Microspot Macdraft Professional (Mac) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The version I received was 5.5.6 which did not work properly on my iMac G5. If this is the version you get, make sure you download the latest FREE update (currently 5.5.11) from Microspot. After the update MacDraft worked flawlessly. Worth every penny!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Microspot Macdraft Professional (Mac)

Click here for more information about Microspot Macdraft Professional (Mac)

Read More...

Punch Viacad 2D/3D Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I purchased this item, then found it was also available on this same site @ $99.99. I had an instant feeling I had purchaced the wrong item, as I was looking for the VISTA compatible version, and the "platforn" listed states "NO OPERATING SYSTEM" What this means, no one at amazon customer support could tell me. They seem to be in INDIA or in ASIA somewheres.
I called customer service and they could not tell me the differences other than the $100 version is from TARGET, and the $70 version is from AMAZON.
Long story short, if you want the PC version of this software, GET THE AMAZON VERSION FOR $70.
Here's what I found out....the ITEM NUMBERS are different (88100 vs 88500) The 88500 being the "newer" more expensive. The bottom line is that the only difference is the SIZE OF THE BOX. I dug around the web for hours and finally was able to find a site with UPC, ISBN and all info on this title. The "old" $70 version is in the larger box with a flap to open up with ideas and pictures that are used to sell the product. The newer on (88500) is the smaller size box that has become popular recently.
Also, right on my box it states WORKS WITH WINDOWS VISTA (the website does not tell you this, unless you look at the picture of the box, and then it conflicts with the information on the site, hense my confusion.)
The detailed specs clearly state VISTA as a supported operating system.
The program install takes a bit of time to install due to tha amount of files to transfer, and on a VISTA system, SEVERAL MINUTES (up to 15?) due to the fact VISTA will read the entire disk, file by file before even starting the install. Be patient, and notice your HD or CD/DVD drive light is still "thinking"
In XP, the program runs flawless. In vista I had to adjust some setting and verify my "OPEN GL" was up to date. I am still having a issue with 3d rendering (it wont all the time, yet at other time sit does perfectly.)but I have only had it for a day, so I'm still on the learning curve. I'm not 100% convinced it's a bug in the software, more a compatibilty issue. It has NO issue on my XP system.
Speaking of learning curve, there IS. On a scale of 1-10 it's a about a 6 for me. If you are familiar with PUNCH! products, this interface should be familiar. It is not as intuitive as other PUNCH! software, but I feel it's because of what this software has to offer....TONS OF FEATURES. They all need a button or two!!
The software is AMAZING for the price. Shorter learing curve, decent features in both 2D and 3D. I was making detailed 3D gears in a day.
You will need to REGISTER this software to use it beyond the default "trial" of 7 days. For those of us who follow EULA, and are honest this is no problem.You can also download tha latest patch (upgrades to "build 711") for free right away. It's approx. a 7.3MB update.
As with other punch software they have a decent user forum at http://forum.punchcad.com/. As this is a relatively new product, the forum is still developing, and if other PUNCH! sites are any indication, this will be a great site for resources!
OTHER NOTES:
If you sign up for a AMAZON VISA, you can get $30 off your first purchace. This item also has FREE shipping. I opted for NEXT DAY shipping and it set me back $88, but I will get a $30 credit on my new VISA. Can beat that.
I DO NOT work for PUNCH! or any of it's companies, I'm just a user trying to save a buck on something I enjoy doing with my PC.
I rate this item at 4 stars, because of the learning curve, and the apearant left out details in tutorials. Still, this is by far the easiest CAD program to date that I have used. I have used PRO-E, AUDOCAD, TURBO-CAD to name a few. My proficiancy level is "hobbiest, a jack of all trades, master of none" I am a moderate user, not a "power user, to put this review into perspective.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Punch Viacad 2D/3D

Punch! ViaCAD 2D/3D is a new precision design program with the power of multi thousand dollar CADs.With it's state of the art 2D/3D patent pending user interface that seamlessly toggles between 2D & 3D and LogiCursor™ technology that thinks as you draw anticipating your moves precision design was never so easy.System Requirements:Microsoft Windows XP Professional or Windows 2000; Intel Pentium or AMD Athlon class processor; 2 GB of hard disk space; 512 MB RAM or greater; Mouse Point Device; CD-ROM DriveFormat: WIN 2000XPVISTA Genre:PRODUCTIVITY UPC:664446881007 Manufacturer No:88100

Click here for more information about Punch Viacad 2D/3D

Read More...

