Replies

1. 
   Guest_ | Dec 23, 1998 03:44am | #1

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   Check out TurboCAD. They are offering TurboCAD 2D as a free download with a special offer for upgrading to TurboCAD v5 after you have decided you really love TurboCAD.............or you can just keep the 2D and use it forever. The new v5 offers 3D tools as well as the 2D. TurboCAD is quite easy to learn, is fairly intuitive and quite powerful....all for less than $200. As a completely new user, I'd download the free version and go from there.

2. 
   tim_Myers | Dec 26, 1998 11:58pm | #2

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   allaround,
   just purchased turbocad. the manual doesn't seem to be the best as far as walking through a simple house plan. is it best to start off by editing one of the plans on the cd? i guess im kind of impatient. how long should i expect to study until i can get this?

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   Fred_ | Dec 27, 1998 05:21am | #3

   *Any CAD program, whether it be AutoCAD or a generic, requires the user to jump in w both feet and start drawing. The fastest way to learn is to start drawing and have your manual open as you go. I use AutoCAD, and love it but it is somewhat expensive. But if TurboCAD is the least bit popular, you'll find textbooks on its use in Barne & Noble or any good technical book section of your favorite bookstore. Reading a manual will teach you very little, start with something small, say a bathroom and go from there. Good luck!

3. 
   Guest_ | Dec 27, 1998 09:23am | #4

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   I found that Ashlar's "Drawingboard" program gave a fairly easy transition from board to cad as advertised. Just a straight 2-d drafting program like turbocad. Just downloaded turbocad so I cant give you a comparison and I dont take to these things easy anyway. Keep us posted. JonC

4. 
   george_stringe | Dec 28, 1998 08:00am | #5

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   Turbocad is good and also very low cost but like they say about a lot of things-use it or lose it. If you don't use it a lot you will have to relearn a lot of stuff each time. I have not used any other cad so I can't compare. I don't use mine for architectural drawing but even so I have trouble with with scale and drawing size, real world and paper. As with all software manuals, they are of little help when you really need them, especially the ones written by the guys who wrote the software.

   A class will be big help if you can find one locally but will certainly cost much more than the software. And practice, practice, practice.

5. 
   Guest_ | Dec 28, 1998 11:43pm | #6

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   Just found out that you can now download a 30 day trial version of Drawingboard at mcesoft.com, though alot of what I liked about it was the excellent manual.Now that I've downloaded turbocad,I'm not sure that it does me any good to have a program without a good manual to hold on my lap.

6. 
   tim_Myers | Dec 29, 1998 12:04am | #7

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   Can anyone reccomend software for a new user that is easy to learn and won't break my wallet?