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Better Homes and Gardens Home Designer Suite 8.0

Childrens Toy Shop > Software > Home Design
from: Chief Architect

March 01, 2008
software of this scope and customer base should be first and foremost user friendly. I used other CAD software before. i believe the developer should hire someone that would actually try to make this intuitive. This program is supposedly designed for a regular Smith to buy and help design his home and garden. It does not work that way.

Every little task requires a trip thru a whole lot of menus and sub-menus. It does not have to be that way. I struggled with the even most basic features - set up the size of your yard is a total pain.

This is a good software with the worse user interface I have ever seen. It has a feel of being designed in early nineties, not in 2008.

I should add that the plan selection ... Read More:

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Better Homes and Gardens Home Designer 8.0

Childrens Toy Shop > Software > Home Design
from: Chief Architect

April 15, 2008
it not as nice as autocadd but the price is right

easy to use so far.

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Better Homes and Gardens Interior Designer 8.0

Childrens Toy Shop > Software > Home Design
from: Chief Architect

August 10, 2008
it not as nice as autocadd but the price is right

easy to use so far.

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Better Homes and Gardens Home Designer Pro 8.0

Childrens Toy Shop > Software > Home Design
from: Chief Architect

April 15, 2008
I've been using Autocad for +20 years, and taught Autocad for 4 years. I JUST PUT IT TO SLEEP after using Home Designer Pro 8.0 !!!!!! If you are into designing Custom Homes, the software pays for itself on the preliminary design phases. Designing in 3D is a wonderful experience!!! However I did purchase it considering it as a full trial before purchasing (+2000 dlls) the full blown version Chief Architect for detailing the design. Once I buy it I will still use HD 8.0 for designing interiors, remodeling or landscape jobs.
IT IS THE BEST SOFTWARE I HAVE EXPERIENCED.
After so many years, Autocad is too big and complicated rocket science tool, expensive, 2D process, time consuming, if you are designing Custom Homes. With HD 8.0 I feel liberated ... Read More:

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Better Homes and Gardens Landscaping and Deck Designer 8.0

Childrens Toy Shop > Software > Home Design
from: Chief Architect

April 15, 2008
I looked at a few software programs and downloaded free trials and none came close to the power and ease of use of this program.

The program offers many options that you can spend hours looking through. The plant library has a good selection. You can search for plants pretty easy, name, zone, sun requirement and about 20 other attributes. A blank search with no specific requirements showed 3,784 plants.

I found that it was good to design the landscaping in 2D so I could see the flower beds, patio, paths, etc. and where they were located with respect to the house. The 3D tools are helpful in visualizing how it should then look in `real life'. I definitely made changes to my original idea after using the software. There are ... Read More:

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3D Home Architect Home & Landscape Deluxe Suite Version 9

Childrens Toy Shop > Software > Home Design
from: Encore Software

May 15, 2007
I thought I was getting a super bargain on some older software. No. Whatever company is making this has just taken the brand name. I was looking forward to replacing a program I had used in the past. This was completely different. The menus and tools don't make any sense. I can't drag walls to where I want them to be; everything ends up with crazy angles. Cheap software made for a quick buck. No effort of any kind went into making this product. I'm just going to throw it away. Would not burden anone with such a useless "gift".

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Punch! Home Design Studio (Mac)

Childrens Toy Shop > Software > Home Design
from: Punch! Software

September 20, 2006
I used 3D Home Architect for years on a PC, going back several years. I finally found this program for the Mac, and was hopeful, but the program is useless. The interface is not intuitive, and nothing seems to work the way it should. Even simple features like copy and paste seem to fail. What a disappointment!

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Punch! Home & Landscape Design Suite with NexGen Technology

Childrens Toy Shop > Software > Home Design
from: Punch! Software

October 20, 2008
I bought this product with the single purpose of designing and building my workshop. Having been involved with steep learning curves on other software, I also enrolled in Punch University to learn how to use the software. After looking at the first lesson, I realized I couldn't find the tools they were using. I couldn't find the toolbar. After an email to them, I get a call from Customer Service telling me that the University provides instruction in an entirely different product and no, there is no training available for the version I bought. Tuition was rerfunded a few days after they said it would be so I decided to go it on my own. Understand that I am no neophyte to drawing and CAD programs. After many false starts and hitches, I have the building drawn and fire up their "Power ... Read More:

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Better Homes and Gardens Architectural Home Designer

Childrens Toy Shop > Software > Home Design
from: Chief Architect

January 15, 2008
For the price- this is the best program available. I do find it a bit tempermental when adjusting location of windows and doors- especially if you are setting it up in order to do a remodle or redocoration of an existing room/house. Does have a lot more options than others in the price range- but is frustrating if you want to be exact. So- don't plan on making it that way- it does give you the 3D- but the walk thru option isn't as great as the box says. It helped me do what I wanted to do- add an extension onto our house & also consider a remodle of our master bath- but if you are serious about building more than once- it might be better to invest in the next level.
I haven't used the landscape portion yet- plan on that next.

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Custom 3D Home (Jewel Case)

Childrens Toy Shop > Software > Home Design
from: Valusoft

September 24, 2004
This program will not run on Windows Vista. I know the mimimum requirements say 98/2000/XP, but I bought other products with the same requirements and I got them running with one of the compatibility options. I've tried everything with this, but it would not save. And then, support is not available anymore. I thought a good idea to spend only $10 instead of $60 (another one I was considering to buy), but it was not a good idea. I'll dump this one now and go for the other one.