DBUG> DataCAD Review

[Wasch@aol.com]

To All, I just received the August issue of Cadence and read the favaorable
article on DataCAD by Geoff Langdon. Cadence gave DataCAD four bullseyes out
of five. 

However, in an accompanying insert booklet titled "Architecture in the new
millenium" there is another article "Tools That Architects Use: An AIA Member
Survey", in which DataCAD is used by 2.27% of 1-5 users and does not show up
in any of the other large user categories. DataCAD's overall rating is 1.19%
of the Total Group. A rather strange statistic when compared to the recent
figures showing DataCAD being the number two CAD program behind AutoCAD.


1. Autocad..61.36%(1-5).85.71%(6-10).85.71%(11-20).100%(21-50).100%(51+)
2.Microstation.9.09%(1-5)........................................42.85%(21-50)
.20%(51+)
3 Autocad Lt.
6.81%(1-5).14.28%(6-10)...........................................20%(51+)
4. MiniCAD
9.09%(1-5)...................................................................2
0%(51+)
5.
ArchiCAD.9.09%(1-5).4.76%(6-10)...............................................
..............
6.
DataCAD.2.27%(1-5)............................................................
......................
7. PowerCAD.
6.81%(1-5)....................................................................
...........
8.
ClarisCAD.2.27%(1-5)..........................................................
.......................
9.
Powerdraw.2.27%(1-5)..........................................................
......................
10.
Visio.........................4.76%(6-10).....................................
........................
11.
Allplan.......................4.76%(6-10).....................................
........................
12.
Ariscad.....................4.76%(6-10).......................................
......................
13.
Cadvance.....................................14.28%(11-20)....................
..................

Overall Rating
1. Autocad............................................................75%
2.Microstation........................................................9.52%
3 Autocad Lt..........................................................7.14%
4. MiniCAD ...........................................................5.95%
5. ArchiCAD..........................................................5.95%
6. DataCAD...........................................................1.19%
7. PowerCAD.........................................................3.57%
8. ClarisCAD..........................................................1.19%
9. Powerdraw.........................................................1.19%
10. Visio................................................................1.19%
11. Allplan..............................................................1.19%
12. Ariscad............................................................1.19%
13. Cadvance.........................................................1.19%

The results of this survey is based on data from a sample size of 250 AIA
members spread across the U.S.

The bottom line to me is that these results were taken from to small a
sampling and cannot be trusted as being that good. I think that I recall Geoff
Langdon saying that there were about 50,000 practicing architects in the
country. A half of one per cent does not qualify as good statistical data
IMHO.

Wayne Schuiltz
DraftCAD
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