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@kenny said:
Has anyone any had any experience of using PlusSpec particularly in the UK? It looks like a very interesting and promising BIM plugin but there is no demo and I'm reluctant to pay $995 AUD for something that may not work for me even if there is a 30 day money back guarantee.
I also notice that when the developer originally posted on these forums only 9 months ago the price was only $395 AUD and it was for a full one off license. He quoted at the time "Hi Guys, subscriptions are the worst! you get to use PlusSpec like you do Sketchup." http://sketchucation.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=80%26amp;t=57343
It now appears that it is in fact subscription based at $995 AUD per year. Given that the price has more than doubled in a year and it is now subscription based I'm also nervous of getting locked into an ever and rapidly increasing annual cost.
I don't begrudge the cost in principle however as it is still much less than other BIM software such as Revit, as long as it works well. In the absence of a demo however it's a big ask to buy software untested, hence my query whether anyone else has used it and whether it is worth the outlay.
Hi Kenny,
I am an architect and started using PlusSpec in Beta. I loved it so much, and I found the team so helpful, that I am now part of the PlusSpec team!
We are proud to announce that PlusSpec 2015 has been officially launched. The original price that you mentioned in your post was for the Beta version. The official, full release price is for AUD$990, and is a yearly auto-renewal subscription.
Although I am now 'biased', you cannot get better value for money. We have a 30-Day Money Back Period, so if you do not like it, you can simply opt out. I truly recommend that you try it, and I am confident that you will be very happy with it.
In PlusSpec 2015, you can now create and customize your own wall-types/materials and structural framing. Any new wall-types/materials or framing that you create will be saved in your personal library, and available for you to select, at the click of a button. You can also edit your custom materials at any time. With PlusSpec 2015, you have total design freedom. You can design with parametric modelling, which you can customize - or you can use the free-form 3D sketching with the native SketchUP tools.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at: drew@rubysketch.com
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Hello,
It is very difficult to accept paying close to $1000 for a program that you cannot own.
If, for example, I decided not to upgrade to SU 2016, I still own---and can work with, SU 2015. I own the program.The yearly subscription---and its cost, simply does not work for me. If it were a one-time payment where I then owned the program, I would certainly consider it as a very welcome addition to the SU toolkit. As such, I will not purchasing the program, no matter how excited one architect shows himself to be about it.
Further, Plusspec is asking for the same amount of money Archicad, Vectorworks, Revit, and Chief Architect look for in their yearly upgrades. This also makes no sense. They may be bloated legacy programs, but they have great depth and usability for those who have taken the time and effort to learn them.
For Plusspec to put themselves in that league of value just out of the gate also makes no sense. And of course, the upgrades to these programs still points to the fact that a user choosing to upgrade owns the original program.
If I were the owner of Plusspec, I would seriously take a second look at my marketing and business model. It does not work.
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+1 to the above.
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Unfortunately, I have to agree with the above too. I don't have the choice to use PlusSpec only a little with the subscription model.
I upgrade Sketchup every year because the price is very reasonable, and I developed a trust in a program and the company which I have used for 8 years. That trust was built up, first through using the free version of the software at first, then in the way they listened and developed the program over the years. I trusted that their fees would be stable and reasonable for the foreseeable future. I couldn't put that kind of faith in plusspec for £500 (per year), without any prior relationship with RubySketch. There is no way in for me to develop that relationship under the terms of the license.
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+1 I also hate subscription based software, I still use Photoshop CS6 because I refuse to subscribe to the cloud unfortunately this seems to be the direction software is heading.
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That is also my main concern about PlusSpec. Sketchup suits me fine for my architectural work. It has it's flaws and challenges wich are part of the fun.
Nonetheless I'd be willing to try other methods to make things fast and better. As such either of two things would happen. I would agree that this methods would suit me better and keep them wich would be good. Or I would go back to the old ways wich would be also good though some time was wasted in between.
Plusspec could be either the first or the second cases above. If it was the first it would be bad as it would make me pay 1000€ for every PC on my office with plusspec. If it was the second it would be bad as I had wasted some time and eventually would have payed some money in between.
Until better times come by, wich will be any minute, I'll keep steering away from such expensive plugins.
I mean, plusspec is way more expensive than sketchup wich is it's base software...
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I absolutely hate (detest, etc. etc.) the subscription model as well, for the reasons already mentioned
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In general (I never used PlusSpec) I also very much dislike subscription based software. It just feels like an easy way to generate money without having to put much extra effort into it. I would rather prefer I'm encouraged to buy a renewal by putting new features / improvements into the software (like Sketchup to me did with their last releases).
I do very much acknowledge the efforts of the programmers though. It takes a lot time to create and bugfix software. Maybe even much more time than is covered by the one-time sale of the software?! Also, the subscription most likely will pay for developing new features and bugfixes. Or are they using it to play golf all day? Most likely not.
Maybe some of the forum members who create payed (and subscription based) plugins can shed some light into this that would make us less hostile to subscriptions. -
Interesting read on Corona's "Fair SaaS" subscription model.
https://corona-renderer.com/blog/prices-release-date/
https://corona-renderer.com/blog/discussion-about-prices-licence-politics-ii/I think subscription can be a good idea, if it's fair with the user. (Monthly based, cancel anytime, etc) But to me, PlusSpec is just way too exepensive.
