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Alibre price drop becomes permanent ($99!) (#2969)
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ttrw  
#1 Posted : Saturday, February 6, 2010 2:35:22 PM(UTC)
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Thought this may interest you guys (and frighten the willies out of Punch too!)

http://develop3d.com/blog/2010/...e-drop-becomes-permanent

Time for a permanent drop in prices for Shark too?
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ttrw  
#2 Posted : Saturday, February 6, 2010 3:09:51 PM(UTC)
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Oops! Tim's already been here!!

Quote:
Our ViaCAD products have been sustainable and profitable for Punch since the initial release in 2007. Not only is it less than $100, boxed versions include a printed manual, free service packs & phone support, and upgrades to the next major release for $20.

For those unfamiliar with ViaCAD, below is a link to the original product release with a brief overview.

http://www.punchsoftware.com/releases/ViaCad_release.html

In our case we are fortunate to leverage our experience and distribution channel with value software from our Home Design market back into the CAD market. In particular, the distribution channel provides us with an opportunity to introduce precision CAD to first time CAD users through US retail outlets such as OfficeMax, OfficeDepot, Frys, Apple, and Staples.

>>I think there™s a common misconception that developing a 3D design tool
>> is just licensing the kernel and you™re good to go - it™s nowhere near that simple..

Yup. I™ve had the opportunity to create a precision CAD system with and without component technology. Our time to market with component technology is certainly quicker and your team size can be smaller, but there is still significant development in putting it all together into a unique package.

Posted by Tim Olson on Monday 01 2010 at 10:01 PM
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Steve.M  
#3 Posted : Sunday, February 7, 2010 5:55:22 AM(UTC)
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Quote:
Yup. I™ve had the opportunity to create a precision CAD system


Well that statement is certainly debatable in a number of areas of VC/Shark.
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ttrw  
#4 Posted : Sunday, February 7, 2010 6:48:36 AM(UTC)
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:eek:

"Had the opportunity"? Poor Tim! ;)

Well I dunno? It's (Shark that is) pretty precision, it's just that it needs more bug squashing imo. Unfortunately I've got people who want stuff 'this afternoon', so until Shark is working really well, it's Windows 7 for me :(
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Steve.M  
#5 Posted : Sunday, February 7, 2010 8:26:32 AM(UTC)
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Originally Posted by: ttrw Go to Quoted Post
Well I dunno? It's (Shark that is) pretty precision, it's just that it needs more bug squashing imo.
What is the difference between bad produced geometry from a bad implementation or from a bug? Both give unwanted output. As example. A G2 surface match is either G2 or it is not, there is no "nearly G2" about it. (I know, a rant of G2 match again)


Originally Posted by: ttrw Go to Quoted Post

Unfortunately I've got people who want stuff 'this afternoon', so until Shark is working really well, it's Windows 7 for me :(
Does windows 7 now have inbuilt CAD? :rolleyes:


- Steve
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ttrw  
#6 Posted : Sunday, February 7, 2010 9:28:36 AM(UTC)
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Originally Posted by: Steve.M Go to Quoted Post


Does windows 7 now have inbuilt CAD? :rolleyes:



No- afaik, BUT, I do know that Solidworks DOES!

Tim, you are crazy to release something that still has so many bugs! I really want to love ViaCAD- especially because it is on my fave platform, but so many times I end up swearing at it, because things don't always work. Snap stopped working last week, then it works again after switching from 3D to 2D and then back again. I only thought of getting out of this, by doing that a few days later. It can't be like this- I need to make a living!

I especially can't justify the 4 figure price tag either!
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Steve.M  
#7 Posted : Sunday, February 7, 2010 10:12:35 AM(UTC)
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Originally Posted by: ttrw Go to Quoted Post
BUT, I do know that Solidworks DOES!
That (IMHO) still as its own problems, but they can be worked around. (I use it quite a lot on various contracts)
Originally Posted by: ttrw Go to Quoted Post

Tim, you are crazy to release something that still has so many bugs!
I agree. But the probability is that Tim did not directly release this (well, I certainly hope not). From the fact that a lot of bug reports/problems have been ignored suggests to me that either they cannot be easily fixed, or no resources, or not allowed due to possible cost/resource need. Whichever, I will not upgrade with current bugs/problems that have been around for years.

Quote:
I especially can't justify the 4 figure price tag either!
Not as it stands, No.


