ArchiCAD http://www.graphisoft.com/products/archicad/
Full price: $3950.00
Jasonmcbain: “Truly an amazing product. You do however pay for what you get.”
Jim: It certainly does
seem to be all about the "objects" concept I was trying to describe.
AutoCAD http://usa.autodesk.com/
Full price: $3395.00
Dennis: “The reason I stick with AutoCAD is that it allows me to build things . . . the way I'd do it in real life. AutoCAD isn't for the casual user.”
Jim: The full package is too complex for me. But a 30 day free trial is available.
AutoCAD LT http://usa.autodesk.com/
Full price: $725.00
Jim: This is what I use, but it’s really too complicated for a casual user like myself. 30 day free trial available.
Cabinets Plus http://cabinets-plus.net/index.html
Full price: $267.95
Dennis: “Personally for all that it promises to deliver at the price being quoted, it sounds like vapor-ware to me. Would hope this is not the case, though.”
Jim: At
the same site, a package called Furniture
Designer 3-D Plus is also promised. Both packages are scheduled to be available
DeltaCad http://www.deltacad.com/index.html
Full price: $39.95
Stephen Gaal: “Very easy to learn, . . . probably saved days versus drawing by hand.”
eCabinet http://www.ecabinetsystems.com/index.html
Full price: Free (to cabinetmakers only)
Resurrected: “The program does have some limitations, but works rather well once you get to know how to work it.”
IntelliCAD http://cadopia.com/products/products.asp
Full price: $349.00
Dennis: “It's an AutoCAD knock-off and really quite powerful CAD-wise.”
Jim: Multiple versions (several cheaper), including a free 3 month demo. Comparable to (at least) AutoCAD LT, but glitchy.
Inventor http://usa.autodesk.com/
Full price: $5195.00
Dennis: “It allows the user to make various objects in the model 'associative' meaning that if you change one object, the others change in relation to it.”
Maya Unlimited http://www.alias.com/eng/products-services/maya/index.shtml
Full price: $6999.00
Chipper: "easy to learn and cheap it is not"
Jim: Multiple versions available, including a free “crippleware” version.
Pro/ENGINEER http://www.ptc.com/
Full price: $4995.00
Bart: “There is a learning curve, but in terms of being able to fluidly model and modify a design in order to perfect it, I can't think of anything better.”
Rhino http://www.rhino3d.com/
Full price: $895.00
Dennis: “Perhaps the most free-form, design oriented software I've ever used . . .”
Jim: Seemingly, can be purchased much cheaper (including bundle with IntelliCAD from Cadopia).
SketchUp http://www.sketchup.com/
BillP: “one of the best 3D software package”
Jim: 30 day free trial available.
SolidEdge http://www.solidedge.com/
Full price: $????
KD7ADL: “It was almost like working with a piece of wood, you create each piece save it, then assemble the parts.”
Jim: Unable to determine price from website. I consider that a bad sign.
SolidWorks http://www.solidworks.com/
Full price: $????
Jim: Unable to determine price from website. I consider that a bad sign.
TurboCAD http://www.imsisoft.com/faminfo.asp?fam=1
Full price: $579.00
Charlie Plesums: “The demos are great. But drawing even a simple cabinet in full 3D is so tedious that I haven't made good use of it yet.”
Jim: Much cheaper versions also options available. 15 day free trial available.