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@jiminy-billy-bob said:
... PlusSpec is just way too exepensive.
Fundamentally, I think this is the major issue.
We have heard it's good, but we haven't actually seen proof that it's good.
For me to pay so much money AND subscription based it would have to:
- Be 100% IFC+DWG+DWF compatible in and out.
- Have an amazing detailing system that would work along the parametric modeling.
- Have perfect workflow with layout wich would be better than sketchup native workflow;
- Really really be flexible enough for any kind of model
- Allow for easy to use completely customized windows and door system closet and kitchen system that allows for doors to mix with closets and windows with doors, etc.
- Allow for every kind of tool (even this door, window, closet, kitchen system) to work flawlessly even in angles different from 90 degrees...
I mean all parametric and all custom...
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I was looking at PlusSpec but @ $900+ a year I'm out. I don't get how a add on can justifying costing twice what the base program costs. I also think SU and Layout Combination only fall slightly short of getting the job done. Of course not with out the generous works of some of the plugin writers on this site. And let's not forget SU and Trimble may step up and close those gaps! Until then I'll do a few things the old fashion way.
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Thanks to Drew from PlusSpec for the reply and for everyone else's opinions. I've given it some thought and set out some points for consideration below.
The way the software is offered does appear to be reducing its uptake and I can see why. Like everyone else I much prefer to buy software outright and then it is my choice whether to upgrade in the future if the new features are worth it. With a subscription I have to pay every year whether I want to or not, otherwise I can't use the software any more or potentially not even view the models created in it.
I am not against a subscription in principle however if it is good value. I am currently considering subscribing to Microsoft Office 365 Business. Amazingly for Microsoft it is better value to subscribe. One copy of Office Professional as an outright purchase is just under £400 for 1 PC only. Subscribing to Office 365 is less than £100 per year and it can be loaded onto 5 PCs/devices. For me this is is good value.
PlusSpec however charges what should be a one off (and quite high) purchase price of £500 when actually it is an annual cost. Furthermore I would only be allowed to load it onto 1 PC. If it was good enough I wouldn't begrudge £500 as a one off and then a lower upgrade price as and when I thought it was worth it. Alternatively I would possibly consider an annual subscription of £500 (although £2-300 would be more appealing) if I could load it onto 5 devices. Currently however it is a lose-lose situation with a high subscription cost (more than Sketchup itself) and with only the facility to load it onto 1 PC. As a very minimum I would want to be able to load it onto a PC and a laptop.
Further to the above there is no demo available to even test it out to see if it is worth buying. I know there is a 30 day money back guarantee, however I, and I'm sure many others, prefer to trial software first rather than outlay cash only to very quickly find it is unsuitable and then have the hassle of getting a refund. In a year I might trial a number of different software packages and I would be loathe to outlay £500+ every time I did so. There are also accountancy implications for business users in doing so. Furthermore due to time constraints I may take longer to trial the software than 30 days. Most other software vendors allow demo downloads so I don't understand why PlusSpec does not.
Anyway thanks again to Drew for replying and I would appreciate it if you could rethink your business model slightly in the light of the many comments posted here. I'm sure you would get more takers if you did. If it is as good as you say and would be worth the subscription, then at least allow potential users to demo it first to find out.
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Kenny. I'm with you on most points. I also think a decent no commitment trial period is needed. Afterall a great deal of time is lost, and people who would buy the SW are those who are busy and could be making money in their current SW instead of trialing another.
I don't agree about multiple seats. If I have only one computer--a lone practitioner--the higher price just cuts me out, because I can't leverage the workflow of more seats into profit.
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@pbacot said:
Kenny. I'm with you on most points. I also think a decent no commitment trial period is needed. Afterall a great deal of time is lost, and people who would buy the SW are those who are busy and could be making money in their current SW instead of trialing another.
I don't agree about multiple seats. If I have only one computer--a lone practitioner--the higher price just cuts me out, because I can't leverage the workflow of more seats into profit.
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All I can tell you is PlusSpec is what you need for a professional modern day outfit. I know that this is now changing the world we live, design and build in. It is up to you to try and you can do that at no cost, when you opt out within 30 days. This is a revolution that far surpasses your expectations & I am sorry you feel the way you do.
I understand the reasoning of your comments yet I beg to differ.Until you use our software I think it will be hard for you to understand what we have done and it will be hard for you to know where we are going with this, time will tell. There was a trial version available for free yet we found we were dealing with people trying to crack it. This I can not allow, it is stealing! So for you honest guys, I apologise.
Drawing a model that looks like a house and drawing a model that is a house are two different animals. If you are drawing models that look like a house you have only charged for a small percentage of the work that has been handed to you. In "Sketchup" a wall is a rectangular prism with a material associated, In "PlusSpec" a wall is made up of the necessary components to build it, your engineer can certify it and contractors can build it. Many charge Extra for the documentation that is produced in Plusspec this by itself will pay for your license in one jobs. Builders using PlusSpec are now charging for quotes that they used to do for free...... and the list goes on.
