I've seen some pretty silly topics in the forum. Started a few myself. ;-)

Some don't like the name Vegas. Before that some didn't like 'Vegas Video' and implied they either wouldn't buy it because of that or that they would hide the product from clients because it didn't sound "professional". Still others wanted to know how to remove/hide the splash screen. I guess then they could use it. Some have in the past complained about new logo, others the color at the top of this forum, and one guy threatened to stop posting if they didn't immediately change the appearance of the forum. Good golly, how silly can you get?

I don't care what they call Vegas, what if any the parent company is or what other lines of business they are in or what their logo looks like who designs their web site, blah, blah, blah.

While it is true corporations spent a good deal of time and money of picking names for products, designing logos and recently web sites, that has NOTHING to do with me as a consumer buying or not buying the proudct. I would have bought Vegas if it was simply called "X" and came in brown paper bag. I use Vegas for ONE REASON. Its the BEST PRODUCT for what I do.

End of story.

JM and BB, he was simply making an observation and voicing an opinion. No biggie. The subject clearly stated, "OT, off topic" and has nothing to do with editing and/or Vegas directly. He, as will many, perfer one logo over an other.

I've always been partial to "Looney Tunes." :D

And I made an observation of the sillness of what some people get upset over.

"While it is true corporations spent a good deal of time and money of picking names for products, designing logos and recently web sites, that has NOTHING to do with me as a consumer buying or not buying the proudct."

Everybody likes to proclaim that they don't fall victim to advertising. We like to think that we are smarter than that. The fact is though, that logos, names and advertising in general is very important in any business.

Logos can in fact be very powerful. Every company wants their logo to be remembered. Which is the point of almost every aspect of advertising...to get people to remember your name/company/product/service. One of the biggest complaints about SoFo was that, even though their products could run circles around the competitors, not many people even knew they existed. Logos, names, printed ads, tv ads, billboards, email, word of mouth...it all serves the same purpose, to help get people familiar with your product. A good example is when SoFo changed their logo from the anvil guy to the symbol they have today. Before, all I had to see was the anvil guy and I knew I was looking at Sonic Foundry, now, that symbol that they went to, in my opinion is less effective. It looks like just some random symbol, and if I saw it on a box at a store, I probably would not identify it with SoFo as quickly.

KFC saw their sales skyrocket when the stopped going by "Kentucky Fried Chicken" and officially branded themselves "KFC"

I don't even have to show it to you, all I have to say is "Golden Arches" and you know exactly what business I am talking about.

most people call any type of facial tissue "Kleenex", the brand has actually taken over the product. Imagine what that actually means for the company.

One of the things that I found most impressive about Vegas, was the loyalty and concern that its users show towards the products success. There are not many products out there that I as a user care at all about the company and products success. I like to drink Diet Coke, but if Coca Cola went out of business and Diet Coke was no more, I would care not, just go drink something else. But if Vegas was no more.................oh I can't even speak those words :0

Point is: while these types of topics certainly are "Off Topic" I don't really see them as silly.

OK, lets be more specific. There is off topic in the sense it doesn't pertain directly to Vegas or even video editing, but may be helpful in the general sense since its about computers. A topic about the Sony Pictures Digital Logo is about as appropriate in THIS KIND a forum as a discussion of the sex life of Eskimos. Interesting sure, appropraite, hardly.

The real point is do we want the forum cluttered up with irrelevant topics? I don't think so considering some people, perhaps many don't have the time as is to read APPROPRIATE articles.

Marquat: http://www.chienworks.com/advert/sfbanner1.jpg

Billy, the logo idea may be as off topic as eskimo sex, but if eskimo's bought Vegas from SoFo and has a naked eskimo on the box, would that be inappropriate discussion? We've discussed that people didn't recieve the Vegas 4 upgrade with a box (which turned into a discussion on why Canadian milk comes in bags) , the heatwave in Europe (hey over there, we had no summer on the west half of New York this year. :) ), and Sony buying SoFo's software lineup.

If I was Sony I'd be proud the users can have "inappropriate" conservations on their board. Not that many problems with Vegas! I'm sure Sony will appoint forum moderators to delete irrevelent post's eventuatly, so fun will be over in the future. Besides, how many "how do I do this" posts can you read before it becomes old news?

