AC Versus Revit

[Anonymous]

All,

I know that this topic has been discussed in the past, however, what I am trying to decide is whether to move my office to ArchiCAD or Revit.

Currently we are using SketchUp for the design process and Autocad LT for the documentation portion of our projects.

We have decided that using software applications like ArchiCAD will yield efficiencies in our organization on a number of levels; however, we are trying to decide between AC and Revit.

I have obtained trial copies of both and have gone through tutorials and sample projects. What I am looking for is opinions from this forum as to why AC is better than Revit - what can't Revit do that AC can?

Incidentally, we specialize in residential and light commercial work with a modern emphasis.

Thanks in advance for everyone's assistance,

DJ Landreneau

[TomWaltz]

jdk wrote:
If you have a recent version of autocad, the upgrade costs 1100$. If you add SketchUP (500$) and cinema4d (600$), you are slightly above 2000$ in total...

so why is this relevant?

[Mats_Knutsson]

jdk wrote:
If you have a recent version of autocad, the upgrade costs 1100$. If you add SketchUP (500$) and cinema4d (600$), you are slightly above 2000$ in total, which sound extremely sweet. By comparison, archicad+sketchup+c4d sums up to about 5400$. If you consider that revit is not that different from ac, and that in both cases you need SP and C4D for rapid development and proper rendering, then the battle reduces to price comparison. Autodesk's offer ends next October 18th. If Graphisoft wants to gain new clients, it should make a similar offer, and be quick too.

I don't understand this. Have normal architects in the states really managed to work with Revit??? We don't see it here in Sweden! I would rather pay for something that's really good than get something that will lead to huge loss of productivity.

I can most likely look on sourceforge or similar to get 12 pieces of software for free that could help me do what I want...but I'm not a computer technician...I need to work and learn the tool for my craft...that is the ONE tool that supports what I'm doing!

[Anonymous]

Mats, have you ever used Revit-9 with SketchUp and C4D? Because I really think that you do not know what you are talking about.

[Mats_Knutsson]

jdk wrote:
Mats, have you ever used Revit-9 with SketchUp and C4D?

Three pieces of software...cool!

Revit I tested years ago which doesn't count. As I wrote we see (from the few pilot architects actually using it...) that it's not working...or to be more specific...it probably works if Michael Schumacher is behind the stick, same with ADT. We keep a close look at other software and right now the most important discussion is communication, getting IFC to work. We have several CAD systems and if we want to have some real progress in the construction business it's all about communication of 3D product models in my mind.

Btw software needs workflow which is more important than functions. Learning curve, learning time, workflow-productivity, openness to other formats, support, subscription conditions, interface etc are key factors.

The Michael Schumachers can get up to speed with any software but we don't have that many Schumachers.

I will hold an intensive Archicad course for some university researchers (They can use Revit, they are also doing some programming). It will be very interesting. After that course I can get a proper evaluation of the two precious jewels. We have one! ADT and Archicad expert in Sweden who is software neutral and I hope the Revit guys I will teach AC will become Archicad experts (they are Shumachers so they will probably learn AC pretty fast) so we could understand each other better for the future.

Reason why I put my nose in this when I'm not a Revit AND Archicad expert user is that I am confused when I get the impression that in the States normal architects use Revit and on my turf it's working really bad. Also I'm also pretty tired of the über slick, very very well formulated and smart Revit Schumachers on this forum. They would be better off selling some other products.

Btw, I'm a reseller! so I'm a Schumacher on Archicad and a mere amateur at Autocad, Sketchup, 3DS, Rhino, Maxon (C4D), Photoshop, Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Notepad, Wordpad, Cubase, Reason, Adobe Premiere, Colin McRae and a couple of hundred others...
But when I want to make a house I don't use the shaft to hit the head which hits the nail...I use the nail gun.

Over and out...

