We were currently looking into purchasing Carlson Survey.
What is the difference between buying as a separate program as an add on to AutoCAD or using an embedded AutoCAD OEM?
Do any of these require a monthly due for the use of AutoCAD?
Thanks in advance.
The standalone has a stripped AutoCAD. How CAD savvy are you and your staff? I am CAD savvy and I loathe using the standalone, but my less CAD savvy guys do just fine.
The module does require CAD in whatever form you acquire it. If Autodesk needs their monthly donation, then you are on the hook.
I can use either, but I prefer the one that goes on top of CAD. You will have a lot more power to deal with XREFS and such. If you're just a small shop and just draft up your own surveys, the embedded will work just fine.
I own both versions and as Thadd said if you have been using AutoCAD you may be disappointed in the OEM AutoCAD version. You will be looking for some neat routine you have been using in AutoCAD and it won't be available. I will say as Ken did if you aren't a power user or been spoiled by AutoCAD the stand alone version works fine. If you buy the basic Carlson you get Intellicad or you must have AutoCAD on your computer, it will run on plain AutoCAD though you don't need Civil3D or such.
T.W.
The version that runs in autocad contains intellicad. Depending on your cad skills and frustration level, it might work for you. Many people use it and are happy with it. This is the most inexpensive. The next version is what some call the OEM version. As said above, it has a stripped down version of autocad inside it that don't use lisp and some other things. Again, it will suffice most small shops. I used this for a few years. It don't include intellicad and is a stand alone product.
It is the next expensive. Then, if you don't think you can live without lisp, user coordinate systems, and full blown autocad, the first version will run in vanilla autocad, map, or civil 3d that I am aware of. It is most expensive because of the additonal cad package purchase or lease now. I'm currently running the Carlson Civil Suite in plain autocad, not necessarily because I need it, but because I can and I want to. Any of the above will probably get the job done.
Tom posted wihile I was typing, pretty much the same here.
Thanks for the replies.
Do you have to pay a monthly due or lease with the OEM version as you would if you had stand alone AutoCAD or do you actually own the software?
hillsidesurveyor, post: 338834, member: 7292 wrote: Thanks for the replies.
Do you have to pay a monthly due or lease with the OEM version as you would if you had stand alone AutoCAD or do you actually own the software?[/QUOTE
No. (Not yet. I have heard nothing about that changing yet.)
Now as for our power users, that is AutoCAD speak that those guys are LISP geeks. The Carlson OEM has MANY neat tools to speed up your workflow. With the way I have mine configured and Field to Finish fully functional and knowing where to find the neat stuff and how to use it, I am about 3x faster in my work than I ever was on AutoCAD.
Simple fact of life, AutoCAD user's LOVE their software. You will never convince them that for many uses Carlson is indeed a viable option. No matter what tricks Carol Barf pulls with pricing, they will stand steadfast with their product. Nothing else will satisfy them. They are very closed minded on this. I know that for a FACT because I was once that way myself.
YOUR bottom-line is cost. In that arena AutoCAD loses as does the very concept of loading Carlson on top of a very pricey copy of AutoCAD. (Contrary to popular belief stated here, IF you load Carlson on top of AutoCAD, you DO NOT have to use Intellicad to run it. That is simply not true. Using Intellicad with AutoCAD is an option. You do not HAVE to do it. We are running the survey pac on top of AutoCAD and there is NO Intellicad involved. Someone has their software installed wrong and they do not know it.)
