topic Re: New Product - Archicad Residential Released! in Modeling

New Product - Archicad Residential Released!

archislave — Sat, 22 Jan 2005 03:16:01 GMT

I can't believe no one has spotted this but a new product from Graphisoft has been released for the US market. Here is a link to the Cadwire.net press release: http://go.cadwire.net and http://graphisoftus.com/

The cadwire press release indicates that it will only be available for windows initially. As a Mac user this has me worried unless they are waiting for the Tiger Mac OSX 10.4 release.

I hope it will be available for Mac since a residential solution is what I need!

Re: New Product - Archicad Residential Released!

Anonymous — Sat, 22 Jan 2005 05:19:04 GMT

How is it different from regular ArchiCad9?

Re: New Product - Archicad Residential Released!

Eduardo Rolon — Sat, 22 Jan 2005 16:37:45 GMT

It mentions an option manager that keeps tracks of versions of projects. The example they give is for the design of projects where there are different versions of a design like a housing development where you have a basic model and three other models based on it. It looks as having a set of tools for handling view sets, layer combinations and intersection priorities but I can be wrong since I have not seen it. Ffrom the description I don't see why regular AC should not have a specific tool/menu/palette to handle this, since that would lead to the ability of saving the model characteristics for preliminary design, schematic or be able to explore different design options.

Re: New Product - Archicad Residential Released!

archislave — Sat, 22 Jan 2005 16:51:54 GMT

One difficulty we face here in the US is the wide range of residential elevation styles that buyers will choose from, though the plan might be virtually the same. It's like a little a little colonial here a little craftsman there etc. It's kind of like 'fusion' cusine that is so popular.

Also, Archicad does not have very good parametric tools to apply various facia and molding styles. We often have to do a basic model and convert the elevations to 2d because modelling the details is just to difficult. Then again drawing all that detail in 2d is a nighmare in itself and if the model or roof pitches change then it negates the BIM concept and you might as well be drafting in Autocad.

I hope this will help solve the problem.

Re: New Product - Archicad Residential Released!

Anonymous — Sun, 23 Jan 2005 16:20:02 GMT

Sounds encouraging.. Looks like they are addressing the organizational end of things.. features which are useful all over the world anyway.. Not enough to call it "US Residential"... It must handle facade elements such as crowns, rakes, eaves, bands and mid-wall finish transitions, jack Arches, better windows and doors.. etc. to earn such a title. These are what every user in the US yearn for. I'll be very disappointed if US Residential is released only as the PR outlines.

Re: New Product - Archicad Residential Released!

archislave — Sun, 23 Jan 2005 17:18:03 GMT

I agree Rashid! It would not be worth creating a whole new product unless it has all these things. From the press release the features look quite minimial. That is why I can't understand why there will not be a Mac version initially.

Are they waiting for Tiger?
Will it be called Archicad Residential v1 or v9?

I am hoping v10 will be a complete renovation of the underlying technologies and simplification of the interface etc.

Re: New Product - Archicad Residential Released!

Anonymous — Sun, 23 Jan 2005 20:53:45 GMT

archislave wrote:
I agree Rashid! It would not be worth creating a whole new product unless it has all these things. From the press release the features look quite minimial. That is why I can't understand why there will not be a Mac version initially.

Are they waiting for Tiger?
Will it be called Archicad Residential v1 or v9?

I am hoping v10 will be a complete renovation of the underlying technologies and simplification of the interface etc.

This is indeed encouraging and exciting, Can anyone from HQ tell us when the International versions will arrive (even ballpark) and when the mac version is due? Also is there an upgrade cost going from ArchiCAD 9?

So many questions. so little info! Where is Bence when you need him?

I do not think that the non release of a mac version is Tiger related, im sure when it does come out that it will run on Jaguar & Panther

Re: New Product - Archicad Residential Released!

Bence Kovacs — Wed, 26 Jan 2005 15:35:22 GMT

Bence is here...
ArchiCAD Residential is a US-managed product but I will try to give as much info as I can.
At this point we are not planning an international release (this is why we do not advertise at graphisoft.com), but - provided the product is a success in US - I do not exclude it. Anyway, "international" is not the right word as in that case it must comply with the local standards.
This is a Windows-only product, but indeed, it has nothing to with Tiger. It is a marketing decision based on the fact that the US builders use Macs in a much lesser extent than architects and therefore we feel the development/marketing/sales investment needed to make this product available for the Macs is not sufficiently justified. Again, "never say never"; Macs are on the roll now, but for the time being we have no plans for Mac release.
Before somebody asks: YES we still have our unwavering commitment to support the Mac platform with ArchiCAD on our main market: the architectural design. You will continue to see great things happening on the Mac with ArchiCAD (actually, even more!).
As for your question of upgrade path, my US colleagues will answer you.

