🚀 go-pugleaf

We are considering building a home and I would like to do (most of) the architecture layout. 
I have a Mac II with plenty of disk and a 1024x768x8 bit display.  I also have access at work
to a Mac II/fx, several high-end workstations, and scads of professional video equipment.

Here's what I know.  I've read several articles and reviews in MacUser and MacWorld about 2-d
and 3-d cad packages.  In general they all seem to recommend one of two approaches:

    - Spend a bundle and get everything you need in a professional package like
      ArchiCad or Architrion II ($3k - $5k)
    - Mix and match smaller packages to get the same result

I prefer the latter because it is in my price range ( < $1,000).  The requirement for
architecture have three parts, drafting, bill-of-materials (BOM) and illustration.  Claris
Cad 2.0 gets the nod for drafting, but is weak in BOM (although it will export tab-delimited
fields for use with other programs).  Blueprint (by Graphsoft) is strong in BOM but is only
adequate for drafting.

For illustration, a couple of reviews said that Dreams (by Innovative Data Design) was
the best, allowing you to easily build a visual model of your prospective home.
In others DynaPerspective (by DynaWare) was said to be the best because it allowed
3d fly-through.

I bought DesignCad 2.3 because it looked like it was able to provide all three.  It seems
that it can (actually BOM is due in the next release -- about 6 weeks).  I've been able
to get the 3-d fly-through to work as well as the drafting, but it has very serious
problems with the user interface, and a variety of fatal errors.  The company has
been cooperative, but I'm about to give up and pay the 20% restocking charge.

Has anyone ever done this?  What packages did you use?  I was hoping for a testimonial
that confirms one of these paths.  Reply to me directly and I will summarize.

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internet: toddb@sail.labs.tek.com                                   c--Q Q
US:       Todd Brunhoff; Video and Electronic Systems Lab;              `
          Tektronix, Inc.;  Box 500  MS 50-321, Beaverton OR 97077      -
Phone:    (503) 627-1121