Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: BobCadCam versus VectorCadCam

Ballendo,

I only have experience back to 17 with them. It had a few quirks and worked with some spoon-feeding but the interface left much to be desired. 18 came out and it had a much better UI, however it had some serious problems including windows registry issues etc, that they did indeed try to rectify with patches and updates. There was no repairing it obviously. When I called they immediately updated all my seats to 19. 19 was better, but it was still problematic mostly in the 3D realm and some pocketing, etc. It was during Version 19 from what I understand that they had some new developers come on board. Version 20 was then released. I haven't had the first issue with it. I've never had to call support. If something isn't working it's because I'm not doing it correctly. A quick refer to the training CD's library and pull up the particular video that covers the particular operation and smooth sailing from then on.

If someone were to buy their software and just try and figure it out on their own, they won't like it. It's not Autocad, Solidworks or Mastercam. If one gets the training CD's (and they are a must) and spends a few hours with them and learn how it does and why it does anything, it's a very enjoyable program to use. Can produce alot of good code quickly.

Seems that the sales team has toned it down. They may have figured out they were doing themselves more damage than good with their almost ridiculous overzealous push. From a business standpoint, it's understandable, the price is low they deal in volume so an agressive sales plan to keep the lights burning. Theres a right and wrong way to do that though.

On it's price, whats it worth to you? Download the demo, play with the lessons they have available and see how you like it. Thats how I buy anything like that. And they will haggle with you.

What does 22 have over 20 or 21? Thats the exact question they get from me when they rarely contact me to upgrade. I ask what is in this version that I don't already have. If the list is short or uninteresting. I stay with what I have, hence I'm still using 20.

Ron


ballendo <ballendo@...> wrote:
Hello,

Ron, you make some excellent points here.

The problem IMO stems from what you've said in the first
line: "Bobcad Version 19 and back were buggy".

I've used Bobcad since its DOS days. V10, then BCgold, then...
And it was a royal PITA because it HAD many (Subtle) bugs.

Of course many other programs ALSO had bugs, but BC was not very
forthcoming about the bugs they had, and as you likely remember; it
was only through the "grapevine" (and upgrades) that we were able to
get relief. And by living with it, employing workarounds.

Add to this the fact that BobCAD has employed VERY aggressive sales
tactics, extremely "flexible"<G> pricing structures, and one can
easily see where all the "BobCAD is BAD" comments come from. MANY
were burned by the early versions which you can now discount with a
single line saying they "were buggy".

So I bet there are a LOT of folks who'd REALLY like to believe that
in fact V20 and above finally get it right. I've liked BC, andeven
use my older version occasionally but I don't have the newer
versions because I grew tired of the promise that the long-standing
problems in those pre v20 versions would be fixed in the next
release. So v19 was it for me.

With comments like yours, and others chiming in, perhaps it's time
to have another look?

But first, Have the sales tactics really changed? (I agree that tech
support has always been available. And not only from a salesman.)
But if you weren' an old-school customer, it could have been tougher
to know the "lay of the land, BC-wise". I can see how many would
have felt that there was no decent support.

Burned many times; but willing to have a look again,

Thank you,

Ballendo

P.S. What is the "real" price one should expect to pay for v22? And
what does it have over say V20 (assuming v20 could be used instead.)

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, R Rogers <rogersmach@...>
wrote:

>
> Bobcad Version 19 and back were buggy (they don't sell them

anymore). Version 20 and up are very stable. I and others I know use
it practically every day and have no complaints. The claim that you
call and get a "salesman" for support is innaccurate. They have a
support department and they have been helpful when contacted.

>
> Practically everyone in this trade I've showed it to has bought

it. Not one of them has regretted it or asked for a refund.

>
> Simply coming out and saying it's no good because they are

brothers or some such nonsense, is just that. If one thinks it's no
good, how about some examples or details and basis for the claim?
And then following up with "you should buy ours instead" again, how
about some examples and basis for that claim?

>
> Ron

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