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Thanks for voicing your concerns Pixero, PlusSpec 2016 changed the way licensing works, are you using it?
There was a problem when using external USB devices yet it is now fixed, for some reason a small percentage of computers had this issue with external drives and it was a real bugger to fix as when support woudl contact the drive may or may not have been plugged in. Sorry for any hassles, I pay great staff to give support and I very rarely, if ever receive a complaint about it so if you are not getting the answers you are looking for please contact me directly.
I am not sure if you have my business card still? I will PM you with my direct contact details.Please keep an eye out for updates in the pop up screen in Sketchup, it'll takes you directly to new releases I am testing some really really really cool things, that will see Revit and Archicad users wondering why they still are not using Sketchup Pro and PlusSpec. I can not say too much right now except I am excited about this one.
Have a great weekend mate. 27 deg C 3pm on Friday afternoon here in Sydney and I can't wait to get out from behind this desk and get involved in life. Now is teh time of year to visit Australia.
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Guys, I had a good read through all of your comment and will sleep on them. I really appreciate your input and understand your concerns with subscription based software. Drew and I have been talking about a fairer way to do this and how to give you all the opportunities that our current users have.
Just so you know, Bill gates I am not (yes you can say it is because of the subscription and it is kind of funny haha). I'd love to play golf as someone mentioned earlier(even though I am really bad at it) however the truth is I do 12+ hours most days on PlusSpec development and I also employ 10 people to help me. We do and have done what you do and we automate as much as we can so you do not have to. The aim is more efficient outcome for the AEC industry as a whole.
From a Sketchup perspective I understand that the cost can be prohibitive and that I can make no apologies for as that is what is needed to make Sketchup and PlusSpec become the best software in the world for design, BIM, VDC construction and estimating. I may not there just yet, however I am very close and I believe that PlusSpec is worth every penny if it is used properly on 1 job a year. The Bill of Quantities (BOQ) on just one job alone is worth more than the subscription, not to mention the time it saves you to create the model.. I am committed to continuing down the path I have chosen and I wont go back. My existing users are relying on me.
Like all technology Plusspec will reduce in price as more licenses are sold and more product manufacturers become involved. I hope to see you there when it happens, if you can't be there before that is. Until then I will continue to reinvest every dollar I make back into PlusSpec and continue doing the long hours. In saying that I'm off to enjoy a nice cold Aussie beer.
Happy Sketching.
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It is NOT about the cost. It never was.
It is about the simple fact that at the end of any given year, if I decide not to continue paying the yearly subscription fee I HAVE NOTHING. I will have lost all of my work. None of us can take that kind of risk.Pixero is right: why not craft a program similar to SU or even Archicad or Vectorworks? Get rid of the rental only program and you will be pleasantly surprised: you will have a great many more buyers, myself included. Once purchased, we can decide for ourselves if we want to pay for an upgrade or not.
Enjoy your Aussie beer......
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dpaul that is where you are wrong or maybe where we did not explain properly.
PlusSpec works inside of Sketchup, you can use your model as long as you like and you can also edit in Sketchup the way you would edit any Sketchup component, group, material or scene.PlusSpec increases the speed in which you draw, edit and estimate, yet it does not stop you from using Sketchup to edit or add geometry.
This is the reason we built PlusSpec inside of Sketchup as it gives everyone the capacity to collaborate on a model without having to own expensive software. PlusSpec users get the power of Archicad and Revit yet the freeform freedom of Sketchup and layout. Your builder, engineer, drafty and client can open your model in Sketchup and still understand what it is you have drawn and how they should go about building it, living in it.
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I know PS works inside SU, but I am still not sure I understand what you are offering under the subscription program that is so special:
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The advantage of PS inside SU is its speed and BIM capabilities, OK, and as you say "you can use your model as long as you like and can use SU capabilities to edit a model created in SU with your plugin". Right.
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But what happens to the model when I choose NOT to renew the PS subscription? What happens to the file then?
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My impression is that I lose all the advantages of PS when it is no longer there. I may have a good SU model but no
capacity to keep my speed up with PS/SU, let alone retaining all the BIM capabilities you are talking about. -
This is what I mean: I want to have a permanent licence of PS, regardless of when I decide---or not---to upgrade to your latest version.
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Even if I have a 2 or 3 year old version of PS down the road, it will still give me the capabilities you are referring you have today. It is today's benefit I do not want to lose.
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The Archicad upgrade every year is $1000. I did not upgrade to version 19. I have, though, version 18. It still has all the power I committed to purchasing at the time, and I will never lose the licence.
