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Upgrading -- but which version? (#4018)
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reinhardtjh  
#1 Posted : Sunday, October 16, 2011 3:13:34 AM(UTC)
reinhardtjh

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Joined: 5/25/2007(UTC)
Posts: 17
United States
Hi all. I have ViaCAD 2D/3D V6.0 and I want to upgrade. I just don't know which version would be best. I'm a hobbyist user, not professional. I'm working on designing objects for rapid prototyping aka Shapeways, etc and maybe some simple CAD/CAM machining for RTV molds.

Should I upgrade to ViaCAD 2D/3D V8 and then to ViaCAD Pro when it comes out? Or should I go with Pro V7 first and then upgrade it to V8 if I think I need the new features? Sometimes I think I'd like Shark LT but there's no upgrade discount from ViaCAD that I can find on the website.

Are there factors that I should consider that I haven't listed/thought of? I've tried also to get a fee about which is buggier - Pro V7 for 2D/3D V8 and I can't really tell.

Thanks
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jors  
#2 Posted : Sunday, October 16, 2011 10:41:29 PM(UTC)
jors

Rank: Member

Joined: 9/18/2011(UTC)
Posts: 61
I bought ViaCAD Pro 7 on the recommendation of blowlamp on another fotum. I don't regret it for one moment. I have tried several other CAD programs: 123D, Powershape-e, PTC, T-flex. I have tried several 2D CAD programs. I own Turbocad 17 Delux as well, and like you Carrara 6 & Blender, but since I bought ViaCAD Pro 7, I really CAD. It is the best software purchase I ever made.
See my post:
forum.punchcad.com/showthread.php?t=3973

I don't know how much the standard version of ViaCAD differs from the pro and I don't know how much version 8 differs from 7 but I will recommend Pro 7.
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jol  
#3 Posted : Monday, October 17, 2011 1:20:17 AM(UTC)
jol

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I'd wait for an 8 !
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TeraVolt  
#4 Posted : Wednesday, October 19, 2011 1:40:26 AM(UTC)
TeraVolt

Rank: Junior Member

Joined: 8/20/2011(UTC)
Posts: 22
Had upgraded from ViaCad2D3D v5 to v8 but was not satisfied, because I had trouble with the printing results ( http://forum.punchcad.com/showthread.php?t=3950 )

Have now upgraded to ViaCad Pro v7 and it works (mostly) perfect for me. Additionally the Pro version have an awesome render engine for photorealistic printings. There is an free 30 day test version available.

Regards
Harald
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jors  
#5 Posted : Wednesday, October 19, 2011 4:21:36 AM(UTC)
jors

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Joined: 9/18/2011(UTC)
Posts: 61
Harald, like Reinhardjh, I am only a hobbyist user, but I am very happy with this software. Exactly what I wanted.
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Tim Olson  
#6 Posted : Wednesday, October 19, 2011 10:17:39 AM(UTC)
Tim Olson

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United States

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I've linked a product compare matrix.

http://www.csi-concepts.com/Dem...nchCADFeatureCompare.pdf

Our near term releases and status include:
--ViaCAD 2D v8 (final beta testing)
--Shark LT v8 (final beta testing)
--Shark FX v8 (initial beta testing)

You can download a fully functional beta of the above from
http://www.punchcadlabs.com/



Tim
Tim Olson
IMSI Design/Encore
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jol  
#7 Posted : Wednesday, October 19, 2011 2:37:09 PM(UTC)
jol

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Is that right ?

Shark 2D ?

4 Shark products now ?
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Tim Olson  
#8 Posted : Wednesday, October 19, 2011 3:00:57 PM(UTC)
Tim Olson

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Sorry that should be ViaCAD 2D, I've edited the original post.


>>4 Shark products now ?

Two Shark products --- Shark LT and Shark FX. Nothing in the development plans to update Shark v5.


Tim
Tim Olson
IMSI Design/Encore
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Dhart1971  
#9 Posted : Wednesday, October 19, 2011 6:55:25 PM(UTC)
Dhart1971

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Joined: 5/8/2011(UTC)
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When is ViaCap Pro 7 going to be updated to include what's included with standard ViaCad 8? Like push pull etc.....????
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Tim Olson  
#10 Posted : Wednesday, October 19, 2011 11:17:14 PM(UTC)
Tim Olson

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Originally Posted by: Dhart1971 Go to Quoted Post
When is ViaCap Pro 7 going to be updated to include what's included with standard ViaCad 8? Like push pull etc.....????


Looks like April 2012 timeframe.

Tim
Tim Olson
IMSI Design/Encore
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reinhardtjh  
#11 Posted : Thursday, October 20, 2011 5:13:28 AM(UTC)
reinhardtjh

Rank: Junior Member

Joined: 5/25/2007(UTC)
Posts: 17
United States
Originally Posted by: Tim Olson Go to Quoted Post
Looks like April 2012 timeframe.

Tim



Thanks, Tim. That's good to know. Since that's about 6 months away I might go for the V7 Pro and then upgrade to V8 after it's bugs have a chance to settle out. The advantage to the Pro is that it reads/writes in the OBJ format which is common to some of the other apps I have. My anal nature wishes it had the precise 3D to 2D of Shark, but I can probably live without it (I have so far - :) )

I'd seen the product comparison page before. Mostly I was trying to decide if I wanted a V7 or V8 product first.
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Dhart1971  
#12 Posted : Saturday, October 22, 2011 6:10:16 PM(UTC)
Dhart1971

Rank: Junior Member

Joined: 5/8/2011(UTC)
Posts: 2
Tim,

It's a bit dissapointing that Pro cost what it does and doesn't include what basic 2d/3d does. Not really complaining about Pro price, just disappointed basic is updated before pro is.

I expected updates to be completed in descending order... but who am I?

I wouldn't have spent the money on pro if I had known basic would be updated with the tools I needed before pro was.

Sorry, had to vent. I LOVE ViaCad. Just don't understand the backwards order of updates.

Sincerely,
D.E.H.
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ZeroLengthCurve  
#13 Posted : Saturday, October 22, 2011 8:09:32 PM(UTC)
ZeroLengthCurve

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Originally Posted by: Tim Olson Go to Quoted Post
Looks like April 2012 timeframe.

Tim


Well, I guess I better more diligently save my pennies and more diligently keep an open eye for those deep-discount-special prices EVO periodically announces.
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