Replies

1. 
   Mike_Smith | Oct 04, 2000 12:29am | #1

   *
   Tony.. there's a lot of discussion on this in the threads further down..

   the short answer is..

   3D Home Architect by Broderbund....about $30...

1. 
   Gregory_Mills | Oct 12, 2000 09:49am | #2

   *Tony, I am currently taking an architectural drafting course using AutoCAD, the standard CAD program used in nearly all industries. The only problem with it is it cost nearly $4000. After taking the course, I will stick to my $99 TurboCAD which has all the bells and whistles as AutoCAD, including very easy to use 3D. Best Buy sells TurboCAD, sometimes for as low as $89.

1. 
   Adrian_Wilson | Oct 12, 2000 01:56pm | #3

   *And Turbocad v7 (brand new), is almost ready....

1. 
   bobl_ | Oct 12, 2000 02:41pm | #4

   *Gregory, Have you tried Intellicad? Haven't used it myself but it is suppose to be very Autocad like and FREE. Has a user forum and a user manual.http://www.cadopia.com/default.asp

1. 
   Jon_Blakemore | Oct 12, 2000 08:17pm | #5

   *Tony, I'm actually working on AutoCADLT right now, in class (we're on break, in case you're wondering why I'm on BT). The "light" vesion can be had for somewhere around $400. So far I love it. I never plan to use a T square again. Good luck.Jon

2. 
   Adrian_Wilson | Oct 14, 2000 05:09am | #6

   *Just thought I'd mention this; I have three Cad programs on my system, including Intellicad, though I mostly use Turbocad. I've been working on a pretty complicated kitchen design with several pieces of basically freestanding furniture,all 3d models, with turned legs, etc. I tried opening the drawing, converted to DWG (the format of Icad and Autocad) in Icad, and it just can't read a lot of the complicated objects (I'm not up on the technical details, but I think it has to do with ACIS solids if I remember right). I don't know if it would even ahve been possible to create them in that program. This is sort of important in that 3d modelling is the way things are going in CAD, and once you get used to it, for my work it is way more valuable than 2d drawings. I am not an expert in Icad, but it looks like it won't do waht I need it to do, so if you are into 3d, be aware. Drawing opened perfectly in Autocad.

3. 
   Phill_Giles | Oct 14, 2000 05:39am | #7

   *Did you ever try Autocabinet ?

4. 
   Matt_Martel | Oct 18, 2000 09:29pm | #8

   *Tony,I have the same question as you. I did purchase 3D Home Architect by Broderbund. It is junk. You get what you pay for.I am leaning towards AutoCad Lt or CadKey wire frame. Both are around $500 and are used in industry a lot. They are easy to learn, but it helps to have some drawing experience because the manuals and tutorials do assume you know the lingo.

5. 
   Mike_Smith | Oct 18, 2000 09:35pm | #9

   *i'm running Chief Architect 6.0......if you want a preview of VS. 7.0 of Chief Architect.. take a look at this ....berryvale software

6. 
   Adrian_Wilson | Oct 18, 2000 10:00pm | #10

   *Here is a link to a Cadalyst article about budget (under $500) general CAD programs; check out the reviews for Turbocad and Intellicad before buying an Autocad product. They both beat the pants off AC LT,and they are both 3d capable, and translation into and out of Autocad is as good as between two AC users (which is to say, sometimes it works perfectly, sometimes less than perfectly. Check out an AC forum for laughs; it ain't no mercedes). for your edification

7. 
   Adrian_Wilson | Oct 18, 2000 10:03pm | #11

   *I've looked at all the cabinet programs in that $2500 range; with one exception, most shops aren't happy with them, and upgrade very soon to Cabnetware or Cabinetvision (about 8000$ US each by if you want to be able to build from them). The exception is called KCDw, and it's getting some really good reviews lately on cabinetmaking forums; $2700 US.

8. 
   John_Sprung | Nov 11, 2000 04:56am | #12

   *I've had TurboCad for years, back at least to version 2.0. I've been hoping to find something better. IMSI churns out version after version, a new one every six months, to try to make money on upgrades. That makes me wonder how they're doing financially. As a result, they've added bugs faster than they've added features. I use 5.0 pro, which, though it has its problems, is the last one I regard as stable enough to use for production. The user interface is a cluttered mess. For instance, you can set the height of text either with a dropdown menu box on the top near the right, or by entering numbers in a different box on the lower left. Now that they're into 3D, they don't bother with the old 2D bugs any more. Documentation is poor, but they're working on an upgrade to the help files. Maybe later they'll do something about the manual. All the programming is done in St. Petersburg, Russia. -- J.S.

9. 
   Jim_Walters | Nov 12, 2000 03:44pm | #13

   *I just dowloaded Intellicad for the hell of it and for a free program you get a pretty good system. I goofed with it a bit, the free virsion doesn't do 3d, but 2d works fine. I think you could get a good looking set of prints off it.

10. 
    Michael_Weed | Nov 17, 2000 04:40pm | #14

    *Softplan vs. Solid BuilderDoes anyone have any information on these two systems? I run a small residential design/build both of these prgrams sounds perfect, but I cannot choose between the two.Any info would be greatly appreciated!Thank,mweed.

11. 
    The_Tennis_Court_Builder_...on_t | Nov 22, 2000 07:52am | #15

    *Our local lumber yard is set up to link to Softplan.near the stream still drawing by hand,aj

12. 
    Steve_Bermont | Nov 27, 2000 07:22pm | #16

    *>I teach computer science in middle school as well as doing carpentry/cabinetmaking. We use TurboCad and as other threads have stated, it has all the features of AutoCad at a price under $100. As to ease of use, I've got eighth and ninth graders doing technical drawings and floorplans with TurboCad. It is accurate and runs on most PC's. Check TurboCad.Com for version 7.

13. 
    piffin_ | Nov 28, 2000 04:53am | #17

    *Go with softplan, eternal free tech support, easy to learn and use, don't need to think like a technowenie. SP lite is affordable and upgradeable

14. 
    David_Boratko | Feb 23, 2001 10:30pm | #18

    *Looking for a reasonably priced CAD system for help in design of an attached mud room/one-car garage along with a detached two-bay garage/wood work shop structure. Would like this software to have the ability to produce a material list as well as show a 3-D image. Computer operating system is Windows 95. Hope someone out there can help me out !!

15. 
    allaround_ | Feb 28, 2001 06:51am | #19

    *To check out TurboCad, go to http://www.imsisoft.com and scroll down to the bottom of the page. You'll find a list of downloadable "lite" versions of several IMSI products, including a 2D version of TurboCad that sports most of the bells and whistles of the full version with the exception of 3D. It's free - all it will cost is the download time. TurboProject, their project planning software is there too. It's great for getting a good perspective of a project time frame and about the only limitation is that you can only have one project at a time open.

2. 
   Tony_Ferrito | Feb 28, 2001 06:51am | #20

   *
   Does anyone out there have any recommendations for an easy to use CAD program that will produce floor-plans and elevations?
   I don't need a full blown CAD program suitable for NASA and I don't really need 3D or a Walk thru. Just an affordable Program that doesn't Have a big learning curve.
   I'm in the High-end Remodeling business.....
   Ooops time to get my son off to school....
   Thanks in advance.
   TFerrito