From: klinger@ccu.umanitoba.ca (Jorg Klinger)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.advocacy
Subject: Re: IBM SUCKS! (and AutoCAD too)
Date: 29 Sep 92 18:00:25 GMT
Organization: University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada

In <1992Sep28.015731.10376@gn.ecn.purdue.edu> jess@gn.ecn.purdue.edu (Jess M Holle) writes:

>In article <UelOGFC00VAt0Dqqcw@andrew.cmu.edu> fj05+@andrew.cmu.edu (Faisal Nameer Jawdat) writes:
>>more (find me a better cad package on the mac than autocad for dos)

>AutoCAD is not a CAD package that I would hold up as a shining example on
>any platform, much less DOS.

>AutoCAD for DOS virtually requires the extra expenditure of a large customized
>digitizing tablet with frequently used commands on it.  This may be fine and
>dandy for dedicated CAD stations that are used 8 hours a day for CAD, but it
>is ridiculous otherwise.  Floating, on-screen pallettes are the norm on most
>other CAD packages, in addition to support for digitizing tablets.  AutoCAD
>for DOS requires that NUMEROUS commands be TYPED in to get ANYTHING done.
>This is stone age material.  You could always write an AutoLISP macro, but 
>this takes extra time that should be used actually accomplishing things.

>I would agree that AutoCAD is a powerful package.  It is also, very 
>inefficient for small 2D jobs.  Also, it is not nearly as powerful or
>innovative as other CAD packages.  AutoCAD simply happens to be the
>ubiquitous standard.  Other packages include intelligent cursors that
>obviate the need for entering snaps most of the time.  Others include
>geometric tolerancing symbols which are NOT included with AutoCAD.  Others
>include built in full database links to all parts used in a drawing.  You 
>can get this for AutoCAD by paying an arm and a leg.  There are other
>examples of things that AutoCAD is behind in, but I only have so much time
>to type this.

>As one Mac package that I would say beats AutoCAD in terms of absolute power,
>I would suggest:

>  MacBravo    (intelligent cursors --I think--, built in database, full 3D,
>               on-screen pallettes, and many features which I forget, but
>               will be reminded of when Schlumberger comes to campus Tuesday)

>by Shlumberger.

>Other Mac packages that beat AutoCAD in various aspects are:

>  Claris CAD  (very simple, cannot compare in power, but produces simple
>               2D drawing with unparalled speed, includes database links,
>               smart cursor, floating palletes, etc)
>  VersaCAD Mac  (I am not terribly familiar with this, but it is supposed
>                 to be competitive with AutoCAD)
>  MiniCAD  (like Claris CAD, MiniCAD cannot compare in absolute power to
>            AutoCAD, but it does have 3D, intelligent cursors, and a Pascal
>            like macro language)
>  Vellum  (much like MiniCAD, generally more powerful, but no macro language,
>           but with animation and parametric modeling)

>As far as prices:
>  MacBravo    $1000's
>  VersaCAD    $1000's
>  Claris CAD  $600    ($170 educational discount)
>  Vellum      $1000
>  MiniCAD     $700
>Most of these are VERY approximate from memory.

>Jess Holle

>P.S.  As far as packages which beat AutoCAD period, there are NUMEROUS
>      entries in the workstation arena that I won't bother to detail.

  I have to agree with you. We have about 8 CAD stations ranging from
cached IIci's to FX's. All stations have access to MiniCad and AutoCad.
Our staff consists of design specialists who do their own drawings. No
one uses AutoCad for drawing. We use it mostly to convert to DXF format.
A few people like me who are stuck with having to run a PC will use it
to view drawings. I'm slated for an Fx to supplement my PC but until
that happens I dream of MiniCad ported to the PC, especially v.4. There
is a place for AutoCad and that place is in large design offices that
have dedicated draftspeople. It's really unfortunate that most smaller
design groups don't have the balls to pick a Cad package that really
suits them and end up going with the industry standard for security.

                                Jorg 
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.advocacy