If Archicad, Vectorworks, Chief Architect (my present residential BIM), Softplan, etc. can sell the permanent licence to me and offer upgrades that I can choose to take or not, why can't you.....?
A permanent licence and the option to upgrade as my choice. That is what I want. How on earth does this hurt your business model?
Again, not sure I understand.
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When I read and analyze what dpaul said I get something completely different.
David actually was commenting on your pricing program and making a comparison to other pricing programs such as Sketchup, Archicad and Vectorworks.
He stated that at the end of the year he still owns, Sketchup, Archicad and Vectorworks but PlusSpec seises to work - so he has nothing.
David has been working with Sketchup for a number of years and currently uses an assortment of plugins. He also loves how he can manipulate terrain with Sketchup. But for now he does not use Sketchup for the majority of his Architectural needs.
Having said all that - you opened saying that dpaul is wrong or maybe you didn't explain yourself.
dpaul is not wrong - he is the customer. You on the other hand did not even try to answer his one question. That question being why are you so bent and determined to push down everyone's throat this notion of full price subscriptions.
Earlier you said you have 10 employees. Now, if they are full time (which I highly doubt) and if you pay them even a low wage such as 30$ per hr - as an employer you would have additional costs to handle everything from pensions to holiday pay etc. so lets go 20% costs above and beyond.
So for you to break even you would have to have 792 yearly subscriptions at 1000$ per. And then of course you are advertising 20% off for Sketchucation premium members.
My assumption is that you may have up to 10 associates that provide expertise in various areas - but at this juncture I would be highly doubtful that they are full time employees.
Personally, I find it insulting when someone avoids the direct question and then makes a statement that WE are wrong !!!!
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Garry, Maybe we both get a different understanding of the message and when I reread I agree yet I believe it to be 2 tiered and therefore my answer corresponds.
@dpaul said:It is about the simple fact that at the end of any given year, if I decide not to continue paying the yearly subscription fee I HAVE NOTHING. I will have lost all of my work.
This is actually wrong (see previous reply), sure I could have used my words better yet Monday morning sees me answer emails as efficiently as possible, no doubt we all make this mistake, guilty as charged.I understand that the subscription price of PlusSpec is too high for many Sketchup users just as Sketchup Pro is for many users and that is the great thing about Sketchup make, users can create whatever they want, provided they are willing to spend the time to do so. I assume like you that most professionals use Sketchup Pro as it has clear advantages, these are the users that will get the benefit from PlusSpec, however it should be clear that many PlusSPec subscribers are actually mums and dads who want to design their home so they can understand the structure and cost behind the empty faces provided by a 2d drawing or an un detailed surface only 3D model. These people rarely re subscribe yet to my amazement many still do, some actually change career paths as PlusSpec opens up new opportunities.
PlusSpec and Sketchup are two clearly different things. PlusSpec was specifically created for AEC and to unite the AEC industry, it does not draw space ships or cars or some of the great models I have seen online or the warehouse . PlusSpec can be used in many ways and is fit for purpose: Design only, Design and Build, structural interrogation RFI and refinement, estimate only or all of the above in conjunction, it is efficient, fast and powerful. This is why the licenses cost that much, we could remove functionality to make it more affordable and genre specific yet I believe that the model is an asset that can last the entire life of the project, All the way from design, through sales, estimating, construction, handover, demolition or remodelling. It is easy to complain about the price when you do not know what PlusSPec does for our clients and our industry. If anyone decides not to resubscribe that is entirely up to them. The model will always remain an asset and an asset that was created more efficiently than it can be done in any BIM VDC software that I know of.
As mentioned previously we have set the price as it is an in the short term, we are discussing other options yet none are ready for release, I will keep you all posted once we do. Our existing users are using it and re subscribing, many of our users are Archicad and Revit users and many of these use PlusSpec in conjunction with their associates and authorities (All PlusSpec derived content is automatically associated with the corresponding IFC classification).
I am not sure where you get
@garry k said:push down everyone's throat this notion of full price subscriptions
There is no pushing, it is an option, I reply honestly according to what I believe the questions to be, I do not always get it right.
There is no pushing, If you do not need to go fast why buy a Ferrari? Just because Ferrari advertise in magazines does not mean that Ferrari are pushing their cars down your throat either. The purchase of PlusSpec is your prerogative and one I respect, after all it is a free world. Sorry if you are offended by the use of the word wrong, as mentioned maybe I should have phrased it differently. Anyhow no harm done.
