Here is my story.
Been using the same XP laptop and Eagle Point Intel-CAD since 2000. (feels like confession, oh it is Sunday)
Bought a super nice laptop with Win 8 at black Friday sale last year.
Got so frustrated with Win 8 that I gave the whole machine to one of my kids.
About a two months ago, bought used laptop with Win 7 on ebay, and downloaded free trial of Carlson/IntelliCAD 2014.
That Cad Girl has got some great prices. About $900 is all if you are using SurveCE. Or other deals on trade-in or upgrades.
Now I am still using the old EP-2000 when I need to get the drawing done fast(90% of time) and the New Carlson 2014 when I can take my time (10% of time). This winter I hope for those percentages to switch places.
My advice: Start the change now so you can do it slowly and the Carlson is so easy (Give it a 30 day free trial). I used AutoCAD for many years and often help a fellow PLS that uses LDT-2004. The Carlson is much easier for us guys who just want to draw some survey plats.
Maybe Different, But Not Needed By Me
Mostly engineering features which I grew tired of years ago.
I liked the simple stuff, Measure And Divide, which I do work arounds for now.
Paul in PA
> OUTside.....
>
> Switch over to Mac (I'm a mac user other than for work and get Autocad for Mac..
>
> ??? Any thoughts??
>
> andy
Aloha, Andy: I had a feeling you don't belong to the dark side (being a Mac user) 😀 😀
I don't do professional survey stuff. But since you said you use Mac, there is another option for you.
I have Parallels Desktop running on a Mac. Parallels (a virtual PC) is very stable. I read somewhere that best hardware to operate Windows software is on a Mac!!;-) Parallels 9 can run Windows XP. It will also allows you to migrate from PC to your virtual PC--I never had a need to do migration. I have both XP and Windows 8 running on this virtual PC, never had any issue so far. My usage of Windows are very small as most of my work in on the Mac side. I only use Windows for couple softwares.
The only challenge I had was to get my data collector to connect to the Window side. The older DC will connect via Active Sync. on the Windows' side. You have to do a bit of fiddling to get it to work. I am not Windows guy so I am always in the dark when I switch from Mac to PC through the virtual environment. I just do what I need to and get out of it as fast as I could 😀 For an example my DC Ranger TSCe will connect to Window XP but will not work with Windows 8 which uses the Microsoft Mobile Device Manager. However, Ranger 500 works fine with Windows XP and 8. So if you go this route, you need to make sure your hardware is compatible.
For survey software I use TraversePC. Unfortunately, they don't have Mac version--only PC:-( Folks at TraversePC was very helpful to get me going with the software. Being a Church and a non profit organization we got very good discount from them--for otherwise I can never afford a Survey software.
All that said, on a serious note...I hope you have good back up copy of your current PC! And hope you will be able to come up with best setup for your workflow!
Are they still doing that virtual PC thing?
I thought they gave up on it many many years ago.
I forget what they called it back then but a friend had one of those machines 15 or so years and he hated it. That was back in the late 80s I think.
E
> Are they still doing that virtual PC thing?
> I thought they gave up on it many many years ago.
> I forget what they called it back then but a friend had one of those machines 15 or so years and he hated it. That was back in the late 80s I think.
> E
Aloha, Eric:
I think Virtual PC was the pioneer. As far as I know it was the first to run Windows on a Mac (I could be wrong...) But the name stuck just like xerox for making photocopies and kleenex for tissue papers..;-)
We have two different software in our offices that emulate Windows on a Mac. I think one is called Virtual Machine and the other is Parallels Desktop. I am using Parallels for about four years now. No issues as far as running any Windows software. There is a challenge when you want to connect any hardware to the Windows through the Mac interface--mostly because my lack of knowledge about Windows system. I am still working our several kinks to get my Electrical Power Analyzer unit to connect to Win 8. It works fine with XP. All are in emulated Windows environment on a iMac. My survey dept. is up an running once I got my Ranger 500 to work with Win 8. Aloha
Virtual PC sounds right.
I have written many emulators in the past and they are not all that fun if you want to do it all the way. To get it completely right you basically have to think as that "other" machine might "think". If you're going to do that then why not just go get the other machine. Back in the day I/we didn't have a half-million dollars to buy that "other machine" so the powers that be at the time had no problem backing my salary for a few months. I suppose I did just fine. I got a couple promotions, raises and awards. It helped that I had a few years experience with that machine and was good friends with the original operating system writers who were happy to share all their research papers and stuff with me. At first some of them thought I was a little arrogant to take on that task. I didn't know any better. Looking back I can how they might have wondered what this little ignorant kid coming from a corn-fed Illinois hick background doing writing an emulator for a machine the size of a garage. Once they realized I wasn't arrogant at all and had a genuine curiosity in all their backgrounds and research work, they loosened up and were happy to help.
