters' working at their facilities. They will always be a leader in the looks department. Even down to their splash screen. PremierePro looks HOT! So does FCP! Then there's VEGAS... It looks like something a child should be playing with. Especially with the weird colored icons. If any of you have the chance, take a look at SONAR XL 3. It has numerous color schemes that you can assign. There should be a pimped out VEGAS look/skin for those of us that like the modern/futuristic look and a classic for those of you that like a more subdued look. This is a good idea because in long editing sessions I sometimes like to change or refresh the look of my UI. I feel that it is a little easier on the eyes to swap it up every now and again. Looking at a displeasing UI for 8-10 hours a day wears on you.

If this places me in the anal boat because I'm dissapointed in the UI... so be it. I like a more modern look and when I'm editing and swapping projects and ideas with others, I go in and out of a lot of different studios. You guys know the NLE's that are out and you know what they look like. We all have our opinion as to where the VEGAS UI stands. It's just that for me... the VEGAS UI makes it look like a toy. With all of its impressive features and after winning NLE of the year, I was just expecting a more impressive physical change. All other NLE's went PRO with their latest releases. Why did VEGAS choose not too? Or are they looking to be the leader in a 'Not So Pro' NLE world and let the others leave them behind? But whatevers... I'm gonna keep dating her despite her face. She's got a cool personality and I like that more.