TurboCAD Professional v12 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Turbocad has been around since 1985, consequently with this many years of development it is full featured and does 95% what Autocad does, 3D modeling is proably more advanced than Autocad.Uses the same ACIS engine that Autocad has. Version 12 Pro runs very well on Vista! The learning curve is the same as other large CAD programs. You will need the training books from IMSI and cd's as well as the training bundle from Cadcourse.com. The online CAD magazine Cadalyst gives it their highest review rating. Imports and exports just about every file format you can think of. Has a large color palette, and every imaginable drawing tool! Great for Engineering, Computerized Numerical Control and Architectual pro quality work. Also can do technical illustration. While the Pro version is full featured, the Deluxe version is pretty good except it only does basic 3d, not advanced 3d like the pro version does. Is a serious engineering cad/arch tool. Plug-ins available. Does scripts. Upgradable. Great CAD program!!

Click Here to see more reviews about: TurboCAD Professional v12

Power, precision and performance are the hallmarks of TurboCAD Professional.With integrated 2D drafting, 3D surface and solid modeling, and photorealistic rendering, TurboCAD delivers unparalleled design productivity and dramatic visual results.Adjustable tool palettes, context sensitive tools and intuitive work flow combine to deliver time savings and increased screen space.Geometric and dimensional constraint management tools, simplified text editing, and superior file format compatibility, offer added productivity.Plus, LightWorks 7.5 and LightWorks Archives of materials and effects achieve stunning visual presentations for architectural and mechanical designs.And with additional tools such as a parametric modeling Part Tree, blend preview, and thousands of fully parametric drag-and-drop doors and windows, TurboCAD is the most advanced CAD software in its price range.

Click here for more information about TurboCAD Professional v12

Read More...

Punch Professional Home Design Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I dont usually WRITE reviews, but I do find them VERY helpful when deciding to buy a product so Im trying to return the favor.
It was with some hesitation that I bought the above software- reading many positive and equally negative views for the various packages. I went with "professional" so that I could change elevations for uneven lots- very useful feature.
what I was looking for in software was something that i could easily draw my own plans for a home, add textures, furniture and be able to easily view it in 3-D to asssess for room space, design etc. I didnt expect the software to be able to generate professional, usuable plans to construct a home for (not my goal). This software does a GREAT job with my objective, and its rather easy to use.
Ive constructed a 3 level complicated outer wall home(not a simple box) without much difficulty
(Ive spent 3-4 hours, all 3 levels are essentially done, just adding a few more windows, furniture etc)...(not in the computer field, reasonably computer savy)
I must admit, when I first sat down, I wasnt impressed with the program....so I opened the manual- pleasant suprise! After I began to build the home, using the steps in the manual (very clear) it was easily accomplished.( I was afraid i would have to build a simple home to get used to the features , but it wasnt necessary)
Some VERY nice features:
1) Live view in a window- 3-D as you build it - it shows up view.
2) Importing scanned plans- that you can resize and draw on- VERY nice feature
3) walk through in 3-D- after I figured out to drag around the small arrow on the 2-D blueprint and watch the 3-d window- realized how nice this program is. you can get a really good feel for how big the home is/ rooms are- how open etc.
PROBLEMS:
I was unhappy with the textures- there was "bleeding through" of the exterior textures into the interior and vice-versa- went to the user support groups off punch website and found out the the software works better when you turn your pc graphics accelerator down(or off in my case)(renders 3-D in software- not hardware) - now the textures look really nice. they turn off while im moving through the house- and draw back on once I stop.
UNKNOWNS:
havnt used the estimator, deck builder or done much landscaping(added a few trees) so cant comment much about these- again...not my main focus for the software
BOTTOM LINE:
I think this is an INVALUABLE tool if youre planning on building a home - If you want to be able to walk through a home in 3-D, design it easily and not spend alot of time this works VERY well.
got a manufactures rebate on the box and purchased it for a very reasonable price at Bestbuy.
I would buy this again without hesitation.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Punch Professional Home Design

Professional Home Design offers 12 programs on one easy-to-use interface to help you design all of the critical components of your home, including foundations, HVAC, electrical, plumbing, custom windows, custom roofs, and much more. This package includes 3D Home Exterior & Interior Design, 3D Landscape, and Ultimate Deck, plus a 3-D scale model creator and an autoframing feature with a cost estimator.
Use the 3D Home Exterior & Interior Design program to view your home in thousands of subtle paint color choices, or design walk-out basements and split-level designs with the slope tool. The ClearView tool renders your design with a glass-house effect, giving you a wire-frame perspective of your topography without your landscape plantings. A user-definable database helps you find the right plantings for your planting zone based on your search criteria. More than 2,000 selections of flowers, shrubs, trees, ornamental grasses, ground cover, and more are featured. As you design, the Landscape Estimator compiles planting information, producing a report in an editable, printable, exportable spreadsheet format.
Design the perfect deck for your home plan with Ultimate Deck. Multilevel or multistory decks with 3-D photorealistic textures, stairs, railings, object placement, and color capabilities give you the ability to design exactly the deck you want. Deck Wizards walk you through railings, baluster options, and more. And make sure everything is planned to perfection with tools for foundation, HVAC, electrical, and plumbing planners.

