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I really prefer Rhino3D for 3D work, and use TurboCAD 8 for 2D. The problem with all these programs, really is the price. Now it's not an issue if you are a professional architect, but for the average consumer, $400-800 for one application on the computer is a LOT of money! Here's what I did:
Downloaded the trial version of Rhino3D. I found it extremely easy to use, very short learning curve. A joy to use in 3D, and very easy to apply textures and make various calculations. Wish I could afford it... I think it is $700 or $800. The good news is that the trial version doesn't expire after a set amount of days - it expires after a certain number of saves, I think it's 27. I guess that could be good and bad.... some people might want to use it non stop for 30 days and save a million times, would suck to be them. Myself, I tend to take a little slower pace sometimes, and it's nice to know if I haven't saved that many times, I can come back months later and do more. Anyhoo.. the program is still fully functional after you use up all your saves.
Now as for TurboCAD 8, I like it, but MAN did it take me a LONG time to learn this after the ease of Rhino! I got to a point, after weeks, that I got to in days with Rhino, in terms of 3D manipulation. And I still think Rhino beats the pants of TurboCAD in terms of 3D, with the exception that Rhino doesn't let you do a fly through. It's a heavily requested feature though, so perhaps it has either already been added, or will be in the future. I got TurboCAD 8 Standard, because it's only $100. What I didn't know what that it doesn't allow you to apply textures to objects, like the professional version ($400 I think) does, which is really quite useless for modeling a room or whole house. Bummer.
But, for floor plans in 2D, TurboCAD 8 Standard seems to be quite good, and a bit better than Rhino in terms of features.
I have heard very good things about DenebaCAD. I ordered the trial version and played with it a bit, but didn't find it that easy to use. I expect like TurboCAD, it has a steep learning curve. It's $350 I think.
That should get you started..
Aaron Gilbert
posted by 207.202.17...
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