Forum Home
PC World Chat
Thread ID: 113690	2010-10-31 03:41:00	TurboCad moans	Thomas01 (317)	PC World Chat

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
1149098	2010-10-31 03:41:00	Yes we have been here before - about 10 years ago I got my first Turbocad program. Since then I have looked at it constantly and every time gone back to DCWIN which is so much better but outdated. Pity but DCWIN will never be reprogrammed and I accept that my next computer probably will not even run it. So needing some drawing I am again looking into TC. Its amazing - I have been gifted several copies by people who have given up on it - even a professional copy. But it is a b.....d to use. Brilliant if you know and use it a lot but TC seem determined to make it difficult for those just wanting a simple 2D drawing. They even charge (outrageously) for their teaching programs. So again I am looking for a replacement. I like Cadstd but with no SYMBOL function regard it as not up to the minimum standard. I think I have tried everything but probably haven't - I looked at the latest on the PCWorld disk - makes itself out to be easy - isn't. Anybody else had better luck? Particularly ex DCWIN types! Tom	Thomas01 (317)
1149099	2010-10-31 07:50:00	Have you tried Qcad.	mikebartnz (21)
1149100	2010-10-31 08:12:00	Have you tried Qcad. I don't think so - but I will. Thanks.	Thomas01 (317)
1149101	2010-11-01 00:59:00	QCad. Well I downloaded and tried it. It is new to me. But I have reservations. Being limited to only ten minutes using the program to test it before it shuts down I found just irritating. OK so you can start it again and use it for up to 100 hours (in 10 minute segments), but its not something I plan to do. No price quoted to buy it. In the few minutes I looked at it I was pleased to see the SYMBOLS function there. It seemed a rather thick clunky effort and one of the smallest screens I have ever tried. I just don't understand why so many programs seem to think that the actual drawing space is the most unimportant part of the program and fill up most of the available screen with logos, instructions and similar. I did notice that you only called my attention to it and didn't actually recommend it. I haven't deleted it so I can have another look. Do you use it? Tom	Thomas01 (317)
1149102	2010-11-01 01:31:00	We use two types of cheaper versions of autocad here. ProgeCad and Bricscad, both about 400 bucks each. I dont use Acad but i do maintain the systems and install it. I understand the users of said programs say they are 90% what autocad will do. But are missing the best functions of what acad will do (means nothing to me), but you do get what you pay for. Also Solidworks have a free version of 2d autocad called "2deditor", and it is free. It uses common acad commands and is 2d only. See if you can find somewhere to download that to try. Gobe1	Gobe1 (6290)
1149103	2010-11-01 04:14:00	Hi Thomas01, I too have a copy of Turdocad as a cupboard resident. :badpc: If you get Win7 as your next OS, go for the Professional version so you can install XP (free!) in a virtual machine allowing DCWin to run happily. This greatly enhances Win7. The Virtual machine I am using in Win7 Home ???? does not access printers via the USB port, and a non-printing CAD program is about as much use as a telescope with no hole up the middle - or Win Vista. :mad: I have very briefly tried DraftSight, a free 2D program from Dassault, who are a pretty practical mob (for Europeans). It can be downloaded here (www.3ds.com) Here (www.youtube.com) is a simple tutorial, it was more or less this function I used it for in the only two times I have used it, quickly changing a dimensioned back-of-an-envelope sketch to a reasonably tidy drawing. It did what I wanted PDQly, but I haven't even paused to check for symbols yet. I could not find a Bezier function yet, which was another DCWin strength. It may well be there, I hope so. If you try it, could you let me know your impressions as a keen DC user?	R2x1 (4628)
1149104	2010-11-01 04:52:00	Symbols are called "Blocks". I knew that ;)	R2x1 (4628)
1149105	2010-11-01 07:06:00	QCad. Well I downloaded and tried it. It is new to me. But I have reservations. Being limited to only ten minutes using the program to test it before it shuts down I found just irritating. OK so you can start it again and use it for up to 100 hours (in 10 minute segments), but its not something I plan to do. No price quoted to buy it. Tom I have used it but not very seriously. It's free in Linux. I saw it was 24 euro so around $48. Bricscad Classic Ver 11 for windows is $469 about $85 off until 15 Nov. Key features. (www.bricsys.com) Just had an email from them.	mikebartnz (21)
1149106	2010-11-04 07:38:00	DraftChoice drawings exported as .DXF files have their symbols carried with them. They can be used in DraftSight as blocks, still with the same names, which saves a lot of nonsense. Although DraftSight is a beta, it seems pretty much a polished program.	R2x1 (4628)
1149107	2010-11-04 08:06:00	You could have a look at this one ... but have no idea whether it would be suitable. There's a trial version and options to purchase, including a very good educational package. www.myarchicad.com	SP8's (9836)
1 2