This is an interesting thread.
I've just spent a few hours (only a few, mind you) with the beta version of Archicad 10, here are my comments:
PROS
1. It looks as if plotmaker is integrated, which seems huge.
2. great new cursor tool for inputing distance and angle without hitting R, etc..
3. Walls can be tilted, and there are many new options for the display of walls, including, it appears, the long-wished for "show across floors."
4. Nice clean new interface.
5. It appears as if schedules will now be taken seriously and made easier to work with.
6. Simplified pens and layers, arranged by design stage (DD, SD, CD).
7. A ruler, there's a really cool ruler.
8. Better 3D navigation.
CONS: the entire program looks as if this is a minor upgrade.
1. you still can't rake walls, i.e. there's no easy way to change the height of one end of a wall while keeping the other end fixed. Walls are still rectangles in profile, unless, as always, you use Solid Element Operations (SEO) or trim with a roof.
b. SEO are still the primary way to work in 3D. And the operator still has to be hidden on another layer.
c. No new 3D modelling tools- including the mesh tool, which appears to still have a flat bottom only. I guess you'll have to stick with the Cinema 4D plug-in.
d. Curved roofs are the same as always - lots of little straight roofs - which makes it looks as if there are no NURBS
e. Few new library objects.
f. I DIDN'T SEE any other new tools except an improved profiler: remember, I spent only a few hours with it. I list this as a con because it APPEARS as if GS has simply tried to make existing tools better, but without addressing their fundamental limitation: the inability to freely model/direct/guide any object outside of the given parameters. Parametric is great, except that parametric is really limited. Still. The new profiler APPEARS to me not what i was looking for.
Summary: if you were happy with version 7 or 9 (no one was happy with
, you'll be happy with version 10. If you were expecting poweful new tools or freedoms or abilities of a revolutionary sort, especially in 3D, you're out of luck. If you do not like Archicad as it is today, move on now and don't wait for version 10. if you do like it today, you will probably be very happy with 10. I have finally reached the conclusion that Archicad is simply not right for me, and never will be.
As for the ethics of checking out the beta and then revealing it, I understand both sides. For GS or Djordje or Dwight or Karl or anyone else who likes, or makes a living selling, Archicad, revealing this info is wrong, and I would completely understand if this post is removed.
For those of us long-time Archicad user who have long asked for real modeling and creative improvements, the latest version APPEARS to be yet another big let down. After having seen it, I remain glad I switched to away a few months ago, after six years working in Archicad.
The level of betrayal and disappointment I feel - betrayal vis a vis marketing and reseller promises - disappointment vis a vis GS's unwillingness to engage regular customers in discussion and unwillingness to adapt their program in ways many of us have requested - outweighs for me the ethical problems involved in revealing this information.
If you have any questions for me, post them here, and I'll try to answer them.
If the post is removed, well, that's understandable.
I've just spent a few hours (only a few, mind you) with the beta version of Archicad 10, here are my comments:
PROS
1. It looks as if plotmaker is integrated, which seems huge.
2. great new cursor tool for inputing distance and angle without hitting R, etc..
3. Walls can be tilted, and there are many new options for the display of walls, including, it appears, the long-wished for "show across floors."
4. Nice clean new interface.
5. It appears as if schedules will now be taken seriously and made easier to work with.
6. Simplified pens and layers, arranged by design stage (DD, SD, CD).
7. A ruler, there's a really cool ruler.
8. Better 3D navigation.
CONS: the entire program looks as if this is a minor upgrade.
1. you still can't rake walls, i.e. there's no easy way to change the height of one end of a wall while keeping the other end fixed. Walls are still rectangles in profile, unless, as always, you use Solid Element Operations (SEO) or trim with a roof.
b. SEO are still the primary way to work in 3D. And the operator still has to be hidden on another layer.
c. No new 3D modelling tools- including the mesh tool, which appears to still have a flat bottom only. I guess you'll have to stick with the Cinema 4D plug-in.
d. Curved roofs are the same as always - lots of little straight roofs - which makes it looks as if there are no NURBS
e. Few new library objects.
f. I DIDN'T SEE any other new tools except an improved profiler: remember, I spent only a few hours with it. I list this as a con because it APPEARS as if GS has simply tried to make existing tools better, but without addressing their fundamental limitation: the inability to freely model/direct/guide any object outside of the given parameters. Parametric is great, except that parametric is really limited. Still. The new profiler APPEARS to me not what i was looking for.
Summary: if you were happy with version 7 or 9 (no one was happy with
, you'll be happy with version 10. If you were expecting poweful new tools or freedoms or abilities of a revolutionary sort, especially in 3D, you're out of luck. If you do not like Archicad as it is today, move on now and don't wait for version 10. if you do like it today, you will probably be very happy with 10. I have finally reached the conclusion that Archicad is simply not right for me, and never will be.As for the ethics of checking out the beta and then revealing it, I understand both sides. For GS or Djordje or Dwight or Karl or anyone else who likes, or makes a living selling, Archicad, revealing this info is wrong, and I would completely understand if this post is removed.
For those of us long-time Archicad user who have long asked for real modeling and creative improvements, the latest version APPEARS to be yet another big let down. After having seen it, I remain glad I switched to away a few months ago, after six years working in Archicad.
The level of betrayal and disappointment I feel - betrayal vis a vis marketing and reseller promises - disappointment vis a vis GS's unwillingness to engage regular customers in discussion and unwillingness to adapt their program in ways many of us have requested - outweighs for me the ethical problems involved in revealing this information.
If you have any questions for me, post them here, and I'll try to answer them.
If the post is removed, well, that's understandable.
Still looking?
