I totally understand the large expense in operating a software company, and expect to have to pay for maintenance in order for support to be provided. However, there are times when I have not been pleased with how I have been treated. This is all just my opinion, and I am not saying anyone is a crook.
AUTODESK
Two years ago, my AutoCAD vendor told me that I should try the new Infrastructure Design Suite Premium package, and the cost was incredibly small--seems like a few hundred dollars. She told me that if I didn't like it all I had to do was unload it to de-clutter my machine and just continue with AutoCAD as before, along with my Carlson software.
So I did it, but I had no idea what would happen; had I known it I would NEVER have done it.
My annual maintenance subscription went from about $500 to over $1,100, and at the end of the year when mine expires, I called her and said that I was surprised at the cost, and I wanted to degrade my subscription back down to simple AutoCAD. She said it was not that simple, that to degrade would cost me approximately $2,000. WHAT??????? I went on and paid it to prevent losing my ACAD license. This year the renewal came up again, so I called her, but she had been terminated. I told new person and office manager about it, and he said, "Sorry, it is $2100 to degrade back to AutoCAD." No way around it. So here I am, stuck with the cost of $100 per month, when in my mind it ought to be half that. Seems like I was misled, but I am probably wrong.
I dream for the day when a substitute for AutoCAD arrives. Is IntelliCAD finally fully stable?
I have been using Carlson Survey with Intellicad since the 2011 version. It works for me you just have to give it time and get familiar with the differences. Don't expect to it to work exactly the same as AutoCAD. I guess it depends on your business. For me all my work is relatively small topo, and building measurement.
Frank,
I use the Carlson Survey OEM version, and I don't have any issues as all. I cannot use LISP routines, but Carlson generally has most of what I need anyway. I used the 2008 version up until this week, and just upgraded my personal license this week. My new job bought me the 2016 version for the office last month, and the new features are pretty darn slick.
I know you are dual licensed, and right now they are running a heck of a deal on the Civil Suite. You might want to consider that route.
Good luck!
Jimmy
Jimmy Cleveland, post: 350247, member: 91 wrote: Frank,
I use the Carlson Survey OEM version, and I don't have any issues as all. I cannot use LISP routines, but Carlson generally has most of what I need anyway. I used the 2008 version up until this week, and just upgraded my personal license this week. My new job bought me the 2016 version for the office last month, and the new features are pretty darn slick.
I know you are dual licensed, and right now they are running a heck of a deal on the Civil Suite. You might want to consider that route.
Good luck!
Jimmy
I believe that the Civil Suite only runs on AutoCAD or Intellicad. Some sort of licensing restrictions from Autodesk prevent them from selling an OEM version of the Civil Suite.
I understand the "software as a service" business model and the need to keep selling updates. I don't like it, but understand it.
But charging a big fee to downgrade is cheating, in my book.
Bill93, post: 350296, member: 87 wrote: ..But charging a big fee to downgrade is cheating, in my book.
I agree. I've have an AT&T "air card" for a few years that I use infrequently when I'm on the road for internet access. The card actually has a "phone number" but I have no phone for the account, just the air card.
I pay the bill monthly over the phone and for the last two years it's been a simple process, they even have my CC info stored. Paying the bill takes 15 seconds...until this month. I tried to pay the bill but the automated message told me I needed a new passcode to access my account. I finally got a hold of a human being and they tried to tell me how to set up the passcode on my smartphone. I DON'T HAVE A SMART PHONE!
After finally making the idiot realize I have a "phone number" but no phone, I'm told I'll have to visit the AT&T retail store to set up my passcode so I can access my account...fukit... I'd rather stick a needle in my eye than visit those mindless fast-talking mouth breathers at a phone store...so I told them I just wanted to close the account. It's not worth all that just to pay a damned bill...I was then informed there will be a $29.95 fee for CLOSING my account...
When I got through laughing I asked them how in the world they think they can charge me for quitting their service. The guy on the other end of the phone was a little embarrassed by the time I got him to admit that's BS. I got forwarded to two other people and after thirty minutes I was able to quit using a service (that costs money) without actually PAYING more money for the privilege of quitting the service.
Stupidest thing I've ever heard of...
paden cash, post: 350300, member: 20 wrote: fukit... I'd rather stick a needle in my eye than visit those mindless fast-talking mouth breathers at a phone store...
LOL! I hear that!
Pay up front, pay to maintain, and now pay to get rid of!
