CORPSECORPS  Speaking of changing hands, i see Poser 8 is being sold by Smith Micro. Anybody know if it has improved?  
(Version 7.0.2.135)

MACHSPEED5  I've also been a user since 1.0 when it was first created as a drawing aid. Since then, the program has switched many hands (fractal, metacreations, efrontier) Not really good (of course) and ever iteration has added more lumpy sacks of coal for a mule that was never designed for this. Features have been packed onto a legacy core. Its knees buckle and its spine has grotesquely ruptured discs.

First thing you'll notice is that it's slow. dead slow. Loading certain figures can take over a minute. The library's format and structure is ancient and is a serious PIA when you begin to install third party content. (DAZ, Renderosity) Expect countless folders with names beginning with !!! because content developers are fighting for dominance within your installation. You'll shake your head in disbelief and spend countless hours reorganizing folders.

The content community however, for clothes, characters etc. is very much alive and active. There are legions of fans, and I for one atribute this to the programs relative ease of use. While definitely sporting an unconventional/proprietary UI is of much debate, i found it easy to use. Though, the more serious you become with it , the more you'll realize it's limitations. It was designed from the ground up to be a simple application, and this is no longer in it's favour.

It feels as though the core program has aged and introduced hacks as a means of low-budget feature evolution. MATs, python scripts, etc.

Thanks to e-frontier for continuing to make a mac version, but this is one program that's due for a MAJOR overhaul or complete rewrite. (ha good luck)  
(Version 7.0.2.135)

FRINGEWOOD  I've been using Poser since 1.0. It's not easy to learn, taking years of dedicated study to master. But the software is very powerful, despite being held back by PC compatibility.

There are hundreds of gigs of content available online, and the commercial grade content is considerably less expensive than top-tier, and in many cases better. The community is a very sharing one, and there is lots of free stuff to be had.

Most of the negative responses I see here are no doubt by people who expected to learn the process overnight. I see people complaining about using it in manners that aren't the correct way to use it.

Plus it's directly compatible with Vue if a more powerful rendering engine is needed (lighting, 3D geometry, etc). With 7.0 out, it is UB and takes advantage of multi-core processing.

It's great piece of software if you want to take the time to learn it and set it up correctly. If you want a quick study in 3D that takes care of itself, look elsewhere. Poser is just too complex for those seeking instant gratification.  
(Version 6.0.3.140)

YAARA RULES  Great application.

Free models from DAZ are cool: Victoria and Michael.

Some commercial models are truly amazing: Yaara (by As Shanim), Alina (by DM)...

The main problem is that it is so slow that it is close to be unusable even of a powerful CPU. It is slow on Panther and slow on the dog Tiger. Windows version is a bit faster, but still a pain to use. Ease of use 1/5 is for that: too slow.  
(Version 6.0.2.118)

D-MAN  Removing the Divx 5.2.1 codec from your Quicktime library might just fix the problem. It did for me!! Go to http://www.e-frontier.com/article/articleview/1441/1/595/ for details.   
(Version 6.0.1.77)

ANONYMOUS  try the FREE poser like software from http://www.daz3d.com/program/studio/

hopefully it'll put a boot up poser to fix some bugs!  
(Version 6.0.1.77)

STEP  the "trapped" file dialogs is a known issue on "some" tiger machines,it's a disaster, if your save dialog opens behind your view window...you have to force quit and lose the lot!  
(Version 6.0.1.77)

2R  Once installed on my G5 dual 1.8Ghz the thing took for ever to open. And even if you get it started the whole way of working with Poser is a pain in a certain place where the sun rarely shines.

The GUI is very mid 90s "innovative". It works in a way, but it's very cluttered and takes up too much screen real estate.

The file structure is a total disaster and installing new files, and finding them, is a test of patience.

Poser 6 is also very unstable, unresponsive and slow, and should never have been released in this state. It's hardly even a beta.

This is all a pity, because Poser is a lot of fun - or rather it used to be, therefore I'll stick to Poser 5. Buying Poser 6 is a total vaste of money.  
(Version 6.0.1.77)

MK  unusable on MacOS X Tiger (10.4.1-2)

the SR1 does not solve the dialog and screen/window display errors, even i can´t save any document :-)) ... absolutely rediculous IMHO !!! not for resale!