Click here for more information about Punch Professional Home Design

Read More...

Punch Architectural Series 5000 V12 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The main difference between AS 5000 and its predecessor AS 4000 is the incorporation of 3D Custom Workshop Pro, which is a restricted/modified version of Punch's basic ViaCAD 2D/3D application. Overall, this is a positive change as Custom Workshop Pro allows importing designs from other software into Punch's 3D Object Library, including those that are widely available as Google Sketchup files. However, the implementation of Custom Workshop Pro is flawed. The program is unstable and crashes even with some of Punch's own objects and does not render imported object textures properly.
Otherwise, AS 5000 offers little additional features and remains problematic and seriously flawed, especially when designing any even slightly non-traditional constructions. Despite the wide array of poorly documented features and peculiar behaviors, you will be forced into making design compromises, even if you critically comb through all available instruction materials such as printed manuals, the program's electronic help and tutorial videos, and internet resources including the heavily advertised Punch University online video courses. I cannot recommend this software to any user. Entry level users are better served using any of the widely available cheap, low-end products to decide if house design/CAD is for them or not. Once you have made the decision to proceed with your own design and creation (and I would bet any money that this would only be the case for a small minority), Punch AS 5000 will quickly show its limitations to you, especially when any non-conventional designs are concerned. If you are planning a conventional design, then why purchase a high-end architectural CAD product in the first place?
Having used the features of Punch AS 5000 extensively for real projects, and now comparing it to the trial version of Chief Architect X1, I came to the conclusion that the higher priced Chief Architect X1 is well worth every penny that you would spend on it (not to mention the available support options), provided you are REALLY SERIOUS AND COMMITTED about using it. I am in no way affiliated with Chief Architect and I really wish their product was more affordable, and did not have a USB locking device, etc. However, even if your time would be worth minimum wage, Chief Architect would be worth its high price economically. Remember that no software will allow you to develop new ideas, or implement them with a few mouse clicks. In my case, I was able implement my plan using Chief Architect literally in a matter of hours, which was a task that had proven itself impossible while using Punch AS 5000 for several weeks.
Designing a house plan is a long and arduous process, requiring far more time, patience, and perseverance than you would expect, as well as innumerable visits to libraries and other sources for reference. As always, the Devil is in the details, and this is precisely where AS 5000 falls short. The user will be forced to compromise for example on floor plan/wall layout in order to create a desired roof. These compromises not only cost you time and force you to troubleshoot after minor adjustments, but they also make the difference between a spectacular versus mediocre-at-best end-result.
Unless you are a qualified professional, you will also need to have your plans reviewed, approved and signed off by a qualified professional. In this context, I have not come across any professionals who either use or recommend using Punch's line of house design products for obvious reasons. They all use products of AutoCAD's and Chief Architect's caliber and reputation. And speaking of low-end products, why use Punch's if they all culminate in AS 5000, when Chief Architect also provides low-end, affordable consumer products that would offer a more convenient transition to Chief Architect?
The bottom line is that Punch has put out the same interface and underlying design year-after-year. The limitations of the program's current implementation undermine the user's creativity and impair the overall work flow. The incorporation of additional features and wizards do not save the flawed overall program design, even if any of the included wizards/components/features would shine individually. Punch should finally start listening to its more knowledgeable consumers and should also try to offer its services to professionals whose feedback could in turn improve its overall product line. I would have considered a higher rating as appropriate if the program was being sold as something for entertainment rather than for such a serious undertaking as designing a house. Support options are inadequate. For example, you cannot expect any support if you happen to use even a high-end laptop PC. The questions on their user forums are of the variety of "how do I register my program" or "how do I return my software" and there is an inadequate number of entries that offer any complicated help or advice.


