U.S. end-users/resellers + GS developers/rep's exchange

[JCovarrubias]

It has been suggested to me (by an end-user) that since there is little contact between the US end-users (with possibly the US Resellers as being the point of contact) and the GSHU developers (inc. their GSHU representatives), there should be a yearly meeting of some type.

Would any of these be a good idea for an exchange of ideas, goals, intentions, comments?

a.) "brown-bag type" informal lunch seminar (1-2 days) in the US
b.) live online chat+WebEx discussions (several hours)
c.) new, limited-time (over the course of 30 days), explicit forum category on AC-Talk
d.) some other medium(s) or combination

Let me know what you think.

[stefan]

A lot of software companies have the luck that there are independent "tutorial" writers out there that make good books about their tools.

I have two books on 3ds max that describe one single project (a short commercial animation), going from conception to delivery. This included the gritty details on scripting your own tools to get the work done more efficiently.
The authors are often users with industry experience, which explains why they do it the "production"-way.

A similar approach, for a full-scale ArchiCAD-project, would probably take a very thick book, but I think a lot of ArchiCAD customers would even want to pay for it... well, if they are a bit like me. I like reading such books. Now I come to think about it, most people don't. They install the software and start (ab)using it.

So, although I prefer a good book, I guess most ArchiCAD-users (and software-users in general) won't even bother...

[Dave Jochum]

stefan wrote:
A similar approach, for a full-scale ArchiCAD-project, would probably take a very thick book, but I think a lot of ArchiCAD customers would even want to pay for it... well, if they are a bit like me. I like reading such books. Now I come to think about it, most people don't. They install the software and start (ab)using it.

So, although I prefer a good book, I guess most ArchiCAD-users (and software-users in general) won't even bother...

As I've said before, I would definitely pay for such a book, although I am also one that would read a software manual before a Grisham novel (even software I don't own ) I don't know haw many registered users of AC there are, but I think that a book of this nature would be successful, as it's so sorely needed. I don't think anyone's going to rich writing this, but I do think the return would be worth the investment.

[JCovarrubias]

Dave wrote:

stefan wrote:
A similar approach, for a full-scale ArchiCAD-project, would probably take a very thick book, but I think a lot of ArchiCAD customers would even want to pay for it... well, if they are a bit like me. I like reading such books. Now I come to think about it, most people don't. They install the software and start (ab)using it.

So, although I prefer a good book, I guess most ArchiCAD-users (and software-users in general) won't even bother...

As I've said before, I would definitely pay for such a book, although I am also one that would read a software manual before a Grisham novel (even software I don't own ) I don't know haw many registered users of AC there are, but I think that a book of this nature would be successful, as it's so sorely needed. I don't think anyone's going to rich writing this, but I do think the return would be worth the investment.

rumor mill: Project Framework 8.1

[Anonymous]

JCovarrubias wrote:
rumor mill: Project Framework 8.1

Could it really be true? I just hope they'll go into a bit more depth than the last Framework did (if my memory serves). And like I said, hope that it'll include a complicated residential AND commercial project.

...and could it be free? ...

[Djordje]

"SergioCould it really be true? I just hope they'll go into a bit more depth than the last Framework did (if my memory serves). And like I said, hope that it'll include a complicated residential AND commercial project.[/quote wrote:


Well ...

It is plainly impossible to cover every aspect of ArchiCAD application in one book, especially country or continent wise. "residential" might mean one thing in the US, another one in Europe, completely third one here.

One thing that the book should NOT do is tie itself to any region specific practice. That means covering log homes, curtain walls, wooden structure roofs, stainless steel cladding ... and what not.

But - the underlying principles and How Tos are mostly the same ...

[Anonymous]

Djordje wrote:
It is plainly impossible to cover every aspect of ArchiCAD application in one book, especially country or continent wise. "residential" might mean one thing in the US, another one in Europe, completely third one here.

What I meant is that they should cover things like making interactive schedules, calculations, etc. And the reason why I was asking for residential and commercial was because due to the size of the projects, some residential projects don't neccessarily need to be as complicated as a commercial project, and vice versa. I suppose another way to rephrase it is that there should be a simple project and a complicated one (though that doesn't sound right either)..

But I agree that it shouldn't be localized. That'd be kinda ridiculously useless for all the others that are left out (but I WOULD prefer it as a us version )

[Anonymous]

Great discussion! After many years of waiting, the opportunity to join in some form of discussion, not only about things that are needed and not provided, but for the future of development of the software, I am for an online discussion. Maybe the form could be a small group at a time to limit the volume of off topic interaction, that would focus on maybe one sector of information and use at a time. Although the wish list is really good and important, the developers need to be brought to day to day reality. Whether you're working on a single family dwelling or a high rise, there are some processes that are necessary all the time for all kinds of work. Those elements need to be included/updated/optimized just to stay current in the market.

Many moons ago there was a noontime chat on AOL that, I believe resulted in much improvement in the operability of the program. Perhaps it can happen again.

[Anonymous]

Lew,

What do you see as the advantage of a live chat over what we already have here?

It seems to me that the current set up provides both wider audience participation and more time for well considered responses than is possible in the chat format. I do very much appreciate the value of brainstorming sessions and design workshops, but I think these still need to be in person (call me old fashioned).

[__archiben]

Sergio wrote:

JCovarrubias wrote:
rumor mill: Project Framework 8.1

Could it really be true? I just hope they'll go into a bit more depth than the last Framework did (if my memory serves). And like I said, hope that it'll include a complicated residential AND commercial project.

...and could it be free? ...

call me cynical, but i don't think that "they" will actually be doing it. :
http://www.graphisoft.com/products/archicad/howto_comp.html

. . . but i may feel obliged to put my tuppence worth forward anyway.

~/archiben

[Anonymous]

Matt said:What do you see as the advantage of a live chat over what we already have here?

It is the concentration in relatively real time that makes the interaction work. Sometime the exploration of an idea can take form and develop by the stimulus of conversation. That is a reason for events like Archicad University, to get people thinking and exploring. That is not to say that this forum is not exceptional, it is. I just do not have the excess time to spend to participate in more than a few areas. Focus groups (bad words) can be productive at times of important transitions.

The ability to converse, even when trying to type quickly, provides more meaning and minimizes potential misunderstandings as feedback can be supplied directly.