bit-tech Shopping: punch! Software Home Design Architectural Series 5000 v12 (Full Product)

• Microsoft Windows Vista
• Microsoft Windows XP

• Intel Celeron
• Intel Pentium III

Rating: 2

Time with product: 6 Weeks

Strengths: An expensive way to dabble in house design without achieving any serious end results.

Weaknesses: Poorly conceived workflow that will force you into compromise during the design phase.Poor support options.Unstable program with important and limiting bugs.

Summary: The main difference between AS 5000 and its predecessor AS 4000 is the incorporation of 3D Custom Workshop Pro, which is a restricted/modified version of Punch?s basic ViaCAD 2D/3D application. Overall, this is a positive change as Custom Workshop Pro allows importing designs from other software into Punch?s 3D Object Library, including those that are widely available as Google Sketchup files. However, the implementation of Custom Workshop Pro is flawed. The program is unstable and crashes even with some of Punch?s own objects and does not render imported object textures properly.Otherwise, AS 5000 offers little additional features and remains problematic and seriously flawed, especially when designing any even slightly non-traditional constructions are concerned. Despite the wide array of poorly documented features and peculiar behaviors, you will be forced into making design compromises, even if you critically comb through all available instruction materials such as printed manuals, the program?s electronic help and tutorial videos, and internet resources including the heavily advertised Punch University online video courses. I cannot recommend this software to any user. Entry level users are better served using any of the widely available cheap, low-end products to decide if design/CAD is for them or not. Once you have made the decision to proceed with your own design and creation (and I would bet any money that this would only be the case for a small minority), Punch AS 5000 will quickly show its limitations to you, especially when any non-conventional designs are concerned. If you are planning a conventional design, then why purchase a high-end architectural CAD product in the first place? Having used the features of Punch AS 5000 extensively and compared it to the trial version of Chief Architect X1, I came to the conclusion that the higher priced Chief Architect X1 is well worth every penny that you would spend on it (not to mention the available support options), provided you are REALLY SERIOUS AND COMMITTED about using it. I am in no way affiliated with Chief Architect and I really wish their product was more affordable. However, even if your time would be worth minimum wage, Chief Architect would be worth it. Remember that no software will allow you to develop new ideas, or implement them with a few mouse clicks. Designing a house plan is a long and arduous process, requiring far more time, patience, and perseverance than you would expect, as well as innumerable visits to libraries and other sources for reference. Unless you are a qualified professional, you will also need to have your plans reviewed, approved and signed off by a qualified professional. I should also note that I have not come across any professionals who use Punch?s line of house design products for obvious reasons. They all use products of AutoCAD?s and Chief Architect?s caliber and reputation. And speaking of low-end products, why use Punch?s if they all culminate in AS 5000, when Chief Architect also provides low-end, affordable consumer products that would offer a more convenient transition to Chief Architect?My bottom line is that Punch has put out the same ill-conceived design and work flows year after year, and addition of poorly- or well-conceived additional features cannot be expected to save the overall program, even if any of the included wizards/components/features would shine individually. Punch should listen to consumers and offer its services free to professionals in order to improve its product line. Support options are dismal, and for example you cannot expect any support if you happen to use a high-end laptop PC. The questions on their user forums are of the variety of ?how do I register my program? or ?how do I return my software? and there is an inadequate number of entries that offer any complicated help or advice.