"Free software" for students is one thing...
what about when you hit employment and your employer just cannot afford to buy all these add-ons to get the most out of the package?
There is a real issue here - as the feature set of ArchiCAD is left in the dust by REVIT it really needs all the help it can get.
I've read other posts with similar calls: GS may well need to buy out some of these tool developers and ship them with "base" ArchiCAD. The one I read suggested Encina (Objective)....as a start I'd see Cadimage in NZ as a prime target....a few examples of their products:
Revisions Manager - I still cannot believe in 2009 GS have still got no built in revisions tool in their "professional, high end BIM tool".
Design Suite - being able to clad models with detail is a real measurable feature over REVIT.
Landscape Tool
and there are many more.
And what of interoperability? REVIT is offering an integrated package set (Structure/MEP/ECOTECT etc etc - and these are analytical tools not just modellers like GS feeble MEP attempt). Where is the GS response? Telling us we have IFCs is #### when they require degrees in knowing how to set them up, and then at best it is a poor translation! I've had consultants prefer to model from scratch rather than use exports out of ArchiCAD, no matter how hard I've tried. If this is a serious approach by GS, GS needs to have proformas built in to assist the process, with the "correct settings" worked out!
It's only lateral thinking by GS HQ that will stop ArchiCAD from slipping into irrelevancy.
GS has a unique opportunity with the GFC (Credit Crunch) - overhaul the software while things are (relatively) quiet - before the economy picks up.....
we will soon know if they have any visionaries...