Click Here to see more reviews about: Punch Architectural Series 5000 V12

Punch! Architectural Series 5000 provides you with out matched performance and realism for all your Home, Landscape, and Design needs.Commanding power, versatility and our trademark LogiCursor technology, a patent pending technology, that predicts your next move and thinks as you draw, makes this new software solution, a must have, for anyone thinking about building a home, remodeling a home, refreshing a bathroom, redesigning a kitchen, and even your landscaping! These features along with exceptional Computer Aided Design (CAD) tools and several various 3D capabilities make this a comprehensive all inclusive software package that can save you time and money that might otherwise be paid to architects and design professionals.Take the guess work out of leaving your design ideas to others, show your style and save time and money! You can even print blue prints or make a model with our patented Real Model 3D Modeling tool! Think you can't start fast enough? Our Quick-start tools get your started fast, with integrated videos and players let you watch or repeat Tool Tips whenever you like!

Click here for more information about Punch Architectural Series 5000 V12

Read More...

Punch Home Design Architect Series 3000 v10 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I first tried the punch platinum hiome design 8.0 and was able with great difficulty to draw a set of prints that we built a home from.
I then upgraded to Arch 3000 which is certainly a much better product. The interface is virtually the same but some of the additional tools make the program.
The best addition being the room wizard although it is fairly basic and not fully fleshed out, it does allow the first floor of a house plan to be drawn to basics VERY quickly much faster than a trace image. Warning though to people designing basements, make the basement FLOOR 1 and if you use the room wizard use it for the basement. I know the tutorial states you can easily just lower the elevation of the fountation walls to create your basement but as many people have commented with punch products what is stated is not always what happens and in this case your whole first floor including ANY connected interior walls are dropped into the basement.
You can work around this but only if you make floor 1 your basement.
Again a decent product but know what you are buying this program can produce buildable home plans IF you have engineering or construction knowlege but mostly its still a program for a home owner to "envision" the layout of their home.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Punch Home Design Architect Series 3000 v10

Punch! Home Design Architectural Series 3000 combines top landscape design and interior design software into one powerful package.

Click here for more information about Punch Home Design Architect Series 3000 v10

Read More...

Better Homes and Gardens Home Designer Suite 7.0 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I recently had the onerous job of drawing several plans for an addition to my home. I had the option of hiring an architect ($$$), or doing the drawings myself--and I selected this software to do the later.
First of all, I was successful drawing 5 or 6 floor plans for my existing home and the addition. However there were some "hiccups" and problems along the way. Here is what I found:
- I gave up trying to create a roof that would look anything like what I needed to draw. This was true for my existing home as well as the roof for the addition. This was by far the biggest problem with this software--I watched various on-line "videos," looked for help in forums, etc. but I was unable to render it correctly. Big problem because I was unable to get a good 3D or elevation drawing and actually was forced to draw these views by hand (well, a ruler and pencil). The auto-generated roof function is totally useless unless you have a very simple roof structure.
- My home has walls of various thicknesses--while the software provides preselected wall types, it doesn't allow you to customize the thickness (which was a problem). So I had to use a "canned" masonry type wall (12" thick I recall) to represent a wall I have that's not masonry and about 18" thick (don't ask!). If you have a newer home with "standard" walls, then you probably won't have this problem. In my case, I don't think I have any "standard" walls (home is relatively old).
- Button layout is confusing--they would be better off following typical "Windows" layout. Easy to forget what the icons represent.
- I tried to use this software to lay out a garden--however I literally couldn't find any of the plants I'm growing in their library. I understand there's an optional product can purchase (which I didn't), but they really should provide a better "basic" choice of plants.
- Very difficult to add dimension lines--it's difficult to explain unless you try to use it. For example, you "drag" across an area you want to add a dimension line...it invariably sets one of the points to the middle of a wall--which isn't what you want if you want the interior dimension of a room. They don't provide a simple way to click on two "spots" and produce a dimension line. If a dimension line sits inside of a wall, it's very difficult to select it...on several occasions I was forced to delete the wall because I couldn't select and move the dimension line out of the way. There's an alt-click (I recall) method to select overlapping objects, but it sometimes just doesn't work.
- Sometimes, no matter what I did, I could not get a precisely sized object (like a wall's length). They have a "nudge" tool for precise sizing that doesn't work on all objects. Software has a propensity to "snap" to grids or other objects which can be really annoying. You can disable it, but it's hidden in some menu somewhere.
And so on-- there were many other minor irritations that I worked through. The bottom line (sic) is that I was able to get most of the layouts done (except anything that would show a roof)--but I had to "fight" the software in order to do it.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Better Homes and Gardens Home Designer Suite 7.0

Better Homes and Gardens Home Designer Suite 7.0 is software developed by Chief Architect for home enthusiast remodeling and home design projects. This software helps you design the home of your dreams with 3D models, virtual tours, even more library items, easy to use building templates, a new Plant Encyclopedia and landscaping features with over 1,000 plant terrain and outdoor items.Combining the leading-edge home design software with the consumer design editorial expertise of Better Homes and Gardens, we have produced the best software tool for home and remodeling design.