The cost to change a model into true virtual design is something you are missing out on if you do not have our software. If you are doing it manually you are losing time and time is money.
Our users are now drawing a full build-able model in Sketchup that would normally take them 100+ hours in less than 1 hour with a BOQ (Bill of Quantities). Need I say more?As far as price rises go you are not comparing apples with apples. IE Pre release versus actual.
We will continue to produce the best software for our industry and we will do it from real world experience. I hope to see you there, if not I wish you all the best my friends.
Kind regards Andrew -
Then you need to show it differently, IMHO. I could see reason on spending that amount of money yearly on something that truly delivers and is worthy. However I've not been able to have a notion of what plusspec really is...
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Check out Form Z software.
About the same price but NOT a subscription model.
In addition Form Z has been around a very long time and understands the required workflow.Way more features.
And their current offering appears to be head and shoulders above everything else.
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@aadbuild said:
Until you use our software I think it will be hard for you to understand what we have done and it will be hard for you to know where we are going with this, time will tell. There was a trial version available for free yet we found we were dealing with people trying to crack it. This I can not allow, it is stealing! So for you honest guys, I apologise.
You either have to accept that it will be cracked someday and offer a trial version for people to understand the whole possibilities, or get way better at communicating and justify why PlusSpec is worth $1000/year.
I think right now you are losing customers simply because they can't understand the range of your software. -
Hello Andrew,
I am not sure it is necessary to patronize SU's user with your comments on "what we need". We can figure out what is going on in the 3D CAD industry and decide for ourselves where we want to spend our money, how much, and under what purchasing conditions.I also believe you are over-reaching with your comment that what you have will "far surpass our expectations". I can assure you the programmers at Vectorworks, Archicad, Revit, and the like are yawning at that observation. Some have been at what you have just begun to code for the past 30 years.
Again, I may not like to work with those programs (I have them all, and yes, I own them), but they are first-class.I am sorry the code nasties are doing their usual devious number on you and your colleagues. This is highly unfortunate, yet a fact of life for any programmer. There must be a way for you to allow potential users a free trial period of enough time for anyone to determine if they want to buy the program. We will not pay for it only to "return it" if it is not right for us.
No need to explain 'hybrid' modelling to us. We know what is missing in SK and would love to see it implemented well, like with Plusspec, for example.
You push too hard on the business benefits we would derive. Let us decide that for ourselves.
Here is a question you have not addressed: what happens if you decide---or Heaven forbid, are forced out of business,either after 6 months, or 5 years. What happens to the subscription user. They are left with nothing they can use for their payments. It just does not work....
Here is what I suggest:
- A one time purchase price to be no more than the cost of SK---less than $500US.
- Upgrade pricing annually that is reflective of the improvements and changes you have made. Again, because we are SK, no more than the actual cost of SK.
- A reasonable free trial period.
Here is the thing: my sense is that we all want you and your firm of programmers to succeed. If good (and let us decide), Plusspec---as a one time purchase, would be a superb addition to the SK arsenal of tools. Absolutely superb.
Please listen. It is never too late to correct a flawed business model. Well, almost never....
You have my sincere best wishes.
David
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Andrew and others thanks for taking the time to reply.
I would agree with David that there must be a way to trial the software. Yes unscrupulous people do try and crack software but that applies to all software and I can hardly think of another vendor that doesn't just accept that if they want to get new business then this is a fact of life. There must be ways to make it more difficult to crack. In any case those that want cracked software would be unlikely to purchase it legally anyway. If the software is as good as it is made out to be then we need to be given the opportunity to find this out for ourselves. It is also an individual need. For example how good is PlusSpec in a UK environment. Is there UK specific content? How easy is it to create 2D plans and drawings? These types of questions could be answered by a demo.
If you don't rethink this policy I'm not absolutely saying no to the money back trial but I am very reluctant to do so. It's only because there is no alternative however that I'm even considering it not because I want to.
The other issue putting me off is the subscription but this seems to be becoming more prevalent now, so again I won't absolutely say no. I do find it strange however Andrew that 9 months ago you stated that you 'hate' subscriptions, yet here we are with a subscription model. It's your decision though but as I stated previously the subscription offer is not that appealing either with no added value for subscribing apart from the value of the software itself. There is no installation allowed on more than 1 PC for example. I often however take my laptop out of the office and I would be very reluctant to buy a second license for this. I know you can transfer a license but the process does not appear to be instant and involves emailing the company which is clunky and involves waiting on a response.
There are now more and more BIM vendors entering the market and not just expensive offerings such as Archicad and Revit. I would prefer to stick with a SketchUp environment however as I've used it since Version 1 and would much prefer to use something familiar like PlusSpec which involves the core software that I use. I'm not saying that I definitely wouldn't give it a try but at the moment the vendor policy is not making it easy to decide to do so apart from the assertion that it's great!
Andrew if you could give some thought to the points made by myself and others then I would appreciate it, as would many others and possibly even your business I suspect!
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