- Steve
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ttrw  
#8 Posted : Sunday, February 7, 2010 10:47:32 AM(UTC)
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Yes I would imagine that Punch marketing dept have something to do with the premature release. It's a shame really, because all it does is add further injury to what could actually be a rather good product.
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la mouche  
#9 Posted : Sunday, February 7, 2010 11:53:26 AM(UTC)
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a buggy product is a product dead!

be careful that the community of users will not tire ....

Antoine
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ttrw  
#10 Posted : Sunday, February 7, 2010 2:11:53 PM(UTC)
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Originally Posted by: la mouche Go to Quoted Post
a buggy product is a product dead!


Well I know you're annoyed, and for good reason, but isn't most software reasonably buggy anyway? Take Adobe Flash for eg! I was supposed to have mastered Flash my 3rd year at university. Director (on PC) was always falling over. I hated it!!!
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la mouche  
#11 Posted : Sunday, February 7, 2010 2:44:24 PM(UTC)
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I talk about basic functions, which are bugged for many years.

it's insupportable and even when we are teaching for this software.
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ttrw  
#12 Posted : Sunday, February 7, 2010 3:00:48 PM(UTC)
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Antoine, have you tried this Bonzai3D yet? I wasn't impressed with v1, but v2 is much much better (so far)! :D
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Steve.M  
#13 Posted : Sunday, February 7, 2010 11:42:13 PM(UTC)
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Originally Posted by: ttrw Go to Quoted Post
I wasn't impressed with v1, but v2 is much much better (so far)! :D


Hi Tom,

Are you using Bonzai3D (did you purchase?)

- Steve
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Steve.M  
#14 Posted : Sunday, February 7, 2010 11:44:08 PM(UTC)
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Originally Posted by: la mouche Go to Quoted Post
I talk about basic functions, which are bugged for many years.


I have to agree. Even for my "Home modeling" I have to put aside VC pro until it works better.


- Steve
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Steve.M  
#15 Posted : Sunday, February 7, 2010 11:59:04 PM(UTC)
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Originally Posted by: ttrw Go to Quoted Post
....but isn't most software reasonably buggy anyway?.


IMHO, that is not a valid counter argument for buggy software.

Shark V7 has been released with many known bugs from earlier versions. Even the new tools, such as the widget non-uniform scaling, simply dont work.
Going back to G2 surface matching(yes, again). How can a product advertise such when it cannot actually achieve it. I still have an open bug report in the Punch bug tracker for this. Even the example (of G2 surface match) shown in the manual is not correctly possible.

I will download Alibre and take a look at that. :(


- Steve
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zumer  
#16 Posted : Monday, February 8, 2010 2:32:32 AM(UTC)
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Alibre doesn't have sophisticated surface functionality. It'll replace surfaces (with those produced in other apps too), but lofting (of closed shapes) is the only native surface party trick. Straightforward parametrics on primitives. It's quite similar to a long-discontinued parametric TurboCAD version, Solid Modeler, originally developed as CorelCAD.
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ttrw  
#17 Posted : Monday, February 8, 2010 4:11:45 AM(UTC)
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Originally Posted by: Steve.M Go to Quoted Post

Are you using Bonzai3D (did you purchase?)


Hi Steve.

No I haven't purchased, I just downloaded v2 and ran the software again. I'm not 100% convinced yet, but what I've seen so far, is good. It hasn't crashed yet, either- which can only be a good thing right?
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Steve.M  
#18 Posted : Monday, February 8, 2010 4:22:52 AM(UTC)
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Originally Posted by: ttrw Go to Quoted Post
No I haven't purchased, I just downloaded v2 and ran the software again. I'm not 100% convinced yet, but what I've seen so far, is good. It hasn't crashed yet, either- which can only be a good thing right?


Hi Tom,


I did beta test V1, but found it fell short of my modeling needs. I am downloading V2 to check it out. I will post to the bonzai thread with my findings.

- Steve
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victorf57  
#19 Posted : Monday, June 21, 2010 4:15:52 PM(UTC)
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Hello all,
I'm on the fence; I have viacad 2D/3D ver5,
I wanted to upgrade to ver7 but with the price increase for the upgrade I'm wondering If I would be better off with Alibre PE?
I have spoken to someone there and they are willing to give me the alibre and the video tutorials
That normally ser for $147.00 all for $99.00
SO any input?? Has anyone used both and what is the preference and why.
Any information would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks all
Victor
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jol  
#20 Posted : Tuesday, June 22, 2010 1:15:15 AM(UTC)
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newsflash : free toyota landcruiser with each ViaCAD seat !

$50 to upgrade modern CAD .. not so bad really ?

the cost of the software is nothing relative to the time you will use it
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