This is on the home page of the rampageinc.com site today...more news to come?
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<snip>
December 5, 2013
To our valued customers,
Effective as of December 2, 2013, FUJIFILM North America Corp., Graphic Systems Division, acquired the support contracts for Rampage CTP software products. Accordingly, effective immediately, Fujifilm will be responsible for providing you with technical support for your Rampage hardware and software systems.
Many of the existing Rampage systems were originally sold by Fujifilm, and Fujifilm's financial strength and commitment to this market is demonstrated by this acquisition. The new agreement is a positive step in the long-standing distribution relationship between our companies, and Fujifilm is well positioned to continue to provide technical service and support for all Rampage installed systems.
Going forward, telephone support for Rampage systems will be provided by the same support specialists that have supported you for years. Even the phone number remains unchanged.
Many of the short-term specifics will be outlined shortly in a correspondence from Todd Zimmerman, Vice President and General Manager at Fujifilm Graphic Systems Division.
We want to thank you for your many years of support, and your continued success with your Rampage workflow system.
Sincerely,
Kevin McSweeney
</snip>
WOW!
:wow:
Viewed from DownUnder not such big news, but must be there... plenty of people here seem to use RAMpage.
Interesting but not entirely surprising.
Fuji carrying XMF too, their up to something :laugh:
Pretty sure their tiff catchers for their javelin platesetters are RAMPage based.
I have heard for years rumors about Fuji getting in bed with Rampage, and now it's official
Quote from: Tracy on December 06, 2013, 08:46:44 AMFuji carrying XMF too, their up to something :laugh:
They are taking over the world.
Quote from: DigiCorn on December 06, 2013, 09:22:03 AMI have heard for years rumors about Fuji getting in bed with Rampage, and now it's official
It sounds more like Rampage has jumped into Fuji's bed and have their head under the covers.
Quote from: Joe on December 06, 2013, 09:39:49 AMQuote from: Tracy on December 06, 2013, 08:46:44 AMFuji carrying XMF too, their up to something :laugh:
They are taking over the world.
Does Rampage have capabilities that XMF does not? If not, Rampage users may want to get ready for a switch. Or new hybrid product?
Quote from: Grimace on December 06, 2013, 11:11:31 AMQuote from: Joe on December 06, 2013, 09:39:49 AMQuote from: Tracy on December 06, 2013, 08:46:44 AMFuji carrying XMF too, their up to something :laugh:
They are taking over the world.
Does Rampage have capabilities that XMF does not? If not, Rampage users may want to get ready for a switch. Or new hybrid product?
That's what I was wondering; I assume Rampage will just go away, in favor of the much more expensive XMF product, with perhaps some of Rampage's unique options... not that I know what those are
Quote from: Grimace on December 06, 2013, 11:11:31 AMDoes Rampage have capabilities that XMF does not? If not, Rampage users may want to get ready for a switch. Or new hybrid product?
I think it is the other way around. XMF has the Adobe PDF Print Engine that Rampage doesn't. Rampage claims their PDF Renderer is better than APPE. Rampage doesn't have imposition either. And their remote softproofing lags way behind what XMF has.
Quote from: DigiCorn on December 06, 2013, 11:27:40 AMQuote from: Grimace on December 06, 2013, 11:11:31 AMQuote from: Joe on December 06, 2013, 09:39:49 AMQuote from: Tracy on December 06, 2013, 08:46:44 AMFuji carrying XMF too, their up to something :laugh:
They are taking over the world.
Does Rampage have capabilities that XMF does not? If not, Rampage users may want to get ready for a switch. Or new hybrid product?
That's what I was wondering; I assume Rampage will just go away, in favor of the much more expensive XMF product, with perhaps some of Rampage's unique options... not that I know what those are
XMF is about twice the cost of Rampage. XMF is about half the cost of Prinergy.
Quote from: Joe on December 06, 2013, 11:30:44 AMRampage doesn't have imposition either.
Once you've used XMF's impo you realise what a big negative that is. Guessing most RAMpage user use PREPS for impo? :undecided:
Sî Senõr
Frailer is the impo that bad in XMF? we are getting XMF beginning of the year.
Quote from: Tracy on December 06, 2013, 01:44:40 PMFrailer is the impo that bad in XMF? we are getting XMF beginning of the year.
I think he was saying it the other way around. Sounds like impo is good in XMF. looked good to me in demos i attended.
