Product Comparisons

Continuing on the previous topic...

Version Comparisons can offer more than just justification for upgrades, it can actually help your users find which product is best for their needs. For instance:

Navisworks - Do I need Manage, Simulate or Review? There is also Freedom but that is just the viewer but where do the options of the viewer overlap the others?

Max or Max Design?

Alias - Would I need Design, Surface or Studio?

There are probably others but I think my point is made. The moment that you start creating a disconnect by increasing the options for a single product line it is imperative that you include some type of comparison. At least Navisworks tries to do it but only on a high level. For example, all have Review Toolkit and 3D File and data aggregation but what does that mean to someone who has not used it? I challenge the people who created this list to go home and ask their spouse (or better yet call your mother), show them the list and ask them what the differences are between the products. Ask them what Review Toolkit is and see if they can come up with a remotely similar description to what you think is straight forward.

Why make this confusing when you probably already have the information at your fingertips. You spend a huge time marketing your but you missed something big when you don't allow the users to understand differences without extensive research.

Comparison Charts - What Autodesk is missing...

With the economic downturn affecting many architecture firms, there is a movement to re-evaluate what they spend money on. One significant aspect of every budget is software. Do the companies who almost force you into subscriptions really give you the benefit of getting each new software release? Adobe gives you a comparison chart to help you evaluate what has changed and thus puts the power in your hands to determine if the software advances from the company warrant the payment for the upgrade. Autodesk will give you a feature summary but is that enough?

I was recently asked to look into Ecotect training since there are only a few individuals using our network license within our office at a limited capacity. We would like to leverage the product more throught our design process and on more projects. With that research, I thought I would look at the upgrade of our 5.6 version to 2010 since the users would most likely be trained in the new version. I was shocked to see that the price has risen to $3,500 and then they want $750 on top of that for subscription which they try to justify by giving you Green Building Studio.

But what has been improved?

By Autodesk putting their name on it after aquisition, the price increased significantly. With the next release (2010) it increased again by $1,000. So what justifies this increase? Give me a product comparison since the product detail brochure and questions & answers paper do not mention one benefit to upgrading. Is there even a new feature? Autodesk, How are you going to get new customers for these products if you make it cost prohibitive? I can't sell this to our CFO in this market but if it was less expensive (like Pre-Autodesk days) I would be able to. If I could sell it and train it then they would see the benefit, use it a lot and need to buy even more licenses thus providing Autodesk with even more money then at the current cost since we will not buy it. How will you even get people to try it at this cost?

In the past, Revit was worthwhile to be on subscription. With the aquisition, they started a strong push to improve the product with frequent updates which has seemed to fizzle. Are they in the "the dip" or do they need to find their new "Purple Cow". Both are fast read books by Seth Godin and if you have not read them then you need to. I used to look forward to the improvements of each release but I have not seen this in the last couple releases. They always seem to focus all efforts in one area. 2009 brought us the rendering and 2010 will bring us a new user interface but what happens to all of the issues that you may think are little but really significantly affect the everyday use?

Autodesk, Please keep up with being innovative and make it worthwhile to be on subscription.

Another example of product version comparisons from Techsmith on Camtasia. They allow you to pick your version and have it compared to the current. Simple idea that most software companies do...

Boston Revit Users Group

Sorry for the long time in between posts. I have been working on internal presentations and a couple RUG groups (both internal and external). This post is to announce the Boston RUG group going public. This group is run and attended by users just like you. Please sign up if you are interested in being part of this exciting group. If you have any questions about the group please feel free to email me. (Email Address on Right Bar)

http://www.meetup.com/Boston-Revit-Users-Group

The following is from a email that Laura Handler (BIMx) sent out.
Next Meeting
Our next meeting is February 17th, at ADD Inc. You can get more info and RSVP on the website.

Organization of the Group

As you may have heard (via an email from Steve Rines), the leadership of the group is morphing. We are starting to utilize an advisory board method of organization, with representation from ALL of the ‘players’: Architecture, Structure, Systems Engineering (MEP), Contractors, Subcontractors, Owners, Facilities Management, etc. However, we need to find all of these people first. We will introduce the current board members at the first meeting and discuss this structure in greater detail.

Funny Coversation while at AU

While I have been in Vegas my 4 year old son has been asking my wife when I will be home. This is a conversation that he had while on his way home from school today:

K: I don’t want to take a nap.
Mama: I know, but you have to.
K: But, I need Papa to be there so that you can sing and he can (motions waving with his hands).

I sometimes make hand/arm motions while my wife sings
Mama: I know, but Papa had to go on a business trip.
K: But, I don’t know. Where is he?
Mama: He went to Las Vegas.
K: Space! (Very Excited)
Mama: No, Las Vegas… it’s a city.
K: Yeah, but I don’t know what Las Vegas is…

Maybe AU 2030 will find that the largest venue available for the attendees is the moon and then my son won't be so confused.

AU 2008

I'm off to Autodesk University. If you want to get together to network please send me an email. Hope to see you there!