Have a great week, I am off to continue developing better software for our industry. -
dpaul, sorry I only read the last comment and did not scroll up. You do make a good point and I agree in some respects. We continue to develop PlusSpec in a way that suits the industry, it is costly to build software like this (I do not employ casuals or consultants on the prviously mentioned item that David brought up_. Some of the largest construction companies in the world us PlusSpec and yes I could have decided to charge $5000 up front for perpetual licenses yet in 2 years what good would they be. We are in the age of technology and it is changing quickly and getting more powerful. When I look back at what we had when we first released I cringe at the lack of functionality yet at this time it amazed me.
We regularly do updates, I mean monthly and sometimes weekly, our goal is to stay at the cutting edge of technology. To do so there is a cost associated with it and that is why we license the way we do. As mentioned previously we are looking at other options and licensing models yet nothing has been decided. Sorry I can not be of more help, in the short term anyway. -
@aadbuild said:
There is no pushing, If you do not need to go fast why buy a Ferrari?
The thing is, we are not allowed to BUY the Ferrari. Only rent it...
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I am not quite sure you answered my question: what happens to my PS/SU files once my subscription is cancelled?
Of course I can use SU, but what about all the work I would have done in PS within SU? It appears to me that I cannot continue to work with that side of the model (the PS side) at all. I assume it just reverts to being SU groups or components.
So therefore, what is the point? I have lost what I wanted to keep: the ability to parametricize my model with your software----which I would like to purchase as a permanent licence. Obviously I can't.
SU and PS combined come up to almost $2K. Are you seriously telling us that: "many PlusSPec subscribers are actually mums and dads who want to design their home so they can understand the structure and cost behind the empty faces provided by a 2d drawing or an un detailed surface only 3D model. These people rarely re subscribe yet to my amazement many still do, some actually change career paths as PlusSpec opens up new opportunities......?"
Waaaaa.....?
I, along with Garry and Pixero and other posters are professional users of CAD programs, SU in particular, and we spend a SIGNIFICANT amount of time learning these programs and their plugins. Yet, somehow, an important component of your market is 'mums and dads" casually picking up both SU and PS over a weekend barbie to effortlessly design their new home or addition?
No. Something is not quite right here........
By the way, there is no need to patronize us on what PS is intended to do over layered on to SU. I just see it as an excuse to charge more to the unwary (but surely there cannot be too many of them, are there.....?)
"Some of the largest construction companies in the world use PlusSpec and yes I could have decided to charge $5000 up front (plus $700 for SU) for perpetual licenses yet in 2 years what good would they be?"
This is simply ill-informed arrogance (the largest construction co's in the world..?They can't do the math on the best BIM program to purchase?). Archicad is $5K. Chief Architect is closer to $4K. In both cases they have been around for 30 years (+). They are mature and accomplished and come out with an upgrade every year. Again, why can't you do that?
Everything is moving at great speed technologically, I agree. But here is what is happening in the SU world: for the first time some very seriously accomplished coding is coming to SU for the AEC market.
We have CABMAKER from Garry K (perhaps the best in AEC), plus VALI'S series of amazing plugins for terrain, roads, etc., SCATTER, roofing trusses and framing by MeDeek, and so on.
Now I just found out that GK is about to come out with a window tool (to complement his door tool). I have been waiting for this for a very long time. All very good.
The last item I am waiting for someone to write is a powerful wall tool. Once that one hits SU, I am back to work exclusively within SU. A moment will come soon enough when a beautiful clutch of extraordinary plugins will do it all for us WITHOUT the much touted values of outdated BIM thinking.
Please do not get me wrong: we want you to succeed. However, you need to listen to the professional users who would like to purchase a licence while deciding if they want to upgrade or not. Unless you are honest with us ordinary pro's, to my mind, everyone else you refer to are just a fantasy.
Think about your business model again, please.
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I know I have omitted many great plugins in my previous post, but I have to mention PROFILE BUILDER 2. It is the best in the AEC industry at what it does (better than Archicad and Chief Architect).
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The things I'm afraid at Plusspec are:
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Creative freedom VS standardized BIM processes - for instance does it deal with structures independently? do I have to model them on my own? Will walls adapt to fit a custom structure?;
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Ability to create components in a library - do I have to use those window profiles? Can I come up with my own? Will they adapt as well as Plusspec ones?;
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Curved walls, roofs and curved and even more complex surfaces- Are they possible? Parametric?