Sounds like some women I've known...:-S
I think I'd go Paden's route. Time to talk to whomever is over whomever you were talking to. They do that because people acquiesce to it. Turn some screws on them. How badly do they want your business?
Yes I fell into that trap years ago. Remember when we bought AutoCAD in modules, so $$ for each and you chose the ones you wanted to renew each year. So one year they do me a favor and bundle everything "at no extra cost" to me, great. A few years latter I realized that I only needed plain AutoCAD to run my Carlson and asked to go back to the basic version. I got the same run around as you and have been paying for Civil3D every since and I do not use any of it's features, only the CAD engine to drive my Carlson.
So as I am getting old, this year I am dropping my AutoCAD subscription and I will be stuck at V16 from now on. I figure that no matter what I can always install the Intellicad version of Carlson or go to my Carlson OEM version which is sort of old at 2008, but still works fine for my needs. Every year I send them $$ and get nothing useful back so I will be spending this years subscription fee on FL during February. I hope I don't chicken out as I have been talking about doing this for years. Looking around there seems to be more sane solutions to my software needs that supporting Autodesk.
T.W.
paden cash, post: 350300, member: 20 wrote: I agree. I've have an AT&T "air card" for a few years that I use infrequently when I'm on the road for internet access. The card actually has a "phone number" but I have no phone for the account, just the air card.
I'm told I'll have to visit the AT&T retail store
Stupidest thing I've ever heard of...
Welcome to AT&T,
They hid out for years intercepting calls back and forth across the globe charging nearly $20 per minute for years because they claimed there was no international rate agreement.
When they started out in the cellular market you were always in their coverage area even if you actually were not. The only thing that saved those outside their coverage areas was their 3day return option for a full refund. Then they actually tried to keep the sales tax they charged.
Frank Willis, post: 350167, member: 472 wrote: I dream for the day when a substitute for AutoCAD arrives. Is IntelliCAD finally fully stable?
BricsCAD. Very stable, very usable, very well-supported. I switched from AutoCAD last spring and haven't looked back. I wasn't happy with IntelliCAD, but BricsCAD is a very different animal.
paden cash, post: 350300, member: 20 wrote: I was then informed there will be a $29.95 fee for CLOSING my account...
I had a similar experience with Dish TV - they billed me $15 for shipping their control box back to them when I cancelled the service. I didn't pay it, they sent a series of dunning letters, threatened to damage my credit, and finally sent it to a collection agency. The agency sent 1 letter, then gave up. Nothing ever showed up on my credit report.
Yes on BricsCad.
Very stable, a wealth of willing users open to help ,offer up lisp routines etc etc.
There's also an increasing number of useful applications written.
The developers drop by the forum at times.
Can't speak more highly of them.
Re: BrisCad
If you are looking to jump ship on the whole microsoft shebang BrisCad has a linux version. Can I get an Amen?...Now if I wasn't so addicted to Civil 3D
Randy
BricsCad has a Linux version??? Ooooh... methinks this is worth investigating!!!!
The only superior evidence is that which you haven't yet found.
Be aware that a lot of the third party add on's that are available for BrisCad are not ported to the Linux version unfortunately.
Randy Rain, post: 350535, member: 35 wrote: Be aware that a lot of the third party add on's that are available for BrisCad are not ported to the Linux version unfortunately.
That's good to know, thank you for the info.
Hopefully any LISP routines developed for BricsCad would be portable; I've never programmed in LISP but it looks pretty straightforward so if I need to write something specific I could probably do it.
The only superior evidence is that which you haven't yet found.
Randy Rain, post: 350535, member: 35 wrote: ... a lot of the third party add on's that are available for BrisCad are not ported to the Linux version ...
If the Linux operating system ever reaches any serious percentages that could change. Right now according to https://www.netmarketshare.com/operating-system-market-share.aspx?qprid=10&qpcustomd=0&apos ;">this site it's 1.62%. Even MacOS on the desktop is only 5% or so. So as long as windows has 90% of the desktop market there is no justification to create add-ons for other OSs. It's just too cost prohibitive in terms of time (= $$$).
Trust me I don't love MS (I hate what they have done to windows and office) but add-in developers have to go with the flow so to speak.
Jim Frame, post: 350517, member: 10 wrote: BricsCAD. Very stable, very usable, very well-supported. I switched from AutoCAD last spring and haven't looked back. I wasn't happy with IntelliCAD, but BricsCAD is a very different animal.
I wish Carlson would run on BricsCAD.