Conference hydra::amiga_v1

I think there is something similar to AutoCAD.

Joh

    
    I feel somewhat qualified to comment on mechanical CAD packages,
    since I use UniGraphics running on an VAX 8650 everyday.  I've been
    using mechanical CAD for a living for about seven years now.
    
    As far as the Amiga goes... in the beginning, there was Aegis Draw.
    A simple 2D object oriented drafting program (object oriented means
    that each entity in the drawing is mathematically positioned in
    space, and is accounted for regardless of the scale at which the
    image is presented).
    
    Aegis Draw was weak and buggy, and was eventually replaced with
    Aegis Draw Plus.  Still pretty weak, but OK for floor plan type
    work.  Draw Plus does include a massive library of architectural,
    electrical, and plumbing parts.  Nice.
    
    IntroCAD from Progressive Peripherals, is much like Draw Plus. 
    OK for simple stuff, but you'll never design an engine block or
    a space shuttle with it.
    
    X-Cad from Taurus is by far the most powerful (and expensive) CAD
    package for the Amiga.  You can construct virtually any 2D detail
    you could ever draw on paper, something that Draw Plus can't claim.
    X-Cad is also remarkable fast at screen drawing.  It's actually
    much faster than UniGraphics on a uVax GPX.  It's a bit faster than
    the $40,000 MegaTEK terminal that I use here at DEC.
    
    I borrowed a friend's X-Cad and test drove it for a few days... I
    was very impressed by it's capabilities, but it was so alien to
    how UniGraphics works that I passed on it.  My tiny brain can only
    handle one CAD package at a time, I guess.                       
    
    The nice thing about X-Cad is that the program is modular in design,
    like AutoCAD.  You can add a 3D module when it's available, or
    schematic generation etc.
    
    Today, there is nothing that can compare with a full AutoCAD package.
    But AutoCAD in it's entirety costs around $3000, and you need a
    slew of extra display hardware and accelerators to get it to run
    well on a PC.  X-Cad screams on the Amiga, but you really need two
    megs or so of memory, a hard drive, and (preferably) a long persistance
    monitor or de-interlacer card.
    
    I suggest you get a demo of X-Cad on the Amiga, then compare the
    hardware/software costs to getting AutoCAD running on a 286 or 386
    clone.  I suspect the Amiga will lose, at least at this point in
    time.
    
    Ed.
    

    
    I happened to stumble upon a new(?) CAD program for the Amiga. 
    The name is something like 'Home Construction and Estimation'.
    
    From a quick glance at the box, it looks like the program is geared
    towards contractors who can design a house and at the same time
    generate a bill of materials and track costs.
    
    The box showed one custom screen with a 2D layout.  On another custom
    screen, there were several open windows with material lists, costs,
    etc.
    
    Sounds like a pretty good package for a builder, but it didn't seem
    like a general-purpose drafting package.
    
    Ed.

re: .3
	Ed,
		I have DRAW+ ( painful in interlace mode ) but this one sounds
	more like what I am looking for.  My wife has that plaster dust
	withdrawal look, so any good planning tools that might be available
	before I have to dig out my 12# sledge would be helpful ( if for 
	nothing else - to stall the project ;^} ). If you can tell me where
	you found it and the price, I'd like to check it out.

	Thanks,
	Dick

    Dick:
    
    This package was sitting on the shelf at the Software Shop.
    Sorry, I didn't get a price, and their latest AmigaWorld ad doesn't
    even list that package.  Why not call the Software Shop, and get
    the name of the publisher; then, give them a call and ask them to
    describe the package.

    Ed.

    thanks for the pointers.  Since I do not own an Amiga, do I understand
    there may not be a 60Hz non-interlaced 19" color monitor for t�e
    Amiga?  Would you care to comment on what the best Amiga configuration
    would look like for architectural design and drafting; ie, cpu,
    mem, disks, monitors and the rough pricing of X-cad. 
    
    I appreciate your input.
    
    samir

    
    The best approach at present for using an Amiga with CAD software
    (the implication here is that you will want high resolution) is
    to purchase a MicroWay de-interlacer board.  Currently, it is only
    available for the A2000, although an A500 version is in the works.
    
    This board plugs into the A2000 video slot and has it's own on-board
    RAM that combines two interlaced frames and bumps the video signal up
    from 15.75 KHz horizontal scan rate to 31.5 KHz.  It does this with
    absolutely no performance loss to the CPU.  A multisync type monitor (or
    fixed 31.5 KHz monitor) is required with this board, since the standard
    Amiga monitor cannot handle 31.5 KHz. 
    
    This display combination can go head to head with any 12" to 14" VGA or
    Mac II display on the market in terms of clarity and quality. 
    
    Commodore has also shown a new monitor that supports 1008 x 800
    resolution non-interlaced (four colors?), intended for desktop
    publishing (or CAD?) but this monitor won't be available for some time,
    at least until v 1.4 of the system software is available. 
    
    I know that there are 14" multisync displays, and there may be larger
    models, but bear in mind that with a huge display, you are still
    going to be looking at 640 x 400 dots.  This relatively low resolution
    will appear as huge pixels on a large display.  Most workstations
    have 1024 horizontal dots.
                                              
    A sample configuration would be as follows...
    
    Amiga 2000 w/ 1 MB of RAM			$1600
    2 nd floppy drive				$ 150  (optional)
    40 MB Hard drive w/SCSI board		$ 700
    De-interlacer card 				$ 495 
    14" Multisync monitor			$ 650
    14 MHz 68020/68881 accelerator		$ 850  (extremely optional)
                                                -----
                                                $4445
    
    Taurus X-Cad software			$ 395
                                        				      
    This seems high, but this system would be comparable in performance
    to a $7000 Mac II, and you get real multitasking to boot, and an
    unsurpassed game system.  (Who plays games anyway?)
    
    Note that the 68020/68881 board is not at all needed to obtain good
    performance.  I just threw it in to get a reasonable comparison.
    
    Disclaimer:  These prices represent approximate street prices for
    the various components.  I won't quote prices for extra RAM, since
    it depends on the phase of the moon and the price of cheese in Bolivia.
                                                                           
    I'll re-iterate my earlier advice to explore a 386 clone machine.
    The price of these brutes has been dropping, but by the time you
    buy all the accesories, you may still be well over the price of
    the Amiga system.
    
    Ed.
    
                
    

>    Anyone oaware of any professional(ie Architect or Draftsman) quality
>    architectural drawing packages (2d and 3d) on the Amiga?
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Very recently, a package called "Homebuilders_CAD" has appeared on the
market. I do not own one and have not tried it, but some of the advertising
claims are:

	. 20-acre drawing area, 1/60 inch accuracy
	. 60+ pre-defined doors and windows
	. Draw buildings up to 200 stories high
	. 300,000+ layers
	. Multi-tasking, pull-down menus,
	. Automatic generation of elevation views from plan views
	. Automatic costing, spreadsheet-like cost editor, etc.
	. Prints cost summary and detail    
	. Documentation (lots!) with tutorial, pictures, etc.

It is selling at Memory Location in Wellesly, Mass. for $195. This may be
what you're looking for. I can't say anything about the quality, but I'm
sure ML will let you try it. (Also, it was written by someone I know, so
I'd be a tad biased...)

John O.

    
    I saw an ad for "Homebuilders_CAD" recently.
    
    Something I'd really like to have, sounds like it'd be real handy.
    It's just so pricey!
    
    I wish he'd come out with something with maybe a little less power
    but priced for those of us who want something to help with our own
    house instead of a builder doing it for profit.
    
    Might want to pass that along next time you talk to the author...
    
    -Ray