Informal Survey

All the recent bitchy threads, into which I've proudly vented, have me
wondering...

Anyone and everyone please answer...

- Did you as a SW user pay for the software or are you using company
provided software and maintenance? While this isn't intentionally a troll I
do suspect the bitchers are on one side of the fence and the zealots are on
the other. Let's find out...

By the way, let's keep the opinions to a minimum in this thread and try to
focus the answer on the question, there's plenty of other space to tell me
I'm a trouble maker. Did you buy it or not and what's your average "tone"
here?


Eddy Hicks> bought the software, pay the maintenance and bitch loudly when
it wastes my time or the time of my employees (time = money)

Who's Next (Paul?)...

 

Bought the software, and about to pay for update (once 2004 has a
reasonably stable release).
Regards
Olaf

 

snip....
Did you buy it or not and what's your average "tone" here?
Bought the software 5 years ago, kept the maintenance in force ever since
and rarely complain here because the software never keeps me from finishing
a job. I'm an optical instrument designer, so my needs are quite different
from the I.D. people. But, being self-(un)employed, I sympathize with anyone
who is losing income because of the software's shortcomings.

My biggest complaint is that the bells and whistles seem to take precedence
over fixing known problems. Makes me think that new customers are more
valuable to SW Corp than old customers. Which may be true -- having made the
investment in $ and time makes one less likely to jump to another software
package.

Art

 

Bought the software in 1996 -- even tho, back then, I had full time access
to a seat at my major client's site -- just so I could really get to grips
with it ( I was tasked with evaluating it as an enterprise-wide
proposition), as well as use it for my own work.

Since then, I have kept subscription current right up until this year, and
on balance it has helped me earn my living, and certainly kept me
interested. I've been heavily involved with the local user group, including
editing the newsletter.

However I have been getting progressively frustrated by the reliability
issues well traversed on this ng , although not usually by me -- I
personally feel unsatisfied venting to a mixture of like-minded people and
apologists -- there seems little need to whip up the former and little to be
gained by winning over the latter.

I guess that puts me solidly in the non-complaining group

HOWEVER.........

this year I decided to register my protest in the only meaningful way I
know, by refraining from renewing my subscription. I will stick with 2003
for as long as I can, and then decide which way to jump.

Don't read on if you just wanted the shortish answer>























The other factor which - in a small but significant way - tipped the balance
for me was my concern at the increasingly grim ramifications of being a
non-US national using US-sourced software.

I have uncomplainingly accepted that, not being a US citizen, I cannot be
trusted to use my seat without a hardware dongle. This is a significant
drawback for someone who travels a lot with their seat -- the dongle can
easily fail or be lost, turning your laptop into an expensive paperweight,
when your VAR is twelve thousand miles away. At least the recent USB dongles
are more convenient and reliable, albeit even easier to lose.....

However I was shocked to discover that the licensing agreement for SldWks
2003 required me, as a non-US national, to certify that I would NOT use the
software to design nuclear or other weapons of mass destruction.

It is little consolation that I have a non-negotiable lifetime personal rule
to walk away from *any* project connected with *any* sort of weapons.
I somehow doubt that those who don't share my convictions are refraining
from signing the license -- I am therefore, for the purposes of this
discussion, indistinguishable from them.

Given that my rights to the software would lapse if I were -deemed- to be
engaging in such activities...

Given that should my rights lapse my considerable investment in the software
would instantly evaporate - I don't even have the right to sell my seat...

Given that a precedent has been set for such matters to be judged in a
unilateral, high-handed and capricious manner, and given I am asked this
question because of my non-US status, implying that I automatically present
a higher risk factor because of this...

and (delicious irony, double standard warning) Given that I live in a
country which is continually (although mercifully, to date, unsuccessfully)
leant on by the US to alter our anti-nuclear policies in ways which would
allow into our country US nuclear weapons of mass destruction designed in
the US on US software.....



Consider this in combination with Microsoft's purposeful movement in the
direction of adding terminator genes to system software, to ensure that our
ongoing computer use is eventually entirely at Microsoft's discretion.....

Such unbridled power is not rendered innocuous by the fact that it has not
.... yet ... been exercised.

It would be premature to use the word "alarming", but I hope the
situation -- both in respect of US software, and US foreign and trade
policy -- does not deteriorate any further.

I do not relish a world where the US lapses, however gradually, towards a
"compound in a hostile world" mentality, where those inside the walls merit
protection and those without require control, and any means are justifiable
provided they serve either of those ends.

No-one would be more delighted than me to discover that my concerns turn out
to be groundless, but please do not mistake this for a situation where words
would help to dismantle those concerns. Those concerns will take care of
themselves when the behaviour changes, and given that America is a highly
responsive democracy, that's essentially up to the American people.

But why should the American people care?

I'm not sure anyone can answer that, and that, now that, that IS a cause for
concern.

 

Use company provided software, but since it's a micro (5 heads) company, my
connnection to the bottom line is pretty direct. You could classify me as a
bitcher...