I didn't even use a misunderatanding or bad topic name. You could of just not read it (I just pick out the posts I want to read and open them up in new windows.). Although, you did say your eye sight wasn't that great because of an injury (right? you did say that in a post, didn't you?), and can't use Vegas, so I can understand why you'd want more Vegas tech posts: going through withdrawl! :)

"The real point is do we want the forum cluttered up with irrelevant topics? I don't think so considering some people, perhaps many don't have the time as is to read APPROPRIATE articles."


Could someone please explain to me which articles are "appropriate". I just can't figure it out and I sure would appreciate being "instructed" on this topic since some people seem to know better than others.<wank>

"Could someone please explain to me which articles are "appropriate". "

Since you asked... ;)

My idea of appropriate as far as "non-OT" topics is anything relating to the Vegas software itself, or editing using said software. This includes questions on upgrading , installation, editing, using other apps with Vegas, etc.
OT subjects are almost anything else relating somehow to SoFo, Vegas, PC recommendations for use with Vegas, PC optimizations for audio/video editing, etc.

Once in a while there will be really OT topics. Why you ask? Very simple. We come here to ask questions/advice from other users. We get to like alot of the other users. So, sometimes you just want to come here and post some irrelevent topic you were curious about because you just want the other user's opinion. Not really hard to understand I don't think.
Our version of going to the local pub and shooting the breeze over a couple of beers with some friends.

So, my contribution to this thread is... I also like the Anvil Man the best.

M

Notice please, no mention of bagged milk in this reply. ;)

I always get serious replies to my sarcastic a**hole posts. And the silly OT threads invariably become the longest ones drawing the most input on this forum. Including input from those who pretend to be annoyed. ...strange.

Also, Eskimo Sex isn't a relevant topic. But, one has to wonder... What if naked Eskimo's DID buy the sofo products and wanted a picture of them to be on the box. I wonder if Lieberman would start making non-game company putting ratings on their products (Vegas is rated T (13+) for realistic non-destructive editing)

This is the most useful forum on the Internet. I never realized before today that Canadians buy their milk in plastic bags.

WOW! Major revelation here...

I took at look at the link Chienworks provided of the older SoFo logo--the "Anvil Guy." This time, I really stopped and looked at it--it's a man! All these years I thought it was a stylized octopus! <blushing>

Kind'a like when we misunderstand the lyrics of a song.

Billy,..I hear you man,...and I agree with your thoughts,....but unfortunately you may need to get a refresher course in marketing101. Amazingly enough,..the logo, the look, the language and the luster ALL can have HUGE impacts on sales. Without sales,...the product goes bye bye,...whether it's great or not. Of course,..the converse to this is that a bad product cannot be saved by cool marketing either. Personally,...I just want the product to work and help me in the cause...period. Of course the name of the game is sales and like it or not a logo CAN be the difference to some prospective buyers as to a purchase or a passing glance. What's in a name? Same as the logo and look. This does not work for all of us though,..but Billy,..we may be exceptions to the rule. Personally I HATE the name,..Vegas Video,...but it is the most rock solid video app out there and I will not switch ever again. It is THE app for me.

I (like many of us here) make my living making things "look good" so I truly hope the look of a logo or package will remain vital in the marketing of a product. I also hope that products live up to the design too. Nothing fries me more than getting ripped off or swayed by hype and no hope.

my 2¢.
td

I understand you're point of view as well. However few people if any buy software based on the "look" of the box, some fancy logo or how its marketed on some web page or where or if its on some store shelf.

Software rarely if ever is something you buy on impulse, unlike some item that may grab your eye in a grocery store for example. People buy software on reputation of the producer. That's probably why Adobe sold a lot of Premiere... people had already bought Photoshop. The only time catchy packaging may work is on game software. For business software, including graphic software, utilities, etc., I could name several that have done very well in very mundane packaging. The point is people aren't in the habit of spending one, two, three hundred dollars or more on a pretty box or fancy logo. If they're going to invest that much in the software they buy it because it does (or claims) it does what the end user needs.