Architosh Staff (info@architosh.com)

15 Sep 2003

 

Reader Feedback: Electric Image Universe 5 and Dream Mac Studio

MailBox: Architosh Reader Feedback

A FACT Format

I was very glad to see Architosh review Universe 5. As a Mac based architectural animator, I've been using Universe more and more. It's capabilities are incredible, much higher than my ability to harness them.

I only found one error/omission in your review. While Universe does not support the ArchiCAD PLN file format, ArchiCAD itself will export models to the Electric Image FACT format. I believe this information would have benefited the review. Thank you very much for a wonderful site --- Terry Box, Designimations.

Architosh: We expressed an interest in having Universe support more native file formats, but you raise a good point. Having CAD programs write files to native FACT is also a very good solution. Thanks for your kind words and helpful suggestion.

A Dream Studio

I am setting up an interior design organization and studio that specializes in high end residential and custom furniture design. I need a program that is able to read and write to Autocad but is a Mac-based (cross-platform being ideal) solution.

It would be great to be able to integrate with Leica laser/optical measuring tools. I also don't want to be trapped with a solution that is not building its installed base and not innovating in tandem or even ahead of Autocad or any other standards. What would you suggest? --- David M. Greenbaum

Architosh: First off, we encourage all readers writing us with suggestion issues to post their questions and issues in our Architosh Forums where they can obtain detailed advice from numerous end users (now nearing 900 members). Second we encourage readers to read product reviews on Architosh and elsewhere concerning the products we think meet the criteria you are interested in.

Based on what you have stated above we think you should take a serious look at a number of products, but in regards to integration with Leica optical products we don't have an answer, just yet, for you on this. ArchiCAD, MacDraft and VectorWorks (corporate sponsor) all have products that address the interior design/furniture design professional and -- most importantly -- have good Autocad compatibility. ArchiCAD and VectorWorks have more robust Autocad support than MacDraft. All three of these products have large installed and growing bases of users with over a decade of development behind them, but only ArchiCAD and VectorWorks have large third-party developer support and extensive user groups and trainers. You can read our reviews of VectorWorks and MacDraft to grab our opinion of these products and their level of innovation.

In the end, we encourage you to build that dream studio you envisioned with Apple Macintosh technology. You will find that most Mac CAD products match or exceed Autocad technology on many levels and almost all Mac developers are innovative developers because they are developing apps on the most innovative computer platform in the market.

Post Comments in our Forums (forums.architosh.com). Or send feedback to our direct attention at info@architosh.com. Or send letters by snail mail to: Britasmedia / Architosh. 14 Creston Way, Providence, RI 02906.

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