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Mass studies - Can I buildup a volume in sketchup and tell PS that certain face is a wall while the other is a roof? Or must I work on wall based system, floor by floor, wich is totally the opposite of what I do?;
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How windows adapt to any geometry - Can I have windows bending corners, can I have curved or surface windows?;
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How does it generate details? Like skalp? 3D details?
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How it adapts to existing buildings - I'm working on buildings wich walls have variable thickness, how do you work with those?
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If the standard PS methodology isn't fit for that sort of variation, how does Sketchup pure modelling integrate in the PS workflow? Will it be able to parametrize? Will it be able to get inside estimates?
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Then there's the steep Price per seat per year and all the associated arguments flowing here.
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I hear you all loud and clear, thanks for commenting. I do appreciate it.
This video will answer your questions on structure https://youtu.be/4TNSsLaBXQk
This Video will help answer what you can and can not do once a subscription runs out. Everything in the building itself and also fencing and components were created with PlusSPec tools, ancillaries . https://youtu.be/1TRHlDhSlCw
The terrain is created from a 3d DWG and intersect tools. It is BIM'd with PlusSpec for quantity calculation of cut and fill.Medium & Large design or construction firms are well accommodated for now and in the future of PlusSpec yet these deals are confidential. If you run a Medium to large design or construction company then you will need to contact us directly.
This link will take you to the PlusSpec beginners tutorials. Click a tutorial you like and scroll to the top of the page to play. http://plusspec.com/tutorials-beginner/
PlusSpec has linked youtube video tutorials associated with almost every tool they open from inside PlusSpec dialogues, this makes PlusSpec very easy to learn https://youtu.be/KQ5ZYfBCzYg
I hope these videos helps answer your questions, I am a terrible typer.No doubt I have missed a few questions, I have a lot on ATM. I have no doubt you will have more questions, I employ people full time to reply to the PlusSpec forum. https://plusspec.com/forum/I will check Sketchucation when I can. Most subscribers use our excellent one on one training and help services.
Oh, one question I read earlier was: Does Plusspec create section planes? the answer is I am using a beta version that creates custom section planes according to wall and floor type and it is dead easy to use and fast. I or one of our staff will be making pre release videos once I am happy with the functionality. This is just one of the many benefits of subscription based software, getting updates instantly allows more work to be done, another is you get to have a say in how we continue developing.
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Thanks for all the input aadbuild,
Plusspec seams great for the workflow you use:
- Draw walls;
- Draw slabs;
- Draw Roofs;
- Insert openings.
I'll personally keep following PS, but as I keep doing I realize it's not for me.
I have a completelly different workflow wich doesn't seem to fit there. I rarely build roofs like those. All my windows seem different from your standards. All my walls are different from those and even the way I think my buildings is different from that perimetral wall design you seem to start with in every video. The way I think details is different from this Even the materials you use are from manufacturers that I've never heard from here in europe.
It seems Plusspec has a very nice workflow for a particular type of construction/structure , wich seems to me it's typical from Australia/US and mostly residential. I see a lot of people showing work like that in this forum. I could eventually deal with that kind of construction in some fringe scenarios here, but I'm usually into completely different kinds of structures:
- Concrete;
- Structural Masonry and wood (heritage buildings mostly).
I cannot see how I'd fit Plusspec here at the office and as the price is steep I'm not willing to try for now.
Keep up the good work though and I hope you broaden the workflow someday.
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Great maybe you could stop commenting then.
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The videos and software are very impressive!
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I wanna see this new section tool.
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Hello All,
You will be pleased to hear that we are about to shake things up. Unfortunately, I cannot tell you anymore than this for now. However, I can say that a few big changes are on the way.
At PlusSpec, we take the time to listen to what our customers and prospective customers want. We value your feedback, and we would like to thank the PlusSpec and SketchUp communities for your ongoing support, ideas, and suggestions. Please keep them coming.
One of the main reasons we push subscription based licensing over a perpetual licensing option is that we are constantly releasing updates (and that is an understatement) - and we don't want our users to miss out on these new features, or have to constantly upgrade (as this will end up being significantly more expensive than the subscription based licence).
Regarding the questions and comments around the workflow: PlusSpec is not like other BIM software. It uses the best of free-form modelling (SketchUp) and the best of BIM & parametric modelling (PlusSpec). Once you understand that, you will realise that you have complete freedom. You can design and model how you like. PlusSpec has been made to be flexible around you and your workflow - no matter where you live in the world.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me directly on: drew@rubysketch.com
Regards,
Drew Povey
PlusSpec Product Manager -
Some sought after renderer engines are priced SAAS - at fair value of
$20/month = $240 / yr
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