Does anyone use the program Chief Architect? I was wondering what would be a good program to use for 3D modeling while drawing plans. I currently own the Chief Architect 9.5 version, but I read about others on this board. Is there a better program out there? I don't want anything that will cost more than $500-$600 either. I'm not Mr. Moneybags here, just a struggling student....
I use a program called BOA that runs on the Mac. It's pretty amazing with its 2-D/3-D integration. Revit is its closest competition and BOA is much simpler and a lot cheaper.
There are problems with BOA... for example, the lack of recent development. Not to sound mean, but come on, no OSX version after how long? According to Nader and the people at BOA, there has been an OSX version in the pipe for quite some time now, yet no one has seen anything. Yeah, I can run BOA fine in Classic on my dual G5, but why should I have to? Until I see otherwise, it looks like BOA is unfortuantely dead in the water. It was a good follow up to the old Architrion (8.5 was the last version that the BOA team worked on I believe) but lacks the 2D tools that it had. Also, at this time there is no Windows version of BOA, which is a big set back for the majority of computer users.
BigGoron: check out what other people are recommending on the boards. It looks like if you're on the Windoze end of things, go with Revit. If you're on a Mac, go with ArchiCAD. As a struggling student, you'll be able to get the software at discounted prices - I paid 100$ for my student version of ArchiCAD. Also, if you're on a college campus, I'm sure you'd be able to find kracked versions of the software (for evaluation purposes only, of course). If you don't mind long downloads lasting for days, theres always BitTorrent and other file sharing applications.
I run BOA on my 2.5 Ghz G5 and it performs admirably when doing residential and small commercial work. There is a beauty to BOA that reveals itself only after you've seen drawing sets and how they are made. I worked in Archicad for 3 years before trying BOA and I sold my copy of Archicad not long after. Archicad is incredibly awkward--the 2-D and 3-D worlds are separate. Ditto for Vectorworks. Also Archicad and BOA represent the Alpha and Omega of CAD tools: Archicad has a tool for everything--column, beam, slab, etc.--and BOA has one tool for everything--the block.
BOA has 2-D/3-D integration that perhaps only Revit and the new Microstation can match. It makes a lot of sense and makes it hard to use Archicad which is still tethered to the 2-D world and the Quickdraw window. In BOA the 2-D and 3-D world are the same and you can hae multiple views like in Microstation.
They're different tools and each has its strengths. These are revealed through practice.
We use Chief Architect at the office. Not many use it but its a great program. Mainly for residential work. 2D/3D at the same time. saves time. works great.
Architecture Computer Program?
Does anyone use the program Chief Architect? I was wondering what would be a good program to use for 3D modeling while drawing plans. I currently own the Chief Architect 9.5 version, but I read about others on this board. Is there a better program out there? I don't want anything that will cost more than $500-$600 either. I'm not Mr. Moneybags here, just a struggling student....
I have never heard of that program. I say just end it all now.
I use a program called BOA that runs on the Mac. It's pretty amazing with its 2-D/3-D integration. Revit is its closest competition and BOA is much simpler and a lot cheaper.
http://www.boaresearch.com
There are problems with BOA... for example, the lack of recent development. Not to sound mean, but come on, no OSX version after how long? According to Nader and the people at BOA, there has been an OSX version in the pipe for quite some time now, yet no one has seen anything. Yeah, I can run BOA fine in Classic on my dual G5, but why should I have to? Until I see otherwise, it looks like BOA is unfortuantely dead in the water. It was a good follow up to the old Architrion (8.5 was the last version that the BOA team worked on I believe) but lacks the 2D tools that it had. Also, at this time there is no Windows version of BOA, which is a big set back for the majority of computer users.
BigGoron: check out what other people are recommending on the boards. It looks like if you're on the Windoze end of things, go with Revit. If you're on a Mac, go with ArchiCAD. As a struggling student, you'll be able to get the software at discounted prices - I paid 100$ for my student version of ArchiCAD. Also, if you're on a college campus, I'm sure you'd be able to find kracked versions of the software (for evaluation purposes only, of course). If you don't mind long downloads lasting for days, theres always BitTorrent and other file sharing applications.
Pixelwhore,
I run BOA on my 2.5 Ghz G5 and it performs admirably when doing residential and small commercial work. There is a beauty to BOA that reveals itself only after you've seen drawing sets and how they are made. I worked in Archicad for 3 years before trying BOA and I sold my copy of Archicad not long after. Archicad is incredibly awkward--the 2-D and 3-D worlds are separate. Ditto for Vectorworks. Also Archicad and BOA represent the Alpha and Omega of CAD tools: Archicad has a tool for everything--column, beam, slab, etc.--and BOA has one tool for everything--the block.
BOA has 2-D/3-D integration that perhaps only Revit and the new Microstation can match. It makes a lot of sense and makes it hard to use Archicad which is still tethered to the 2-D world and the Quickdraw window. In BOA the 2-D and 3-D world are the same and you can hae multiple views like in Microstation.
They're different tools and each has its strengths. These are revealed through practice.
Take care
We use Chief Architect at the office. Not many use it but its a great program. Mainly for residential work. 2D/3D at the same time. saves time. works great.
Mr. Moneybags, are you using it for professional work? or for school?
it might be beneficial to use a program more common in the profession...
nothing against the chief, i'm just sayin'
if in that case, there are other solutions to your moneybags problem...
IIRC, both ArchiCAD and VectorWorks have free versions for students.
Rhinoceros is what we use. and its 150 for a student that is full commercial lic.
how come there are so many idiots trolling archinect these days?
Because we use autocad and have the free time to do so.
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