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blowlamp  
#1 Posted : Wednesday, December 8, 2010 1:20:28 PM(UTC)
blowlamp

Rank: Senior Member

Joined: 6/28/2008(UTC)
Posts: 648

The title says it all.
Why are demo's not available for any of the ViaCAD/Shark products anymore?
It's putting people off buying.

Martin
Arketype  
#2 Posted : Wednesday, December 8, 2010 3:12:34 PM(UTC)
Arketype

Rank: Junior Member

Joined: 2/21/2007(UTC)
Posts: 29

Agreed.
I am still using v4.
Reading through the forums, it looks like there are still long-standing bugs in drafting (which I deal with in v4) So why should I upgrade? How do i know these bugs are fixed/not fixed? I am starting to look at options other than Shark. Bugs need to be fixed and users need to be able to try out software.

I downloaded an Autocad 2011 demo for Mac today. I may try running Solidworks via VMWare, too. I'll see if it can generate drawings from 3D models with fewer problems. It would be nice to try the latest version of Shark. It is certainly more attractive price-wise.

Dave
blowlamp  
#3 Posted : Wednesday, December 8, 2010 4:36:58 PM(UTC)
blowlamp

Rank: Senior Member

Joined: 6/28/2008(UTC)
Posts: 648

Well I must be going blind or something. I can't see any demo downloads for ANY software products on the Encore website, so it looks like company policy to me.
It makes me wonder - how in Gods name is anyone supposed to make a purchasing decision if they can't try it first?
Sure feels like commercial suicide from here.

Martin.
jtfx  
#4 Posted : Wednesday, December 8, 2010 4:41:55 PM(UTC)
jtfx

Rank: Member

Joined: 3/16/2009(UTC)
Posts: 34

I wouldn't have bought viacad without a trial.

i was considering moving up to Shark with the current sale, but without a trial, no way.
lovebugjunkie  
#5 Posted : Thursday, December 9, 2010 12:55:57 PM(UTC)
lovebugjunkie

Rank: Junior Member

Joined: 4/19/2010(UTC)
Posts: 17

Talked to a rep today and ask about a demo, she said they do not have one.

Although she was very helpful with what she could provided it in no way motivated me to buy it.

She did say they had a return policy if I am not happy with it. I just don't feel comfortable enough to try it when I am demoing a competitors CAD software that is very impressive for the same price ($100 on sale).

Seen a lot of people on the net saying positive things about ViaCad but without a demo I'm going with the other vendor.
jol  
#6 Posted : Thursday, December 9, 2010 2:16:28 PM(UTC)
jol

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Yes - that seems dumb - why not have a demo !?
blowlamp  
#7 Posted : Friday, December 10, 2010 4:02:26 AM(UTC)
blowlamp

Rank: Senior Member

Joined: 6/28/2008(UTC)
Posts: 648

Yes, dumb beyond belief and hopefully only temporary. So far, three potential purchasers/upgraders have replied to this thread and none are going to buy without a trial.

What's the point in me and others recommending ViaCAD/Shark to someone, if there's no way for that person to try it for himself - who can afford to trust the word of a stranger and pay out $1795.00 for FX without some proof?

I don't want to come over as melodramatic, but I think this is much more serious than any deficiencies or bugs the software may have and is fundamental to the survival of the product. It needs sorting without delay.

Martin.
Tim Olson  
#8 Posted : Friday, December 10, 2010 11:42:00 AM(UTC)
Tim Olson

Rank: Senior Member

Joined: 2/2/2007(UTC)
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United States

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When Encore updated the website this was unintentionally left out. The web guys are working on updating the site to include trials.

Tim
Tim Olson
IMSI Design/Encore
lovebugjunkie  
#9 Posted : Friday, December 10, 2010 6:46:05 PM(UTC)
lovebugjunkie

Rank: Junior Member

Joined: 4/19/2010(UTC)
Posts: 17

Thank you for your attention to this matter Mr. Olson, looking forwarded to running a demo in the next day or two.
Hope to make the sale if this suits my needs or should I say my ability to get my head around working in 3D which I seem to have a problem doing.
blowlamp  
#10 Posted : Friday, December 10, 2010 6:57:16 PM(UTC)
blowlamp

Rank: Senior Member

Joined: 6/28/2008(UTC)
Posts: 648

Thanks for the update, Tim.

Martin.
Tim Olson  
#11 Posted : Tuesday, December 14, 2010 10:22:32 AM(UTC)
Tim Olson

Rank: Senior Member

Joined: 2/2/2007(UTC)
Posts: 5,447
United States

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Encore is still working on a web update. In the meantime, If you need a demo version please send me an email at [email protected] and I will send you links.

Regards

Tim
Tim Olson
IMSI Design/Encore
Tim Olson  
#12 Posted : Friday, January 21, 2011 2:30:59 PM(UTC)
Tim Olson

Rank: Senior Member

Joined: 2/2/2007(UTC)
Posts: 5,447
United States

Was thanked: 502 time(s) in 353 post(s)
Originally Posted by: blowlamp Go to Quoted Post
The title says it all.
Why are demo's not available for any of the ViaCAD/Shark products anymore?
It's putting people off buying.

Martin


Martin
I got the aok to add trials to the punchcadlab.com site which I have some control over.

Tim
Tim Olson
IMSI Design/Encore
mikeschn  
#13 Posted : Friday, January 21, 2011 6:06:29 PM(UTC)
mikeschn

Rank: Senior Member

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Posts: 284

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Was thanked: 2 time(s) in 2 post(s)
'bout time!

I've had to tell me work associates to email you directly... which is hardly the way you want to do business. UserPostedImage

Mike...
ViaCAD Pro 12 on Windows; Viacad Pro 14 on Mac
mykyl1966  
#14 Posted : Friday, September 30, 2011 7:20:35 AM(UTC)
mykyl1966

Rank: Junior Member

Joined: 7/3/2007(UTC)
Posts: 15

I saw that Viacad 8 was on the mac appstore so went hunting to try the demo (as I do for all mac appstore apps) and so far cant find one even on the punchcad website.

Any idea where the demo is?

Cheers

Mike
phil  
#15 Posted : Friday, September 30, 2011 8:57:21 AM(UTC)
phil

Rank: Senior Member

Joined: 9/5/2010(UTC)
Posts: 105

Hi, go to http://www.punchcadlabs.com/ and on the right-side click on "Try ViaCAD or Shark" for the demo. On the http://www.punchcad.com website try the limited-time PUNCH30 coupon code to see if it works.
Have fun...
Bye
Tim Olson  
#16 Posted : Friday, September 30, 2011 2:33:01 PM(UTC)
Tim Olson

Rank: Senior Member

Joined: 2/2/2007(UTC)
Posts: 5,447
United States

Was thanked: 502 time(s) in 353 post(s)
>> Viacad 2D/3D 8 demo

No demo is available for this particular product. Hopefully Encore will approve the development team making one soon.


Tim
Tim Olson
IMSI Design/Encore
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