Click here for more information about Better Homes and Gardens Home Designer Suite 7.0

Read More...

Punch ViaCAD 2D/3D V6 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is probably the most underrated CAD software package out there. For less than the cost of TurboCAD's most economical offering, ViaCAD provides its users with features and functionality usually available on programs costing many times more than its normal price.
Consider the benefits:
* Complete 2D capability.
* True 3D solid modeling using the ACIS engine.
* Simple, efficient layout.
* AutoCAD compatible in DWG and DXF format, plus compatible with an
astounding number of other file formats.
* Intuitive and fast, with SolidWorks-like functionality.
* 3D modeling tools and features include fillet, shelling, bending, lofting,
and intuitive holes, among other things.
* Assign a material (wood, steel, etc.) and instantly know the weight and
volume properties of your design.
* A very good user support network and an excellent user forum and message
board.
If you are familiar with TurboCAD and enjoy doing 3D modeling with it, you can do the same model in ViaCAD in about 25% of the time. Plus, the model you have in ViaCAD will be a true solid model (compared with TurboCAD Deluxe). Also, you'll have many, many more features and tools found only on 3D modeling programs costing much, much more. In my opinion, this program walks circles around TurboCAD (Deluxe & Pro) and AutoCAD.
However, I would caution anyone who purchases this to first have a good computer. CAD programs are resource hogs, and this one is no different. You want a good processor, a lot of memory and a very good graphics card. Those recommended specifications listed on the box are MINIMUM REQUIRED SPECIFICATIONS. Secondly, take your time and learn it properly using the included tutorials. CAD is not something that you can just pick up and learn in five minutes. It takes time and experience to become proficient with any CAD program. Fortunately, this is the easiest to use CAD program I've ever seen.
I highly recommend this to the home inventor or even to small shops with limited budgets. This is a very capable program and also a good stepping stone for learning how to use more complex 3D applications such as SolidWorks or Inventor.
Whatever you do, don't understimate the capability of this program. There are some very serious engineers out there accomplishing some very great things with this "little" program that costs less than $100.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Punch ViaCAD 2D/3D V6

Click here for more information about Punch ViaCAD 2D/3D V6

Read More...

Turbocad Mac V3 2D Cad for Mac Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Serves me right for buying on the cheap. Could not install on new Imac. ISMI said not good on Leopard.
Did get started with install on my Mac Mini but got stuck when asked for some sort of Admin number in addition to the Serial Number.
My experience so annoying I would hesitate buying anything from ISMI.


Click Here to see more reviews about: Turbocad Mac V3 2D Cad for Mac

Click here for more information about Turbocad Mac V3 2D Cad for Mac

Read More...

Live Interior 3D Standard Edition Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I'm remodeling a small cottage. Taking out some walls, putting in French doors, new windows, a bath, etc. I have no experience at all in interior design or with design software. I'm on a 2 yr. old MacBook Pro (OS 10.4.11). I just wanted something that would "think" logically. I wanted a variety of room types that I could alter. I was given this. So then it's: I want this wall to be longer, how do I do that? Oh, you just grab the wall and pull it out. Or if you want it smaller you push it in. I want to delete this window - okay, highlight and click delete. I want to add a window to this wall. Okay, I grabbed a sample window from the doors and windows display and dragged it on to the wall. It was oriented ACROSS the wall at first but if I dragged it around a bit it adjusted to be IN the wall. There was another software "window" that let me size the window and say how far off the floor I wanted it. For some reason the default setting was "fixed ratio" which seems sort of stupid. I didn't notice this button at first so when I made the window wider it kept getting taller. Then I deselected the "fixed ratio" button and all was fine. It seemed to be lacking a bit in objects (variety of doors, kitchen appliances - still don't have a stand-alone refrigerator) but I was offered a 200MB library of additional objects so I downloaded that and next time I checked my library of objects there were a lot more.
I could easily toggle between 2D view and 3D view. Most importantly, when I wanted to figure out how to do something I went to "Help" at the top and usually I was then able to figure out how to do it. I haven't made anything that looks "realistic" and I probably never will. But I was actually expecting this program to be a pain in the ass and it really wasn't. I seem to be doing okay with it and I wasn't expecting that I would. I got an email promoting Punch Home Design. The reviews on Amazon weren't very good. I really can't compare what I got with anything else. I don't know if it is a very sophisticated program or not. But it just didn't seem to hard to make a room and put in walls and windows, doors, kitchen, bath, etc. and then take a look at it in 3D, go "inside" and move around, and get an idea of what I want. It was reasonably intuitive and I really appreciated that.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Live Interior 3D Standard Edition

Click here for more information about Live Interior 3D Standard Edition

Read More...

