In need of the right system!

[packinJP]

Hey all,
New to these boards here. I've been reading them for many years now. I grew up on a rampage systems and can do nothing but RAVE about them!
The BEST!!!!! Thanks Guys!!!

BUT!

I'm in a new world now. Packaging.

Artpro seems to be Industry leader in the Packaging world. Must be a good reason for it. I have been talking to Artworks and Heidleberg. What do you guys have that makes this software Industry Standard! If i lean towards Artworks do you think i will be happy. This system is huge. Big learning curve lots of work arounds many updates, patches, good support bad support I saw it all in this forum. I don't want a degree in troubleshooting or making "WORKFLOWS" I'M DOING THIS LONG ENOUGH! I actually have about 14 months experience with Artworks NEXUS Rip. Not to much ARTPRO. I just want a system that at the end of the day will send me home willing and able to work another day.
Any insight will be greatly appreciated. I need to make a decision by the new year.
Thanks to all.

[seratne]

Eskographics is also a big presence in the packaging industry. Might want to give them a look too.

[macdevin]

Good luck....Since you know Nexus then your 90% there as to what Artpro does.

I don't see the need for artpro since ILLY can do just about all you need but then again were not a true packaging shop.

Devin

p.s. Plan on trouble shooting with both systems. Nothing compares to the great support you get from Rampage.

[packinJP]

You know, i said the same thing to the sales rep. What do i need a 30 Grand piece of software that ILLY can do for less then 1 G. Granted Artpro has tons of tools but i'm old school, (well not that old), if the file is properly prepared up front why do i need such a large app for!?
Artpro has been the industry leader for the packaging field since it's debut.
A proven product that sells itself!

Do you think my 14 months of nexus is 90%?
I never built a workflow and everything was automated.

Nothing but good files before hitting Print!

Transparencies!!!!! Scares me. Tons of it used in our Clients files.

It seems that "Post Illy 10" is the only reason for most of our problems anyway. What ever ADOBE was thinking I'll never know!


Wait! I know $$$$$$


As far as esko goes it's hard to find users

[macdevin]

I find building workflows easy. Other members find it a pain in the #%$.

If you been using Nexus for 14 months I would have hoped that you know about all the modules and what they do by that time frame. Nexus is just an Automated version of Artpro.

There are some cool things about Artpro that Illy does not have. You need to look at those and see if you need the Diffs. Also look at the cheaper solution Edit.

But Illy is in my mind much more user frindley. Easer to find help.

I find more fear in the Heidleberg solution then Artworks. I have a Love Hate thing going on with Artworks right know. They have managed to piss us off that were looking at jumping ship. But they do have a great system that's hard to beat. My problem is that I spend most of my days trouble shooting issues with Artworks then I should. I've got other IT duties that I must do.

Devin

[packinJP]

My exact fears, trouble shooting a 30 Thou piece of software. I've read plenty of stories here and other places. Great software, but....

14 months did give me a pretty good education. I already now enough to trouble shoot files upfront before sending them to rip.
Transparencies another story.

Heidleberg is a little scary. Not enough user input. The system looks great.
Too good to be true i guess. I am looking good and hard. i have a post up in HB forum. No response yet!

[macdevin]

All systems are to good to be true when you here the sales pitch!
There is no system out there that can do it all with no issue.
With that in mind you need to have a support system.

I give a C for Artworks Support and a F for development issues.

Creo/Kodak/Scitex has been the best support we have ever had along with Rampage. We almost almost upgraded to Prinigery before Rampage a longtime back. but Management was not happy with the crappy sales tactics of Creo. So we went with Rampage. Rampage had lots of trouble with trapping so we moved to artworks systems. It's been a bumpy ride as I've gone full time in house support for Artworks. Most our issues are due to what I calls bugs, But I can get them thru before a call back from support.

Good Luck in finding a system, and no matter what, you will have issues it's just a matter how long can you wait for those issue to get resolved.

Devin

[packinJP]

Rampage did great things for me. 15 years of quality service.

heidelberg is going to get another look.

I know artworks will do what i need. Packaging is it's background.

heidelberg added a lot of tools for packaging. The pdf trapper plug in looks great. Fast from what i seen. I did notice some issues on the screen previews, but it plated ok. Need to test a couple of more files.