[Djordje]

jdk wrote:
If you have a recent version of autocad, the upgrade costs 1100$. If you add SketchUP (500$) and cinema4d (600$), you are slightly above 2000$ in total, which sound extremely sweet. By comparison, archicad+sketchup+c4d sums up to about 5400$. If you consider that revit is not that different from ac, and that in both cases you need SP and C4D for rapid development and proper rendering, then the battle reduces to price comparison. Autodesk's offer ends next October 18th. If Graphisoft wants to gain new clients, it should make a similar offer, and be quick too.

Check with your Archicad reseller what is the crossgrade price ... AFAIK the offer is there, if you switch, they take the Autocad licenses from you and give you Archicad.

If the Revit AND AutoCAD are given for $1500, which of them is not worth anything? I asked the local guys recently, and got "ummm ... hah ..." then the marketing drivel as an answer.

[Chadwick]

I love these conversations. I feel like I am listening to a broken record.

I am going through a month long test taking a real project that we are using in our office and building it through Archicad, Revit and Bentley Architecture (yes I am doing a lot of this work on my own time out of the office). I know I am not the end all authority on this, but trust me when I say Archicad and Revit are different in their approach but they both get out CDs just fine and build their models just fine. That is to say, they both work. - And its not a struggle in either program once you actually make an effort to learn the program (not just try to do in one day in the new program what you've been doing for years in the other). I taught both to myself through manuals bought on Amazon and tutorials that come with the programs.

Just my experience in the matter.

[Anonymous]

Chadwick wrote:
I love these conversations. I feel like I am listening to a broken record.

I am going through a month long test taking a real project that we are using in our office and building it through Archicad, Revit and Bentley Architecture (yes I am doing a lot of this work on my own time out of the office). I know I am not the end all authority on this, but trust me when I say Archicad and Revit are different in their approach but they both get out CDs just fine and build their models just fine. That is to say, they both work. - And its not a struggle in either program once you actually make an effort to learn the program (not just try to do in one day in the new program what you've been doing for years in the other). I taught both to myself through manuals bought on Amazon and tutorials that come with the programs.

Just my experience in the matter.

Ditto here. We are doing the same thing in our office right now. We also have found both to be quite capable programs. We have our preferences... of functions from both programs. We should decide within the month which one we will move forward with.
j

[Anonymous]

>If the Revit AND AutoCAD are given for $1500, which of them is not worth anything? I asked the local guys recently, and got "ummm ... hah ..." then the marketing drivel as an answer.

We are talking about a licence upgrade... Autodesk is being aggressive with this offer. For the same cost, you can choose to have full autocad 2007 alone, or bundled with revit 9. They are just trying hard to help people to upgrade to the latest versions, and are also trying hard to win new clients.

I am not aware of any similar activity by Graphisoft, which means that while Autodesk is moving forward with both old and new clients, Graphisoft is either static or losing its own. I suggest Graphisoft to take countermeasures, such as making its own aggressive offer, for a limited period, to win new clients from the autocad pool. Votes can be casted in the "General Wishes >>> aggressive pricing" forum.

[TomWaltz]

jdk wrote:
I am not aware of any similar activity by Graphisoft, which means that while Autodesk is moving forward with both old and new clients, Graphisoft is either static or losing its own. I suggest Graphisoft to take countermeasures, such as making its own aggressive offer, for a limited period, to win new clients from the autocad pool. .

Is Autodesk moving forward? Or is this a desperate move to move more Revit licenses that they expected to sell better, so they are giving them away instead?

Are you upgrading soon and just want a discount? Why do excited over this?

[Anonymous]

Tom

>Is Autodesk moving forward? Or is this a desperate move to move more Revit licenses that they expected to sell better, so they are giving them away instead?

I can't tell about their desperation, but revit 9 is as good as AC10, and Autodesk is pushing hard to raise the pool of its licences.

>Are you upgrading soon and just want a discount? Why do excited over this?

We are upgrading in a few days, that's why we are excited about having the best CAD at the best price. It is a fortunate coincidence that Autodesk is running an aggressive price update in this very period, so I am really on the edge of the seat for this (rather expensive and committing) choice. I am waiting for a move by Graphisoft.