AutoCAD LT 2012 with Subscription Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)It's autocad, so it's great right away. I've been using autocad since 1984, things just keep getting better. Prime delivery deprives me of prolonged anticipation; fast is good.

Click Here to see more reviews about: AutoCAD LT 2012 with Subscription


AutoCAD LT 2012
AutoCAD LT software is built for professional drafting, delivering genuine DWG compatibility, reliability, and powerful 2D drawing tools designed to boost your productivity.
View larger.

Click here for more information about AutoCAD LT 2012 with Subscription

Read More...

TurboCAD Deluxe 18 CAD Software Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Sometimes we make mistakes by ordering something before we fully examine its value. I'm guilty of this with TurboCAD Deluxe 18 2D/3D. This program is 2D CAD software with some basic 3D capabilities thrown in for marketing purposes. I bought it hoping it would be able to design a boat in 3D. Unfortunately, it doesn't have the tools to accomplish this. I realize other software is available specifically for boat design, but I wanted an inexpensive CAD program that could do more than just design boats. The 3D tools are limited and don't allow editing to modify the small number of 3D objects that this program does offer. Some may strongly disagree with me, but I think most CAD programs (even an inexpensive one like this) should be able to allow one to design boats, airplanes, cars, etc in 3D. This product doesn't and therefore I wouldn't recommend it for anyone who wants to design in 3D except for very basic items.

Click Here to see more reviews about: TurboCAD Deluxe 18 CAD Software

Click here for more information about TurboCAD Deluxe 18 CAD Software

Read More...

Punch Home Design Studio (Mac) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)If you are looking for a program to do a 3d view of your dream home without any substance, this program is for you. If, on the other hand, you are looking for a program to help you design real projects for a do-it-yourselfer you are going to be sorely out of luck.
Punch Home design Studio is just a toy with little substance. You can put up a wall and throw down a sink but you cant run piping to that sink or electric to the bathroom lights. Its like a great big content editing program for a 3d video game with as much use as that. A toy to be experimented with but not appropriate for much more. When I querried about how to put in piping for my radiant floor I was told that you dont do that because the plumber does that. Now what if I am going to be the plumber, Im supposed to just shoot from the hip? Ditto for the rest of the details.
When it comes to the landscape editor, the joke gets worse. Of 32 plants I had planned to put in my renovated garden, PHDSP had 2. Yest, only two plants of 32 were found in the library and the interface to that library stinks.
While we are on the subject of the interface, the Mac interface is very bad. Clearly this is a bad hack port of a windows program. The user interface is not like a mac program but more like Office for Mac -- clearly a low quality hack. If that wasnt enough, when running it on leopard, it tends to crash and erase everything you did since the last save, so if you do intend to play with this thing, save often.
So why am I making this post? Well because I tried to return the software and was unable to return it even just the next day. I was told that the $149 I plopped down for a lemon with overinflated advertising was lost. Maybe I can eek out some cash on eBay for it. Yes I am upset.
In summary, I was looking for a program that was useful for helping me design my home do-it-yourself projects from installign radiant heating to planning my sprinkler system and what I got was a poorly implemented toy to assemble pre-fabricated 3d objects into a pretty picture. Advertising scores a 10 of 10 for promising much but the program will only be minimally useful.


Click Here to see more reviews about: Punch Home Design Studio (Mac)

This isn't just a Mac-compatible version, but a complete, stand-alone product that puts all of Home Design Studio's state-of-the-art features in the hands of Mac users," says Pierce."They can quickly explore an almost infinite number of ways to improve and enhance exteriors, interiors and landscapes, and then get aphoto-realistic view in 3D, from virtually any angle.

Click here for more information about Punch Home Design Studio (Mac)

Read More...

