I have had Animation Master since version four and have updated every year since then. I found it to be totally addicting until earlier this year when my Intel based Winxp computer just couldn't be tweaked enough to run AM reliably. Recently I have been considering one of the new quad based Intel computers with Vista and have been remembering wistfully working on models and animations with AM just as a hobbyist. It looks like a lot of new features have been added this year and also some new plan for updating.

Am I going to be able to run AM dependably on one of these new boxes and whats the deal on the new upgrade procedure? I will miss getting the same manual in the mail every year with the new upgrade disk

I would suggest looking very carefully at the combination of Windows Vista and the graphics card you'll use.
Vista itself has been problematic for me and initially my graphics card made working with A:M almost impossible.
After a few months of waiting for a new graphics card driver I can work in A:M again but Vista still gives me problems.
These issues aren't confined to A:M though so consider Vista carefully.

Other than that issue its been smooth sailing for me especially on my XP box.
v15 is a real treat to work in.

With the new pricing structure there is whole lot of interest in v15 this year.