Aloha.
E
Yes, I am in the shady side, not quite dark! now that you mention it, I think I did partition my Mac at home years ago to run Windows for some sort of airplane simulator my son JUST HAD TO FLY.... which lasted about 3 weeks. haha.. So maybe I could just go home and load up my old autocad 2000 there for a test. Thanks!!
Also, good points on the interface.. I use a Geodmeter instrument and data collector. I connects via parallel port, which i had to order specifically on my toughbook..
Andy
> Yes, I am in the shady side, not quite dark! now that you mention it, I think I did partition my Mac at home years ago to run Windows for some sort of airplane simulator my son JUST HAD TO FLY.... which lasted about 3 weeks. haha.. So maybe I could just go home and load up my old autocad 2000 there for a test. Thanks!!
>
> Also, good points on the interface.. I use a Geodmeter instrument and data collector. I connects via parallel port, which i had to order specifically on my toughbook..
>
> Andy
Aloha, Andy: What kind of data collector are you using? Geodimeter CU? You might able to use the same parallel port connector by adding another parallel port to USB converter. Sounds like you've done your Windows partition via Bootcamp. I never used it before but have heard unfavorable comments about it. Apparently, you need to reboot the Mac to get from one system to another.
Well...keep us posted how it goes. Aloha.
There is a program that I almost tried called Longbow converter, that reportedly will run 32 bit AutoCAD on a 64 bit system. In the end when I updated last year I went with a dual boot 32 bit Vista and 64 bit Windows 7 computer to run my AutoCAD Map 2008, Carlson Survey 2010 and it works fine for the most part.
Peter
I am using a macbook air 11 inch that has dual boot from windows 7 pro 64 bit to osx, works great in the field, small , light, no mechanical hard drive to get bumped and scratched. Run it in windows during the day for work and osx for the fun stuff.
Autocad 2013 and tbc run so fast on it, ( in windows mode) faster than my lenovo i7 laptop with 8 gigs ram. The screen is so clear and bright and it is built so well so it handles the outdoors well.
Strorage space is tight as the 128 gb drive is spilt in half for osx and windows, but with dropbox and just the last 12 months data loaded , its good to go. If you need to carry around loads of data, you can carry a couple of flash drives.
I rekon its good value for money, cheaper than a windows ultra book and you get osx for the fun stuff.
The new ones also get a full day of battery, but i only ever really need an hour or two in the field, so its not an issue.
Bruce Small ??
I'm in the same boat as you, with older software and hardware which is very fast and does exactly what I want it to do, but getting older every day and the crashes are every three weeks or so. I keep up to date with my Acronis backups and have additional backups of data, but still...
I have a Dell with XP, and AutoCAD 2005Lt. There is nothing in the newer AutoCADs that will make my life easier or faster.
Maybe Different, But Not Needed By Me
Not mostly "engineering features" in Carlson Survey. You need to look again.
Measure and divide are definitely there. Plus all your Quick keys in the embedded version, if you know your tricks.
Don't waste your money. I tried one of their converters and couldn't see that it did anything except add a few dollars to my credit card bill.
> Anyone using LT for a survey business???
Yes we are
It is a recent release - not sure exactly which as I'm at home right now
But it works fine on Win7 pro
Phew . . close call. Thanks for the heads up.
Peter
> > Anyone using LT for a survey business???
>
> Yes we are
What else are you using? There must be something to resolve coordinates, etc. Or do you just use your dc? Adjustments? Field to finish?
Bruce Small ??
> I have a Dell with XP, and AutoCAD 2005Lt. There is nothing in the newer AutoCADs that will make my life easier or faster.
Don't be so coy Bruce. What else are you using? There must be something to resolve coordinates, etc. Or do you just use your dc? Adjustments? Field to finish?
Bruce Small ??
I use the Leica screen to collect an ASCII file, and my own F2F program to convert that to a script file to run in AutoCAD. That drawing is almost ready to go with very little cleanup. I also run the data into my COGO program, which again does exactly what I want it to do.
Bruce Small ??
What language are the F2F and COGO programs developed in ?
I am guessing AutoLISP.
Our company is in the process of switching to Civil3D. To be honest, its a pretty painfull process. There are some things I like about C3D, but it so much different than LDD if you are upgrading from version 2000 it will be tough transition. I'd probably recommend something like Carlson to the OP.