Punch Pro Home Design Suite Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)1. The software is not intuitive. There is no starting point for beginners, no wizard, no introductory lesson, nothing. The outdated help file starts with "It's simple to get started planning the home of your dreams." Yes, BUT HOW???? WHERE DO I START?
2. There are no keyboard shortcuts for the tools. No space-drag for Pan, no Z-drag for zoom. No hotkeys that I can find whatsoever. You must move the mouse over to the tiny tool button and click.
3. The program is stuck in the 90's. The help file is antique and mostly useless. Sure there is a lot of text to read, but it all states the obvious. The object filenames are eight characters and nearly impossible to decipher. What is a Hitanktl? That's a High Tank Toilet... I think. It gets worse!
4. There is no logical way to preview an object before adding it to the schematic. The objects tab presents approximately 50 kitchen cabinets that all look the same as a micro sized thumbnail. Since it sizes the object to fit the thumbnail, two identical looking objects are actually different sizes.
5. The helicopter and walk-through tools in Professional Home Design are extremely sensitive. The slightest movement of the mouse send the view wildly spinning. Micron miniscule movements of the mouse lead to extremely aggravating and disorientating walk-troughs. There is no limiting the camera to not go through walls. The Wide view is not wide enough. The controls are absurdy inintuitive. Click once to move up, click again to move down. WHAT? AHHHHHHHHHH!
6. Interestingly, the helicopter in the 3D custom workshop works completely differently. Why do they behave differently in the two applications?
7. The helicopter orbits around a fixed center-point. This makes it difficult (actually, impossible) to orbit around anything but the center of the schematic.
8. Did I mention there are no keyboard shortcuts or hotkeys?
9. The slow speed of the screen updates in 3D Custom Workshop make me suspect that there is no OpenGL being used. This would make sense since it seems the application hasn't been updated in a decade or two. This is mind-boggling if true. How can it take so long to render ONE frame on my NVIDEO Quadro FX 5500?
10. The help file suggests you set your screen resolution to 800x600. Are you kidding me? When was this written? 1984?
11. You can't export the blueprints. My only option was to print (with no preview or ability to print only a specific area) or export to a DXF file, which Illustrator CS3 refuses to open. I solved this problem by PRINTING to a PDF file, which Illustrator does open.
12. The web site offers no COMPARISON TABLE. I had no idea what the difference between each of the 12 products was. There is a pro series, architectural series and a home series. What does the Pro Series offer that the home series does not? What is the difference between the Super Home Suite, 5 in 1 Home Design, Professional Home Design, Home Design Studio and Home Design Platinum? What the HELL? The only guidance is the price tag.
13. Where is the trail software? Why can't I try is out first? Disable the export and print ability and offer trial software.
14. What good is a walk-through or helicopter camera if you can't do preset animation for it? There should be the ability to set keyframes and animate the camera. Export to AVI or QuickTime at high-quality 3D. This feature alone would seriously rock.
Other than that... great software! :)


Click Here to see more reviews about: Punch Pro Home Design Suite

Click here for more information about Punch Pro Home Design Suite

Read More...

Turbo Cad Deluxe V.15 2D & 3D Precision Design Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I ordered before I read the reviews. DUH. Because of the negative reviews, I tried to cancel.
Amazon said it was too late. But, I could simply refuse the shipment and my money would be refunded. Cool.
Anyway, regarding the negative reviews, I came to the conclusion that this isn't the kind of program some people expected. But that doesn't mean there's something wrong with the program.
Meanwhile I got a trial version and tried it out.
This program is stupendous. The manual, if you bother to read it is excellent and at 470 pages is not "thin" !
If that's not enough, the pdf file on the CD is over 1100 pages.
This is a sophisticated tool for professionals. I would expect to see it on the desktop of any NASA engineer.
This product has so many features, I can't begin to go into them. The implementations is one of the best I've seen. Check out the trial version at turbocad.com and see if it suits you. You wont be disappointed if you are willing to put in the time to learn it. (It took me about 8 hours to get proficient.)


Click Here to see more reviews about: Turbo Cad Deluxe V.15 2D & 3D Precision Design

Click here for more information about Turbo Cad Deluxe V.15 2D & 3D Precision Design

Read More...

