Architectural CADD News by Software |
Last Updated : April 30, 2000
PowerCADD
Engineered Software ---- http://www.engsw.com
Latest Version : ?
Web Site : http://www.engsw.com
Online Forum : ?
Note from Architectural CADD : PowerCADD is a 2D production oriented architectural CADD software for the Macintosh. It is extremely fast and easy.
Comments from Architectural CADD : Great stuff, but 2D only - is that a fault or a feature ? Many large AE firms use PowerCADD very productively, and, for the few people in the office that need to use 3D, may supplement with FormZ. Other firms seem to opt for the harder to use, but more sophisticated VectorWorks, at least initially merely because it Has 3D even if they don't use it yet. Upshot is that, in the future long run, in order to go to "the next step" i.e. a CADD program that will help you generate the elevations and sections of that floorplan you just drew, it is going to have to be 3D. In the meantime, if you need a great production tool where you will have to spend almost No time learning it (compared with most architectural CADD software) PowerCADD will certainly get the job done.
From : N. J. Sinclair
To : Geoffrey Moore Langdon
Date : 4/26/2000
My one and only question is how come you neglected to even mention PowerCADD on your CADD rating list? I suppose one may consider a programme only on the MAC as a non-starter but all I can say you do a diservice for not even giving it a mention. As a former AutoCAD user all I'll say is the proof has been in my day-to-day use. N. J. Sinclair, OALA, ASLA njsoala@iprimus.ca
To : N. J. Sinclair
From : Geoffrey Moore Langdon
Date : 4/27/2000
I guess you missed the fact that there are several rating lists on the Architectural CADD site.
On that 1997 list online, PowerCADD tied for 4th place for Architectural Production software out of a list of over 39 products listed, and over 70 reviewed. In our more recent ratings PowerCADD rises somewhat as it gets better and better, however, as all the other programs also get better and better, and given that the company behind it, Engineered Software just hasn't developed anywhere in the area of 3D, architectural intelligence, drawing viewers, integrated file translators, alliances with other companies or symbol libraries, it is actually falling in our list of recommended software.
Perhaps you were looking at the other list, of recommended DESIGN software, when you thought PowerCADD was not mentioned. As a user, you know that, while PowerCADD is great at drafting, it lacks tools that aid design that many other programs now have (such as space planning, frame design, 3D modeling, sketching, analysis tools, and so on).
Many people are very happy with PowerCADD. One of the largest firms here in Boston is a dedicated user of some 85 PowerCADD stations. For 3D they combine it with FormZ. In fact there is a generally positive review in our CADD Scenarios section of our book Architectural CADD : A Resource Guide.
Date: Thu, 27 Apr 2000
From: Norm Sinclair <njsoala@iprimus.ca>
To: Geoffrey Moore Langdon <glangdon@shore.net>
Dear Mr. Langdon,
Thank you for the clarification and my heartfelt appologies for not having looked a little harder. I would, however, debate the fact that PowerCADD is weak in the design end. My experience has been quite the reverse but then again different people have different needs.
I am in total agreement that PowerCADD couples up very nicely with Form Zed. I work with a firm in Burlington who specializes in both and we have gotten fantastic results. Also I know of several firms who use ArchiCad with PowerCADD as the bulk of their stations.
I guess what really irks me are the articles I've seen that say there is one and only one solution. Creativity knows no bounds. And as my greatuncle from Texas used to say, "Thar's more than one way to skin a bar." My appologies again.