diff --git a/vcg/math/eigen_matrix_addons.h b/vcg/math/eigen_matrix_addons.h
index c04e5215..b42412b5 100644
--- a/vcg/math/eigen_matrix_addons.h
+++ b/vcg/math/eigen_matrix_addons.h
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ enum {Dimension = SizeAtCompileTime};
 typedef typename ei_to_vcgtype<Matrix>::type EquivVcgType;
 typedef vcg::VoidType   ParamType;
 typedef Matrix          PointType;
-// using Base::V;
+using Base::V;
 
 // automatic conversion to similar vcg types
 // the otherway round is implicit because they inherits this Matrix tyoe
@@ -78,9 +78,6 @@ inline Scalar& W() { return data()[SizeAtCompileTime-1]; }
 /** note, W always returns the last entry */
 inline const Scalar& W() const { return data()[SizeAtCompileTime-1]; }
 
-EIGEN_DEPRECATED inline Scalar V(int i) const { return (*this)[i]; };
-EIGEN_DEPRECATED inline Scalar& V(int i) { return (*this)[i]; };
-
 /** \deprecated use .data() */
 EIGEN_DEPRECATED Scalar* V() { return data(); }
 /** \deprecated use .data() */
@@ -93,6 +90,8 @@ EIGEN_DEPRECATED inline const Scalar& V( const int i ) const
 	assert(i>=0 && i<SizeAtCompileTime);
 	return data()[i];
 }
+// // redefined because gcc 4.0.1 does not handle using Base::V
+// EIGEN_DEPRECATED inline Scalar& V(int i) { return (*this)[i]; };
 
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // SPACE
diff --git a/vcg/space/point2.h b/vcg/space/point2.h
index 19129d00..94c0876e 100644
--- a/vcg/space/point2.h
+++ b/vcg/space/point2.h
@@ -63,14 +63,13 @@ public:
 //----------------------------------------
 private:
 	typedef Eigen::Matrix<_Scalar,2,1> _Base;
+public:
 	using _Base::coeff;
 	using _Base::coeffRef;
 	using _Base::setZero;
 	using _Base::data;
 	using _Base::V;
 
-public:
-
 	_EIGEN_GENERIC_PUBLIC_INTERFACE(Point2,_Base);
 	VCG_EIGEN_INHERIT_ASSIGNMENT_OPERATORS(Point2)
 
diff --git a/vcg/space/point3.h b/vcg/space/point3.h
index f1b81077..9c23bdd1 100644
--- a/vcg/space/point3.h
+++ b/vcg/space/point3.h
@@ -77,8 +77,9 @@ public:
 //----------------------------------------
 private:
 	typedef Eigen::Matrix<_Scalar,3,1> _Base;
-	using _Base::Construct;
 public:
+
+	using _Base::Construct;
 	_EIGEN_GENERIC_PUBLIC_INTERFACE(Point3,_Base);
 	VCG_EIGEN_INHERIT_ASSIGNMENT_OPERATORS(Point3)
 
diff --git a/vcg/space/point4.h b/vcg/space/point4.h
index 3c753811..66660325 100644
--- a/vcg/space/point4.h
+++ b/vcg/space/point4.h
@@ -63,13 +63,11 @@ public:
 //----------------------------------------
 private:
 	typedef Eigen::Matrix<T,4,1> _Base;
+public:
 	using _Base::coeff;
 	using _Base::coeffRef;
 	using _Base::setZero;
 	using _Base::data;
-	using _Base::V;
-
-public:
 
 	_EIGEN_GENERIC_PUBLIC_INTERFACE(Point4,_Base);
 	typedef Scalar ScalarType;