From: fredch@phx.mcd.mot.com (Fred Christiansen)
Subject: anthology of home design software
Organization: Motorola Computer Group, RT Software
Date: Fri, 11 Dec 1992 20:43:25 GMT

From time to time, I post this listing of home design software.
I get the info from the few catalogs I receive and the few magazines
I read.  Hence, I do not pretend that the list is exhaustive.

I only have experience with DYOH: Architecture, TurboCAD, EasyCAD,
and MacDraft for Windows on the PC, and MacDraft on the Mac.  Based
upon this small sample, I use MacDraft.  I note that MacWorld (1/93)
panned MacDraft, preferring Blueprint.  I would love to try Blueprint.

My reckoning is that the low-end design and most draw packages are not
oriented enough towards drafting to produce blueprint quality material
that contractors and subs can use (altho DYOH: Architecture comes fairly
close); but you can surely use them for DIY stuff or to take to an
architect/drafter (saving yourself several plan respins).

IMHO, to do serious enough work, a home design package needs these features:
  - snap-to grid; snap-to object a plus
  - typical architectural scales (e.g., 1/4" = 1', 1/8" = 1', 1" = 20')
    (in 1/4" = 1' I need 1" grid with snap; some don't have this resolution)
  - display geometric dimensions of draw objects in scale; area a plus
  - be object-oriented (e.g., MacDraw) for creation & editing of draw objects
  - geometric tools a plus

I would appreciate hearing from users of any of the following if they
meet my feature checklist:

DOS
===
$ 10 Expert Home Design		SoftSync
$ 10 Expert Office Design	SoftSync
$ 10 Expert Landscape Design	SoftSync
$ 25 FloorPlan			ComputerEasy
$ 29 MightyDraw			Abracadata
$ 33 DYOH: Architecture		Abracadata
$ 33 DYOH: Interiors		Abracadata
$ 33 DYOH: Landscape		Abracadata
$ 39 KeyCAD Complete		Softkey
$ 45 Home: Bathroom		Autodesk
$ 45 Home: Deck			Autodesk
$ 45 Home: Home			Autodesk
$ 45 Home: Kitchen		Autodesk
$ 45 Home: Landscapes		Autodesk
$ 45 FloorPlanPlus		ComputerEasy
$ 79 Draft&Print		Konami
$100 TurboCAD			IMSI
$130 EasyCAD			Evolution Cmpt
$146 AutoSketch			Autodesk
$175 DesignCAD 2D		ASBC
$259 DrafixCAD			Foresight
$285 Generic CADD		Autodesk
$1.4K SoftPlan			SoftPlan

WINDOWS 3.x
===========
$ 20 Expert Home Design for W	SoftSync
$ 30 ProShape			(shareware)
$ 55 FloorPlan Plus for Win	ComputerEasy
$ 79 Draw for Windows		ComputerEasy
$ 99 Windows Draw		MicroGrafx
$ 99 GFA-CAD			GFA
$199 IntelliDraw		Aldus
$200 AutoSketch for Windows	Autodesk
$??? MacDraft for Windows	IDD
$279 Professional Draw		GoldDisk
$379 WalkThrough		Virtus
$470 DrafixCAD			Foresight

Macintosh
=========
$ 30 Expert Home Design		SoftSync
$ 30 Expert Office Design	SoftSync
$ 30 Expert Landscape Design	SoftSync
$ 59 DYOH: Architecture		Abracadata
$ 59 DYOH: Interiors		Abracadata
$ 59 DYOH: Landscape		Abracadata
$199 IntelliDraw		Aldus
$219 Blueprint			GraphSoft	MacWorld Choice 7/90, 1/93
$279 MacDraft			IDD
$300 MacDraw Pro		Claris
$309 WalkThrough		Virtus		MacUser winner
$??? Dreams			IDD
$??? Generic CADD		Autodesk
$595 MiniCad+			GraphSoft
$599 ClarisCAD			Claris
$??? PowerDraw			Engineered SW	MacWorld Choice, 1/93

* Prices from Egghead, MicroWarehouse, PC-Connection, or publisher
* Depending upon the project and the whims of city building plan inspectors,
  you may or may not be able to submit 8.5x11 (A format) drawings; sometimes
  they require larger formats (B=11x17, C=17x22, D, or E).  Find out what is
  required for your type of project and if the software can produce such and
  if you have access to a printer/plotter for what is required.  Sometimes you
  can tape 8.5x11's and take them to a blueprint copy shop.
* If the software can save in DXF format, most blueprinters have AutoCAD
  and can load and print; often they can often accept HPGL or PS print files.
-- 
Fred Christiansen, Motorola, 2900 S Diablo Way, Tempe, AZ 85282  "Canajun, eh?"
fredch@phx.mcd.mot.com  ||  uunet!phx.mcd.mot.com!fredch  ||  +1 602-438-3464
  ".. I have set before you Life and Death, blessing and cursing;  therefore
      choose Life, that both you and your children may live"  Deut 30:19