Architectural CADD News by Software
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Architectural CADD News by Software |
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Last Updated : Jan. 3, 2001
TurboCAD
IMSI
from 1/01 :
TurboCAD is a product whose image was maligned by hyper-marketing, and is now taking the long road back to respectability. It's hard not to forget the mass mailings (Get CAD for Just $29!), and the Corporate Seeding Program (Get CAD for Free!). The legacy is too bad, since TurboCAD is a pretty good product. As IMSI's Rob Berry declared in his opening remarks to me, "It's time has come!"
You could almost say TurboCAD has "nearly twice the features of AutoCAD LT for nearly half the price." Mr Berry likes to put it another way: "The monopoly of AutoCAD is over; there is no reason to buy LT." Them's brave fighting words, also spoken by other CAD vendors in years past who subsequently stumbled over Autodesk's tracks.
There is a ton of new stuff in TurboCAD 7; I took four pages of notes as Mr Berry went through and showed them to me. I'll mention some of the highlights; you can read the details at http://www.turbocad.com .
* Solids modeling now does thin wall shelling.
* 2D Boolean regions can be edited directly.
* Dual dimensioning.
* Org chart wizard ("No Visio killer, but useful in a pinch," remarked Mr Berry.)
* Format painter can be used on 3D objects.
* Text along a curve.
* Move between windows without having to select them. ("Just pass the cursor over the window, and it becomes active," demoed Mr Berry.)
* Numerous enhancements for better compatibility with AutoCAD 2000, including multiple paper spaces (layouts), non-rectangular floating viewports, and in-place editing of blocks -- although TurboCAD still doesn't translate AutoCAD's complex linetypes.
Ordinary TurboCAD is $99, while the full TurboCAD Professional is US$399. You can download a 15-day version from http://www.digitalriver.com/dr/v2/ec_MAIN.Entry17c?SP=10007&PN=5&CID=0&SID=25271&PID=281776
Looking ahead to TurboCAD v8, IMSI is going to add modules. The first one, which Mr Berry demostrated, is an animation plug-in. After creating a walkthrough of your model, the plugin generates an AVI file.
I asked Mr Berry what was happening with some of IMSI's other products. TurboSketch might be revived. IMSI will drop Visual CADD after the next release (v5), with TriTools Partners taking over sales and distribution; TriTools already has the job of maintaining and upgrading the Visual CADD code base <http://www.tritools.com>. TurboCAD SolidModeler has many of its functions included in TurboCAD; development of SolidModeler has "paused," but might be revived in the future. -- Ralph Grabowski
from 6/99 :
TurboCAD Continues Free
Patricia A. Roche, manager of IMSI proche@imsisoft.com says, "Due to the popularity of the free download of TurboCAD 2D -- which IMSI recently offered to users who visited TurboCAD.com from December to February -- we've decided to add another 60 days to the offer. Here are URLs where the free offer can be viewed:
http://www.aecinfo.com/homes/index.html
http://www.imsisoft.com/products.html
TURBOCAD IS NO. 1
IMSI's(R) (NASDAQ: IMSI) award-winning TurboCAD(R) was the number one selling retail CAD software program in April, 1998, according to data compiled by PC Data, a Virginia-based research firm.
"With the most units shipped in the $100 to $500 price range, TurboCAD continues to be the dominant player in retail CAD software," says Roopinder Tara, general manager of IMSI's CAD division. "A forerunner in computer-aided design -- including the architecture, engineering, construction (AEC) and mechanical markets - IMSI has shipped more than a million units of TurboCAD to date."
He adds that the TurboCAD products set themselves apart from their competition
in two important ways -- enhanced ease of use and voice enabling. IMSI is
the first software provider to voice enable its CAD line of products.
IMSI provides Y2K information at
http://www.imsisoft.com/company/year2000/turbocady2k.html
Testimonials from users :
Date: Thu, 25 Mar 1999
From: Nick Pyner <npyner@tig.com.au>
I have Turbo 5 Pro and have just received the V6 promo.
I got V5 for its raster vector converter and to try the voice operated thing. The former works fairly well but still far from perfect, I have never had time to try the latter.
It reads/writes ACad14, Microstation, 3DSTudio and DWF. The DXF conversion is so fast I thought something was wrong with it. The on-board is not as useful as Quickshader but has better lighting and camera control. It is in fact more of a renderer than QS. The 3D viewing looks spiffy but isn't.
As I have mentioned before, it imports scanned pictures. You can't do anything with them, just look at them. Indeed TCad has all sorts of Windowsish goodies that DCad ought to have but doesn't.
I think TCad is a handy toolkit, interesting and certainly well priced. As a CAD programme, I think it stinks and not worth bothering with. Nick Pyner Dee Why Baech NSW
from 6/99 :
IMSI Restructures
Two weeks ago, Autodesk did it. Last week, International Microcomputer Software also restructured itself to deal with an estimated US$6 million shortfall. The changes announced on 24 June include:
1. -- Restructure with two main product categories: (1) precision design; and (2) artistic design. Focus will be on high margin product lines and expand Internet operations.
2. -- Cut staff from 300 to 200; outsource manufacturing and warehousing.
3. -- Divest non-core products to cut 75% off its product line.
4. -- In Europe, four independent operations are being consolidated into one office, with satellite sales offices.
"Over the past year, the extraordinary growth of the Internet and a slow retail software sales environment have accelerated the need for us to change our operating model to effectively compete in today's market," said ceo Costa John.
Some of these changes are being made so that IMSI can afford to continue to develop its Internet presence. Over the past few months, IMSI had determined that funding of its Internet operations were not sustainable. Costs include online infrastructure, retaining Web professionals, spreading the word about the site via marketing and communications, and supporting an Internet community. "The actions we have taken ... will enable us to better deploy the needed resources to develop Internet business." http://www.imsisoft.com
---- from Ralph Grabowski's newsletter UpFront Ezine
from 6/99 :
Re: IMSI Restructures
"This all sounded like a press release with lots of PR gobbledygook spin. I look for and respect your expert analysis, but did not find it on this IMSI thing, i.e. where does this leave TurboCAD and other CADD products, and what about that contradiction about their Internet site not being sustainable yet getting expanded." -- Geoffrey Moore Langdon
The editor replies: Well, there wasn't a lot of info that IMSI provided, but despite the murkiness, some details did shine through: TurboCAD will remain, since it is a "design product" and commands higher profits. IMSI feels strongly about e-commerce, so they are firing 100 people to help pay for continuing work on their Web site. Next time, I'll charge you for my analysis service <g>. -- Ralph Grabowski
