Carlson Intellicad vs Carlson AutoCad embedded

If you can, install a demo of the Intellicad version and try it out. At a former employer, after using the embedded version for a few years, they decided to go with the Intellicad (i.e., less expensive) version. Maybe I'm crazy, but I didn't like the feel of it. I can't really explain it, but it just didn't feel right! When it came time for me to purchase Carlson for myself, I went with the embedded.

I personally have not been happy with IntelliCAD. It's fine for small project or basic tasks but it bogs down under heavy load sometimes (especially with images) and there are a fair amount of bugs that seem pretty random and annoying. I've had compatibility issues when there are proxy objects made with Civil 3D or Mechanical o any of the industry specific flavors. I also miss many features and commands that where AutoCAD specific (Qleader, etc).

We're migrating to C3D because some of our clients are asking for C3D deliverables and because it plays a bit better with Leica. That said we're keeping Carlson for basic tasks and for field use. I love Carlson but I would definitely get the Embedded version if I were to guy it again.

Tom

Beside the 'which functions better arguments', I would add that there is a significant difference in the cost of annual maintenance:

IntelliCAD Annual Maintenance: $159.50
Upgrade from 2013 Embedded ACAD to 2014: $695.00

So in addition to the initial $1,260 difference in purchase price, there is an additional $535.50 annual charge for maintenance/upgrade on Embedded. (Based on current prices, which may change a bit with inflation.)

Over 10-years, that adds up to real money: $6,615

Now, I think there are some significant advantages to Embedded. And there are some advantages of IntelliCAD. They have different personalities.

A lot of your decision will be based on your past product use and the products that engineers that you interact with use. If everyone made the same choice, there would not be a choice.

I suggest that you try each for one month. After 30-days, you will have better feeling as to how you feel about each of them. With that experience and the comments that will surely follow, it will probably end up being an easy choice.

M

Everything Mark says sounds savvy.

Personally, I am against recurring/annual fees of any sort.
That goes for all software developers - myself included.

I have related on that "other forum" about buying tools.
When I was a carpenter, did I have to pay license to Estwing to use their hammer? Is my "license" to pound a nail going to expire after a year's use?
When I was a logger, did I have to pay fees to Stihl, Husqavarna or Poulan? NO.
(all good saws by the way)

In my opinion: "I bought my tool so let me use so long as I wish!" - PERIOD!!

That's my story and I'm sticking to by God!
E.

I tried the Intellicad version for a few month last year. The commands and feel were close to what I was used to with Land Desktop, but it was pretty buggy and large coordinate drawings made things worse. Text would become scrambled, hatching and symbols would go haywire and entities would appear offset when moving them, none of which improved with a regen. I was making multiple calls to tech support to complete each drawing, but finally gave up and upgraded to the embedded version and haven't needed to call since. It also bothered me that drawings created with Intellicad prompted a warning message when opened by others in AutoCad. It probably doesn't matter, but I provide drawings to engineers and architects on occasion and would rather them not get the warning message, as I charge them high prices and don't want to look like I'm trying to save a couple bucks on my software.

For boundary I love Carlson Survey inside Intellicad. I've topo'd a little bit with it and haven't any trouble real trouble. Like a command flat out not working. It's not as polished as AutoCAD. Feels a little like R14 to me.

My civil projects large and small I use C3D.

Steve

I used to be a cad nazi. If autocad didn't make it I didn't want it. Even though I cussed autocad on a daily basis. I loved LDD and since then have always been trying to get as close to the LDD environment. I have owned LDD many years then onto C3D then I bought Microsurvey with embedded cadd. I took the leap of faith on Carlson with intellicad and absolutely hated it for 2 weeks. After I finally got my 2 letter macros setup under the "Quickkeys" function and have learned all the intellicad icons compared to Autocad, I think I will never go back. I work in state plane coord's everyday and have jobs with thousands of points. I have an image on almost all of my drawings. I guess for once in my life. And I mean once! I don't have all the other problems everyone else is having. I can safely say I like the intellicad version. The price does help but I will spend the money it takes to make something work. I'm just glad I configured this system out and in the end it is a less costly system. This is as close to LDD as I have found. If I had to do it again I would not hesitate like I did when I first bought intellicad. It works for me and what seems to me like it only gets better and better. I will second the hatching problem. Intellicad does has a terrible hatching routine. Not bad enough for me to not buy the program but it does suck.

I can feel everybody’s pain with the buggy issues with intellicad, we have had more than our share, and decided to hold off with upgrading to 2014, for now anyway. With that said, I would encourage as many as possible to invest in Carlson/Intellicad: Carlson is giving it 200% and making great strides in improving intellicad every day. This can only be a win/win for everybody: the more people willing to invest in intellicad and send in the error reports helps Carlson to improve it, and we get great affordable software in return.