Bence Kovacs
VP, Product Management

Re: New Product - Archicad Residential Released!

Anonymous — Wed, 26 Jan 2005 16:44:21 GMT

Thanks Bence, I think that has covered most of my initial queries.

Here is hoping that it is a great success for Graphisoft, and is rolled out Globally soon - to mac users as well of course

Re: New Product - Archicad Residential Released!

archislave — Wed, 26 Jan 2005 17:16:12 GMT

I think this is a mistake because many builders except the largest ones hire the services of outside Architects to develop their housing products. I'm sure that many of these small to medium size firms use Macs or would love to use Macs if a powerful parametric product like this was available. Anyone using archicad knows that out of box Archicad does not provide parametric tools for modeling complex residential roofs and trim. One has to manually extrude and place them or have an add-on like eavemaker. Therefore, the promise of automatic documentation for elevations and sections is not true.

This seems like the first extensively parametric and integrated iteration of Archicad. It's starting to look like like a viable competitor to Revit with their parametric hype. Too bad such parametric features are now only for US Builders who use windows. This is what all residential architects have be praying for - but no go!

Could someone from Graphisoft US explain whether the design parts will be available for Archicad Standard Mac/Win Users?

Re: New Product - Archicad Residential Released!

TomWaltz — Wed, 26 Jan 2005 18:47:59 GMT

That's my question as well. Is the Option Manager something we could buy for Archicad (regular) FOR MAC??

Re: New Product - Archicad Residential Released!

Rick Thompson — Fri, 28 Jan 2005 17:57:28 GMT

Bence wrote:
Bence is here...

This is a Windows-only product, but indeed, it has nothing to with Tiger. It is a marketing decision based on the fact that the US builders use Macs in a much lesser extent than architects and therefore we feel the development/marketing/sales investment needed to make this product available for the Macs is not sufficiently justified.
Bence Kovacs
VP, Product Management

Maybe so, probably is... however, I for one make my living in the stock plan market. I sell CAD files to spec builders all the time, who unfortunately "all" use Autocad. I love the idea of builders having available a product which motivates them to go with AC. If so, then they would have a great tool and would not benefit as much from my CAD files because I work on a Mac, so whatever file I would be sending them would be missing whatever this new feature might be. This is frustrating to me. Spec builders and developers most often start with a pre-designed plan, then modify as needed. I understand developmental cost vs return, but I think not providing the same functionally on the Mac system is shortsighted. I chose Archicad because of it's professional implications, so please don't limit my product because I work on a Mac.

Re: New Product - Archicad Residential Released!

Anonymous — Wed, 02 Feb 2005 19:48:18 GMT

Bence wrote:
It is a marketing decision based on the fact that the US builders use Macs in a much lesser extent than architects and therefore we feel the development/marketing/sales investment needed to make this product available for the Macs is not sufficiently justified. Again, "never say never"; Macs are on the roll now, but for the time being we have no plans for Mac release.

Last night I saw a demo of the option manager, what a wonderful idea & product!

First I do not under stand why it is for RESIDENTIAL projects, it is for any building and would save many hours of revision tracking.

Second, no MAC version!? When I switched to MAC from windoz platform I ended-up with ArchiCad because of its availability on MAC (and am very very HAPPY with my selection, over Bentey Architectural).
I do not know what to say to GS in marketing arena to convince them for a MAC version. But all I know is that strength of any company comes from happyINDIVITUALS and there are a lot of MAC INDIVIDUALS, just targeting large companies is not an answers to the marketing issue.
Sorry for heated face.
Thanks for the great product after all,
joseph

Re: New Product - Archicad Residential Released!

Anonymous — Wed, 02 Feb 2005 21:41:29 GMT

I shudder at the thought of AC available on Windows only. I love my Mac and AC, but I will absolutely never be a Windows user. I know of some local trades people who draw on MicroStations and were forced to switch to Windows. Poor people. Not me, I for one will switch applications first before I would switch operating systems. I know that Graphisoft said earlier here that they won't, but...

Re: New Product - Archicad Residential Released!

archislave — Wed, 02 Feb 2005 21:49:19 GMT

After waiting for years to get myself in a position to use a Mac - I would never switch either. In fact, I choose Archicad because Autodesk is not on Mac.