:laugh: Thanks
I would give it (XMF) a nine for its impo for sheetfed stuff. And about a 5 for web press impo. It really is good but not terribly intuitive. And I have found zero useful documentation on it so far unless maybe some XMF users can point me in the direction of some. The Help system within the Client software really isn't all that helpful.
Quote from: Tracy on December 06, 2013, 01:44:40 PMFrailer is the impo that bad in XMF? we are getting XMF beginning of the year.
Congrats Tracy. I think you will like it. It comes standard with 3 days of training and to be honest that isn't nearly enough. Especially if you are trying to bang out other work while training.
Quote from: frailer on December 06, 2013, 01:24:09 PMQuote from: Joe on December 06, 2013, 11:30:44 AMRampage doesn't have imposition either.
Once you've used XMF's impo you realise what a big negative that is. Guessing most RAMpage user use PREPS for impo? :undecided:
Many Rampage users use EFI Metrix for imposition. You should look into it. Let me know if you want a webex demo.
Thanks Joe!
I'm happy about the move to XMF and a little scared too.
I know you guys got my back tho. :wink:
I think we are going to keep my old system in place, just in case for awhile.
Quote from: Tracy on December 06, 2013, 03:50:07 PMThanks Joe!
I'm happy about the move to XMF and a little scared too.
I know you guys got my back tho. :wink:
I think we are going to keep my old system in place, just in case for awhile.
Wise move, parallel for a few weeks then ween off of (Brisque?)
yep, spose to get a new proofer too
It's going to be soooo different
Quote from: Tracy on December 06, 2013, 03:50:07 PMThanks Joe!
I'm happy about the move to XMF and a little scared too.
I know you guys got my back tho. :wink:
I think we are going to keep my old system in place, just in case for awhile.
Guaranteed you won't be using Brisque for long after you get XMF running. Do you know yet who is doing your training? My trainer was Robert E. Lee. Seriously. :laugh: He knows his stuff with XMF.
Quote from: frailer on December 06, 2013, 01:24:09 PMQuote from: Joe on December 06, 2013, 11:30:44 AMRampage doesn't have imposition either.
Once you've used XMF's impo you realise what a big negative that is. Guessing most RAMpage user use PREPS for impo? :undecided:
Ooops. That is.... not having impo in RAMpage. Sorry.
... and geez, Brisque! That was written in the ancient Aramaic Language of prepress, PostScript®, correct? :laugh: It will be like removing a large splinter from your foot.
Don't know who the trainer is yet.
seriously about the Brisque, I have to manually check and fix so
much, kinda not worried about only having 3 days training
more worried about the impo than anything.
It's a short, steep learning curve, is all. Diddler, ear, impodave, myself... on hand to ease the pain. You will never look back. Impo was never this easy... apart from PREPS 6, maybe. Or Metrix, (overseen by the same Aussie brain anyway). :cheesy:
I never was really trained on EVO and since we've been slow I've been poking around and have seen screens I have never seen before. :shocked:
Holy Shit, Tracy; are you still using a Brisque? Damn... that shit was an antique when i last used in back in '03 :old:
Tracy's old avatar used to be a lady in a -20s era long skirt, standing next to an Indian, as I recall. She's an old fashioned kinda gal. :undecided:
I think Rampage's customer base, maturity and affordability played a part in the acquisition. They made a 'comparatively affordable' product that just worked, and made it well.
That being said, we had just upgraded from v11 to v13 after 5yrs, and are looking forward to using v13 for at least that long...native intel client means it will run on current macs...I don't have to worry about other workflows, at least for the next few years (by that time XMF, maybe if it's still around?)
Have been told by Fuji that they are committed to service and support for Rampage, and that includes any maintenance/bug fixes that may arise.
I was shocked that this had happened, but in the greater picture...I'm not worried.
"If it ain't broke, don't fix it...."
Quote from: mwc on December 10, 2013, 09:05:22 AM"If it ain't broke, don't fix it...."
We never upgraded beyond v10 because I don't like spending lots of money, and I never had any issues that couldn't be fixed in some fashion with our current setup. Had we done so, there would be a level of regret having dropped $20k and not being able to proceed.
Quote from: mwc on December 10, 2013, 09:05:22 AMHave been told by Fuji that they are committed to service and support for Rampage, and that includes any maintenance/bug fixes that may arise.
Sounds like maintenance mode to kill it and replace it with something else.