Did anyone test this app on MAC before they shipped it to the customers ???!?!?!?!?!??!

really disappointing.  
(Version 6.0.1.77)

ANONYMOUS  Worst UI in the history of computers; nearly impossible to use. Crashes constantly. Not worth paying for.  
(Version 6.0.1.77)

MASSIMO__  Poser 6 STILL crashes in Tiger after this update!!!!! WTF???  
(Version 6.0.1.77)

ANONYMOUS  Demo? Wheres the Updater for Poser 6 to use it on Tiger!??!??!  
(Version 6.0.1.77)

ANONYMOUS  Yeah the link to FileStorm and the word "alternative" were meant as an alternative to whatever installer they're using now, my apologies for the wording.  
(Version 6.0)

E   Poser 6 blows...and I am bummed about it....I really wanted to be blown away by this version...since the last update was years ago...but it still has the same crappy issues...horrible animation controls....and it seems to be as slow as ever...what a shame...they should sell the rights to adobe or apple.... this update has NO new features of worth to offer...for $125...I would expect something new....Curious should get out of the software biz altogether....

zero stars..  
(Version 6.0)

INTERSTITIAL  I have Poser 6 installed after purchasing the pre-release offer. I think it's a great program, and whilst expensive for me, much cheaper than other programs that create similar quality of image. Yes, the directory structure isn't very mac-like, but it's legacy. At least they're offering to the mac market, and have supported it with every version at least since 2.

The figure manipulation is difficult, but this is due to the huge precision afforded in the posing. Most figures have lots of pose presets. Just grabbing with a mouse cursor might seem intuitive to you, but what on earth is that meant to mean in 3D?

Poser 6 is sufficiently inproved over previous versions to deserve being called a new version. I know I've shelled out for less change in Word, like long file names for example.

Anyway, I had to say something because some other reviews seemed fairly ignorant to me. I get amazed at some of the slamming I see around here - you'd think the programmers weren't other human beings the way some people pontificate on their hard work.  
(Version 6.0)

ANONYMOUS  A Classic installer?

The 80's called. They want their outdated operating system support back.  
(Version 6.0)

ANONYMOUS  what a bummer update....5 years after poser 5 is introduced.....poser 6 is like....ehh...ooh shadows...

they really could have done something with this but it aint nothing...the animation has like NEVER been updated since like 1992...WTF NOT worth the price...although the render is very nice...it is not faster nor does it have any fabulous new feature...it should be like a Poser 5.1 VERY upsetting...a waste of money...boo on Poser 6 booo!  
(Version 6.0)

ANONYMOUS  Having purchased Poser 5 several months ago and being utterly unimpressed with it's performance, I had high hopes for this.

Unfortunately the developers have included a Mac OS 9 installer. As I haven't had Classic installed for a year or so, what a disappointment.

Anyways, please developers, this is 2005 and we shouldn't still be using Classic installers.

Here's a great alternative, and it's cheap too.

http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/9848  
(Version 6.0)

ANONYMOUS  Poser 5 is just a Windows application that is adapted to the Mac.

Awful rendering engine, almost impossible to handle objects, very poor interface, too articulated menus.

Typical Windows folder's structure.

It creates TMP files!!

Don't buy it: it's a waste of money and time.  
(Version 5.0)

ANONYMOUS  In the US, the list price of Poser 5 download is $199 and boxed version is $219 (excluding sales tax). When I buy through the webstore, as linked from Curious Labs website, I get European prices which are way up: €260 for download and €289 for boxed version. This sucks big time! These European prices include sales tax, but even then it shouldn't be this high! Last time I checked, 1 EUR = 1.22 USD. Worse is that you can get Poser 5 on Amazon.com for only $169.99! (But they don't deliver software to Europe.) Yet on Amazon.de it is €279! And worse on Amazon.co.uk it's £338.79! With an exchange rate of 1 GBP = 1.81727 USD, that's $615.71 or with an exchange rate of 1 GBP = 1.48547 EUR, that's €503.23! Wow! It sucks living in Europe if you want to buy this product. Even Apple has more comparable US/Europe pricings. For example, Apple Motion costs $299 (excluding tax) and in Europe where I live it's €289. Now that makes sense!  
(Version 5.0)

ANONYMOUS  Simply a great app for 3D character building and rendering.  
(Version 5.0)