Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: Rhino, Was:vector's learning curve

----- Original Message -----

> Productivity programs by their very essence aren't for the casual
> user, they are heavyweight full time programs.

Guess I should clarify. Outside of the CNC world a productivity program is a
word processor and a spread sheet. I am refering to programs that are used
by huge numbe of users.

> The command line hasn't been dropped but it's alive and well.

Again you are looking at this from the perspective of the machine shop and
not software engineering. In the real world (that is the world where
companies make billions selling software) the command line is dead except
for the geeks and Unix contingent.

> Have a
> look at any serious Cad programs like Autocad, Microstation etc and
> the people who use these 10 hours a day are all on command line
> inputs.

Exactly what I am saying. If you are not a daily user of the program the
command line is not the way to go. If you are there is no doubt about the
speed.

> True there are mouse / menu moves to duplicate these moves
> but the speed is still in the command line.

Remember this is a hobby list and the majority of the members use a CAD/CAM
program when they can fit it in which is far from often enough to become
accomplished at remembering all the command line commands.

> One of the biggest failings I hear against Turbocad is that it's very
> powerfull but the endless clicking dragging and tabing makes it a
> pain to use. I know of quite a few organisations that have evalulated
> it only to drop it because of the slow input.

Organizations vs hobby again. You need to put on your casual, occasional
user hat and clicking and dragging is the prefered method so that when I
bring up a program I have not used in 2 months I can get something done
immediately.

> What can be more productive when needing to draw a keyway or slot 8mm
> wide and 30mm long in the vertical plane than to enter the following
> on the command line:-
> SL,8,30,90 <enter>

Nothing unless it takes you 10 minutes to figure out the command because you
are a HOBBY user and this is the first time you have gotten to use the
program in a month.

Again the point I am making is that the requirements for a day in day out
user are vastly different from a casual user. In my mind Vector gives the
casual user the power of many big $$ programs in a format that is better
suited to their usage.

Tim
[Denver, CO]