Can anyone compare Chief Architect with REVIT LT

[johnnyprc]

I will try to post something when I get a chance, but overall many architects want to use Revit for its similarity to AutoCad. In a perfect world, I would want Chief to look and feel like Revit, a polished app, but do the things Chief does. In a nutshell that is the basis of my point.

I'll add that I just finished watching a Vectorworks seminar this morning where an architect from Santa Barabra was showing off his drawings (he had elevation drawings). The mediator thought he had done this in Vectorworks with 3D - but to his suprise, and somewhat embarrasment, it was discovered that the Architect produced the drawings in 2D only - for speed and quality. The ONLY app I have see that can produce a client ready 3D model presentation in the same time it takes sometimes to draw a 2D presentation IS CHIEF. Truthfuly, the quirky nature of Chief made me NOT want it to be the case, I with Revit was better, but I can't argue with results.

Here is a little farmhouse we did in a couple hours the other day (Joey Martin did this). I have not seen a rendering from Revit that could even do this out of the box. I know a lot of people do better stuff, but I wanted to show some of the work done in "concept" time.

[yusuf]

I will try to post something when I get a chance, but overall many architects want to use Revit for its similarity to AutoCad. In a perfect world, I would want Chief to look and feel like Revit, a polished app, but do the things Chief does. In a nutshell that is the basis of my point.

I'll add that I just finished watching a Vectorworks seminar this morning where an architect from Santa Barabra was showing off his drawings (he had elevation drawings). The mediator thought he had done this in Vectorworks with 3D - but to his suprise, and somewhat embarrasment, it was discovered that the Architect produced the drawings in 2D only - for speed and quality. The ONLY app I have see that can produce a client ready 3D model presentation in the same time it takes sometimes to draw a 2D presentation IS CHIEF. Truthfuly, the quirky nature of Chief made me NOT want it to be the case, I with Revit was better, but I can't argue with results.

Here is a little farmhouse we did in a couple hours yesterday. I have not seen a rendering from Revit that could even do this out of the box. I know a lot of people do better stuff, but I wanted to show some of the work done in "concept" time.

johnny that is verry good, and when rotating and revolving, view from many angles , top\ bottom, right\left ideas will come to flow i like concep 3d. Btw i bought revit architecture,structure plus an autodesk revit mep appls. They r very good and ideal for commercial buildings.i will start full scale in few days after i get my pc changed to fit an optimum performance. But i dont think i will stop riding chief parallely, since i like it and dig it deep inside its unseen capabilities,[/QUOTE]

[Justice]

I will try to post something when I get a chance, but overall many architects want to use Revit for its similarity to AutoCad. In a perfect world, I would want Chief to look and feel like Revit, a polished app, but do the things Chief does. In a nutshell that is the basis of my point.

I'll add that I just finished watching a Vectorworks seminar this morning where an architect from Santa Barabra was showing off his drawings (he had elevation drawings). The mediator thought he had done this in Vectorworks with 3D - but to his suprise, and somewhat embarrasment, it was discovered that the Architect produced the drawings in 2D only - for speed and quality. The ONLY app I have see that can produce a client ready 3D model presentation in the same time it takes sometimes to draw a 2D presentation IS CHIEF. Truthfuly, the quirky nature of Chief made me NOT want it to be the case, I with Revit was better, but I can't argue with results.

Here is a little farmhouse we did in a couple hours the other day (Joey Martin did this). I have not seen a rendering from Revit that could even do this out of the box. I know a lot of people do better stuff, but I wanted to show some of the work done in "concept" time.

Johnny,
Vectorworks and ArchiCAD have similar input methods when drawing the model up with elements.
I have lots of my work stored in CA files. To edit a CA model is very quick for me and so is building a model.
I use ArchiCAD full as well but on simple builders homes that are not too complicated I can do a fatser job in CA
since the framing in CA is part of the package and is easy to use as well. If I dont need to do framing plans and the house
is more complicated I will use AC instead. I am more used to Chief but it has gotten better over time like good wine. I have had to ask for things I needed and they eventually gave them to us. They do listen more than others as well I have found and thats why I ask guys here to make suggestions on how to Iron out some of the wrinkles from Chief.

[Derek Pedersen]

There are many differences between this software and Chief Architect. Something that is often overlooked is ease of use and efficiency and this was touched on by users with hands on experience in the posts above. It's hard to beat Chief Architect in these areas for residential and light commercial work. It's difficult to compare software on a feature by feature basis in a simple list. You might find a feature listed in both but find that they are handled in much different ways or run into more limitations in one vs. another. I would recommend downloading the Chief Architect Free Trial and get a hands-on feel for how Chief Architect works if you have not already.

Feel free to contact me in the sales department if you have any questions or would like a personal webinar demo of Chief Architect. You can call 800-482-4433 and ask for Derek.

[Fun2Learn]

[QUOTE=Derek Pedersen;465506]... It's difficult to compare software on a feature by feature basis in a simple list. You might find a feature listed in both but find that they are handled in much different ways or run into more limitations in one vs. another. I would recommend downloading the Chief Architect Free Trial and get a hands-on feel for how Chief Architect works if you have not already.


Yes, I totally agree about not being able to really compare just on feature by feature list. I know that there are manythings you might not think about until you start using something...which is why I am so glad I asked here. You all are mentioning things that are very helpful to know. It is sounding more and more like I should go with Chief if I want to primarily do residential design (which I do.) I was just playing around with the free trial of Chief again today and I am hoping that the real version isn't as quirky. (Maybe it is my less-than optimum speed computer?) I just had the whole thing crash and lots several hours worth of plan layout. That is a big problem with the trial version--it is hard to get beyond the basics since you can't save files, so you have to start over everytime you want to play around with the program. I have yet to try out how the roof designer works, since I never have time to get that far! This is very frustrating.

How about this suggestion, Chief marketing people: let people have a free download that lets you save files--but perhaps only for a limited time--like 14-30 days or so. That way we can really test the program out without having to start from scratch, laying out walls, etc. everytime we sit down to play with it!!! Also, because I feel so rushed everytime I sit down to play with the free trial, I don't want to take to much time to try and figure out how to do something--I assume others in the same situation feel the same--so I might inadvertantly come to the conclusion that the program can't do something that it really can, or whatever. Just a thought.
Thanks everyone.

[lbuttery]

I am hoping that the real version isn't as quirky.

they are the same version

only one or two "cripples" such as not being able to save

the only way to "save" is to not turn off your PC

CA use to have a 90 day money back
then it was changed to a 30 day money back

contact sales to see what the details are


Lew

[Justice]

The roof design is very very good and easy to use!