Is there a way we can start a vote? Or a petition to Graphisoft?

Re: New Product - Archicad Residential Released!

Anonymous — Thu, 03 Feb 2005 10:21:13 GMT

archislave wrote:
After waiting for years to get myself in a position to use a Mac - I would never switch either. In fact, I choose Archicad because Autodesk is not on Mac.

Is there a way we can start a vote? Or a petition to Graphisoft?

we could start a poll, that way GS could gauage the interest?

Ive never had success in starting a poll, I'll leave it to someone to do

Re: New Product - Archicad Residential Released!

Steve Jepson — Fri, 11 Feb 2005 07:05:28 GMT

Graphisoft should make it very very clear that "ArchiCAD Residential" is not the new name of our software. Or is it? I thought it was simply a group of add-ons that they are trying to market as specifically intended for ArchiCAD users working with residential design. I dont think any of these new add-ons are uniquely Residential. I am a residential designer and I don't want Residential design software. I need Professional software for Professional results.

Personally, I think it is a marketing ploy that will generate negative perceptions. The way I read the announcements I think they were trying to imply that ArchiCAD Residential is something more than just some new add-ons. I think they may be trying to create a distinction that allows them to split one product into several. Constructor for example.

Re: New Product - Archicad Residential Released!

Eduardo Rolon — Fri, 11 Feb 2005 13:52:06 GMT

I agree with Steve that trying to split one product into many by changing or adding some plugins will create a lot of confusion for the new users (ex: Win Xp pro vs Home and the classic AutoCAD Lt vs AutoCAD vs AutoCAD Architectural Desktop) and it can alienate the existing users. This looks like as if the marketing department is running the company ("Look how many products we have, buy our shares").
I have always been baffled by the concept of adding or removing functionality from software in order to change its name and sell it at another price point. I don't want to choose between a version of AC for residential, office, urban planning, construction, presentation, restoration or estimating. I want and need a tool for Architecture I don't have to use different pens to sketch, write notes or do redlines.

My $0.02 and now I have to switch to the email chair and computer combo from my internet surfing one so that latter I can sit at my other desk for doing predesign work and then I can go to my construction document room but not before I do some work at my dedicated presentation computer and monitor. Note to self... have to go and buy another computer to write letters and design its work space

Re: New Product - Archicad Residential Released!

Anonymous — Fri, 11 Feb 2005 14:28:09 GMT

ejrolon wrote:
I agree with Steve that trying to split one product into many by changing or adding some plugins will create a lot of confusion for the new users..... I don't want to choose between a version of AC for residential, office, urban planning, construction, presentation, restoration or estimating.....

I think we can all agree that Graphisoft would be better served by being a little more clear as to what exactly ArchiCAD Residential is...I'm quite sure they will provide better info when the software actually ships

Until then, fear not because all of the content will be available and functional with your exisiting ArchiCAD. You will be able to individually purchase what ever components you might desire. See the following link for more info on the components

http://www.bobrowconsulting.com/a/CadimageTools.html

The only thing that will not intially be available to all users will be Options Manager...It will only be compatible with Windows versions of ArchiCAD for the reasons cited in an earlier post

As far as the future goes for a product like ArchiCAD Residential, it probably will need to be a completely different application environment. There are many business/operational functions a builder requires that an architect or designer would never use. The powerful parametric nature of a software like ArchiCAD shouldn't be limited only to the needs of Architects and designers. We should all applaud Graphisoft for beginning to address a wider potential audience...everyone will benefit from this.

My 2 cents

Re: New Product - Archicad Residential Released!

aahatimo — Fri, 11 Feb 2005 16:39:14 GMT

baukunst wrote:
I shudder at the thought of AC available on Windows only. I love my Mac and AC, but I will absolutely never be a Windows user. I know of some local trades people who draw on MicroStations and were forced to switch to Windows. Poor people. Not me, I for one will switch applications first before I would switch operating systems. I know that Graphisoft said earlier here that they won't, but...

i too am quite concerned regarding graphisoft's releasing new products in windows only format. the response from gs is not very reassuring either. i am a residential designer and do some design - build projects. sounds like i may be a potential user of this new product. why am i concerned you may ask? well about a week before this announcement i finally committed to switching over to mac osx. i thought i had a partner in graphisoft, committed in supporting macs as well as windows os.
i am very happy with my new powerbook and os 10.37, it also appears more & more companies are switching or contemplating the switch. did i make the right decision?
one more question, why no presence at mac world in san francisco back in jan05?