I got the Intellicad version and have been frustrated trying to learn it. I don't know how much it is the difference between DCA/Softdesk/LDD vs. Carlson or is it Intellicad vs. Acad.

There seem to be a lot of things like it will snap to the endpoint of the cross on a point. I guess you can't use crosses. WTF.

I bought a copy of Carlson Civil Suite w/ Intellicade about 4 years ago and have been migrating to it from ACAD C3D. I also have had quite a bit of experience using Bentley products. To note, I do both surveying and civil work.
The last several projects I have switched completely to the Carlson software. I am happy with the wide versitility.

A huge benefit to Carlson is the personal and immediate support. I have suggested several improvements, and each time I have been able to talk to the folks who can make it happen. Plus their support for any questions or issues is outstanding.

I'm very happy with the Intellicad version and do not see reason for renewing my ACAD subscription.

I have tried both "flavors" of Carlson Survey and finally settled on the AutoCAD Embedded version because of "perceived" stability issues. I was a LDD user for way to long and had my preconceived notions and loyalties to AutoCAD and I am sure that influenced my final choice. Intellicad is coming along fine. There are some pretty big issues with both versions of Survey 2014 and Carlson is working away on them. Still it is WAY to early for me to switch to Intellicad or any version of 2014. I will wait until the Beta phase is over.
One thing to understand is that Autodesk is playing its games with all of the third party vendors. The greatest strength of the early versions of AutoCAD was its third party support in the form of software packages and instructional manuals. That is all gone now, Autodesk no longer supports the third party software guys as in days past. Oh, they will if the price is right. They obviously want no competition not even from their earlier releases. AutoCAD is no longer fully compatible with itself. Going backwards and forwards between all releases exposes some rather "interesting" problems.
I have been running Carlson Survey since 2007 and have had NO reported compatibility problems from my clients.
Now, as to costs,the Embedded version costs more because that's the way AutoDesk wants it, not Carlson. AutoDesk is the reason that there is no maintenance program for the Embedded version. They will get their pound of flesh. Still $695 is better than $2500 for an upgrade.
Bottom line, for the way I do things and what I know about cad, Carlson Survey with Embedded AutoCAD was the best way to go. I am not a LISP programmer/user and I figured out how to get my Quick Keys back, so I am as close to my Beloved LDD as I can get. Ask me again in two or three years and my answer may be different as Carlson makes progress with Intellicad.

I upgraded from SurvCADD XML with ACAD 2002i to Survey 2013 with IntelliCAD, so that should tell you how far "behind" we were. It was enough of an upgrade that I probably don't know what I may be missing with embedded AutoCAD. Older versions of Survey couldn't do things like TS for text size and SZ for symbol size. I can with 2013. I've not really noticed any of the keyboard commands I like from XML missing in 2013. The glitches are fewer and fewer. It's been pretty stable for the past several months.

I'd give ICAD a try. I believe that if you don't like it, you can always upgrade to embedded.

You kept your last version for at least 6 years. You might as well go with the better choice for the duration that you will have it. You'll forget how much it cost you in 6 years.

From what I have always read and heard, its not the same.....

We finally made the switch to intellicad version this year its come along way in a couple years or even a year . We have had no issues with it the last couple months and is very stable now. I would recommend it . I had issues with it last year , but also had issues with the AutoCAD version . I guess we should count our blessings otherwise we would be paying a lot more and AutoCAD might not even be around for us in couple years or be priced out of the ball park . Carlson is still the best software out there in my book . I have tried them all .

I do wish they would port to Briscad because it is hands down the best cad program I have seen .

Our lead engineer went from AutoCAD to Intellicad with Carlson. He absolutely hates it.

I have been using Carlson Survey Intellicad version since 2010. It is not a pleasant experience. A few bugs, entity tracking missing (I am on 2011 version) screen going blank in the middle of selecting objects for contouring....etc.

I sent an enquiry last week to Carlson about possible features that could be added to the embedded (construction lines, normal 2d lines) so I could upgrade. The enquiry was sent to a carslon rep in the UK (I am not even based there) and all I got was a bad attitude. I never thought I would say this but Microsurvey embedded is looking a better version for my next upgrade.

I think a lot of the problems reported could be fixed by a port to Bricscad. It is an excellent program with all the normal cad features.

We just switched to 2014 Intellicad....Its pure garbage...

Don't know. I am a circle guy.

Steve

I'm in the same boat as Jimmy looking to get new software. I do a ton of construction staking and hoping to get some input on calcs for such. Alignments, profiles points etc. What are your thoughts?

Thanks