Architosh Reader Feedback: BOA's Future and OS X Version Key to Decision Process

Having just posted our second installment of our In-Depth Series on BOA, a new model-based architectural 3D CAD program, readers have begun to write in with comments. This reader wrote in with these concerns:

While I appreciate the closer look at how BOA works, I am more interested in getting a better feel for the future of the program. Over the past year, my business partner and I have been evaluating CAD software because we would like to upgrade to a 3D model-based program. This leaves us with two choices, BOA or ArchiCAD.

Unfortunately, as you are aware, there is a big price difference between the two programs. Based on what I know about the two programs, from evaluation as well as articles/reviews, I think BOA has the edge on the complete integration of model to drawings. However, ArchiCAD's full set of features and twenty year history cannot be ignored either. Just when I convince myself we should go with X, I get nervous and want to consider Y. --- Scott Baumann, HAMMER-MANN Designwerks

Model-Based Choices

This is a tough comparison because the two programs actually have a wide variance of capabilities, despite their essential (model-based) similarities. ArchiCAD, for instance, has a large number of third-party developers which add features to the base program, while BOA on the other hand is in a completely different price bracket.

Both of these developers are passionate about supporting the Macintosh, but both have very different corporate resources. ArchiCAD was one of the first technical products on OS X period, while BOA is currently working on a native OS X version.

BOA's Future

At the heart of this message was also concerns about BOA's future and its communication with its user base. Scott writes:

I know BOA has a small development team, but I really wish they could provide more regular information on the website and via PlaneTalk™ about their development progress, what features they are working on, etc. As great as BOA looks, to me there is still a lot of mystery regarding the future direction of the program.--- Scott

While we are uncertain about BOA's corporate communication to its users and perspective users, we can certainly vouch for their communication record on the Architosh Web site; they consistently keep us plugged with news and their users are consistently some of the most active in our forums and in our email boxes.

The Road Map Issue

This brings up one of the more important items on Mac users' minds lately: the Apple Road Map. We suspect that the mystery and suspense regarding Apple's future processors (especially since news of the Marklar Project hit the press at eWEEK) is causing that uneasiness and pang some Mac users are getting in their stomachs these days. This should not be encouraged.

Between the highbrow drama and suspense of Jobs & Co. and the pathetic vaporware-disruptive announcements of Microsoft and Intel, there is a happy medium. Mac developers should take notice. People plan their technology based on the information that is available to them. If we got ten bucks for every Mac user who wrote in to us saying they are holding off just a little longer on that Mac purchase because of such and such around the corner, we'd have more Cinema Displays than an Apple Store. Of course we don't so we have zero Cinema Displays, but you get the idea.

BOA is hardly the only company keeping things quiet these days. But it would be nice if developers were more active and open with their product road maps. In other words, don't emulate Cupertino.