TurboCAD Deluxe V16 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I purchased TurboCAD as a Christmas present for myself, for the casual drawing of parts and around-the-house projects. I haven't touched a drafting program since the early '90s, when I used AutoCAD 12 & 13 for MS-DOS and early versions of SmartCAM for Windows (when it was still owned by Point Control, and the rendering of materials, parts, & cuts was first introduced). With it having been so long since I've used a CAD program, and because most of my drafting experience is from two dimensional blue prints for parts to be manufactured in a machine shop, it is taking some effort to "get back in the saddle". That said, the menu options in TurboCAD are intuitive and the software came with a small (70 page) "Getting Started Guide" which walks you through exercises in some of the basic uses of the application. There is a fairly comprehensive "TurboCAD User Guide" of 682 pages available as a PDF through the "TurboCAD Help Topics" on the Help drown-down menu. The context-sensitive help, available through the F1 key, opens the User Guide to the page which is applicable to the option or feature for which you are requesting help. There are quite a few TurboCAD "tips & tricks" and tutorial type videos available on YouTube, if you search for them. There is also a forum/community available on the TurboCAD website for asking questions. I've only had the program installed for a few days and I'm obviously still (re)learning how to navigate & draw, but I am pleased with the program and features. I have not purchased any tutorials (yet); however, such training material is available for purchase on the TurboCAD website and through Amazon. The program and the training materials, together, still come in well below the ~$1,000+ for AutoCAD Lite. This makes it perfect for me, as a DIY'er on a budget.
I'm running TurboCAD on Windows Vista (32 bit) with 1G of RAM and a 3GHz processor. Although the installation requires administrative privileges, I have had no problems running the program as a regular, non-privileged, user. According to the EULA, "IMSI grants to you a personal, worldwide, royalty-free, non-assignable, and non-exclusive license to use the object code of the Software on a single machine and to make a single copy of the Software for backup purposes only." Based upon that, it would not appear that you can legally have the software installed on a desktop and a laptop at the same time (unlike the old days of dongles). There is a registration process, which utilizes your Internet connection, and provides you with an activation key which must be entered into TurboCAD in order to activate it. The manual does provide an 800 number for activation if you don't have an Internet connection available. I had no problems activating over the Internet. The program created a ~300mb folder named "IMSIDesign" in Program Files with a full install. At the time of this review, you may also download an evaluation copy of TurboCAD from their website.
Edit (03/25/2010): I'm a little disappointed that the drawing of threads is only available in TurboCAD Pro. If you need threading capabilities, this version does not provide it.

Click Here to see more reviews about: TurboCAD Deluxe V16

Click here for more information about TurboCAD Deluxe V16

Read More...

Turbocad Mac Pro V3 2D & 3D Cad for Mac Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I recently bought two packages of this application, one for a family member (a savvy Mac user but CADD novice) and one for myself, an experienced Microstation (Windows only) user. As always, there is a significant learning curve to any CADD application and I expected no different here. With few, if any, third-party references for the Mac version of TurboCad, all we have to rely on is the included help files, the PDF User Guide, and a few downloadable tutorials which are, in fact, hard to find.
I attempted to put together a simple sequence of topics (where to begin, what next, etc.) using the help files and user guide. First off, the help files are not accessible from the Help menu in TurboCad, but they do reside in the TurboCad application folder and are in HTML format so, no problem, we just open them in Firefox. It turns out many of the help files are "broken" which is perhaps why they don't appear in the Help menu. I am persistent, so I examined the HTML code (simple enough text files) and found that many of the included image files simply have the wrong filename. Rename the files or correct the HTML references, either way they're fixed.
Next I created a support ticket at IMSI asking about a fix for the help files. After quite some time with no response, I checked on the ticket and found it had been "resolved." I created another ticket to inquire as to the nature of the resolution: had the problem really been solved? The response I got went something like this (paraphrased):
'Your request did not appear to pertain to any resolvable issue; rather
it sounded like a bunch of complaining.'
So I replied that not only was the problem 'fixable' as I had repaired a couple of the help pages myself, it was a simple matter of editing HTML/text! This went on for several messages back and forth. Each specific question I asked was literally ignored until the very last response finally answered the main question: the issues (complaints) I raised would be fixed in the next release of the software, no ETA known.
The Mac version of TurboCad is built by another company and IMSI has no control. I've read some complaints about TurboCad support elsewhere just like I've read complaints about almost any product out there. However, their support for the Mac product is simply awful, even when compared to their support for their own venerable 'TurboCad for Windows' product line.
I am, to say the least, sorely disappointed. I even mentioned at one point in this futile exchange that I had yet to pen an Amazon review, thinking they (IMSI) might take the hint and at least pretend they were interested in the problems I was having. I take this platform seriously and would not lightly give a bad review, but this is without a doubt, some of the most condescending and worst "customer service" I've ever suffered.
I owe an apology to my in-laws for whom this was a Christmas present.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Turbocad Mac Pro V3 2D & 3D Cad for Mac

Click here for more information about Turbocad Mac Pro V3 2D & 3D Cad for Mac

Read More...