 

I work for the "MAN" and he bought it.
I complain only when thuroughly annoyed by something that should work. I
generally wait for feedback from all the daring people who upgrade to the
new SPs right away before upgrading, thus saving myself some of the
headache. If I get a workaround I am HAPPY!!!

Corey

 

Owner Occupier of my seat.

I've paid sub since 97. I don't complain much here because others far
more talented seem to get to the bugs first ;-) - and I always stay
within my envelope! Its caused by my fear of heights.


Not very computer literate, but I am still amazed that a software
system that is meant to be modular in its construction seems to
exhibit all the classic signs of a system which is in 'Chaos'

Small change in the software from one SP to the next in some seemingly
trivia area of the programme results in a major problems in an
unrelated area, if not a total breakdown of the whole programme.

Every release seems to be a white knuckle ride when installing it.

A classic case of 'Chaos Theory' in practice. I think Solidworks
would make a great case study for students wanting to learn about
chaotic weather systems.

BTW - can any recommend any magic charms that they have used when
installing sw2004 SP1 succesfully.

I am just about to try it am I am sure it will require some strong Ju
-Ju Medicine. I have already sacrified the organic chicken when
installing sw2003 but I feel the gods will require something stronger
for sw2004.



Please send advice by weekend -




Regards




Jonathan Stedman

 

Bought the software personally (3 seats) and only maintain one seat now
that I don't have employees. I've bitched a WHOLE lot in the past, and
have quieted down probably mostly because I don't normally do surfacing,
but also because I do believe SolidWorks Corp is making SOME headway
with their QA efforts (NOT ENOUGH). Am also still on SW2003 because I
don't trust new releases . . . and I didn't even go to SolidWorks 2003
until SP4.1 was out. I've learned the hard way.

Mark 'Sporky' Stapleton
Charlotte, NC

 

Company software & maint. I am now the SW admin. and in spite of the
current issues, I am still always amazed at what it can do vs. doing it on a
board by hand. Do we crash - yes. Do we have frustrating days - yes.
However, I'm a pretty detail oriented guy and tend to look at the minute
details of why something happens - kind of like "Don't yell at me - I didn't
write it - I'm just trying to help you get your job done with the software
as it is." If I can find the small, narrow set of circumstances that causes
a problem, it's more likely to get fixed. So, my vocalness is spent on
progress. (I also don't do surfaces.)

WT

 

bob z. has not purchased this software yet. bob z. has plans to buy a seat
so he can go out on his own (sometime in the coming year). bob z. hopes to
see a linux port by then. will that happen? 8~)>

bob z. liked to complain about the software a lot because bob z. likes to
shine. ya know? bob z. likes to be the man. he wants everybody to look at
his prints and say, "yeah, we can build this. no question. no worries.
just build it." well, it is awful hard to get your designs perfect when you
are constantly struggling with the software. the time starts to run out and
no matter how good you are, you *have to* cut corners somewhere.

cost
quality
timeliness

we can only have two. swx corp doesn't think we need two.
8~)>

--
bob z.
p.s. hold your mouth for the war, use it for what's it for...

"people with less brain power than you are doing more difficult things
everyday"©

 

Worked for "The Man" until the "The Man" laid me off.

BUT, I bought SW back in 99 for moonlighting and only updated (paid for
subscription) once,
which allowed me to get SW2001Plus.
When I got laid off, I decided that there's no time like the present to
start my own business,
and that's what I did, and so far so good.
I typically don't bitch, but that doesn't mean that I don't agree with some
of "The Bitchers" some of the time.
For the most part I'm very happy with SW.

Muggs

 

I bitch a lot. But I don't do it here. No one in the ng can help if
there is a real problem with the software, so it would be a pointless
waste of time, especially if I'm worried about productivity.

I originally bought the software in 97, and then managed a 20 seat
installation. Many user problems turn out to be self inflicted or
education issues.

matt

 

Ken B. bought SWX and paid for maintenance. I'm just too damn tired to bitch about it.

 

Having a few drops of teutonic blood myself, I must confess a mounting
Schatnerfreude for those who complain intensely and VOLUNTARILY chose
to use 2004 in production and are now suffering.

With all that said - by day a mild mannered employee using company
sponsored software/equipment - by night a moonlighter with one
self-funded (& maintained) seat. Both activities allow me to afford
those luxuries like food and heating the house. Neither could do it
alone, although the day job provides the bulk of the income.

General mood - It's good - It's not perfect - It's far from perfect.
Over the years SW has made great strides and always delivers, with
stumbling as we all know. Veterans should not be surprised at this.
There are many unrefined features that could be better - many
functions seem to get dead ended too easily.

Beta was there. Those who participated got something fixed from it
(maybe - I got a couple things fixed - other things were ignored). We
were all invited and no special invitations were made. We chose to
volunteer to try to make SW better.

Those among us who complain are permitted - it's their right. Does it
do anything? Probably not - It only serves as catharsis. The problem
is the catharsis is falling on my shoes . . .

Being in the kvetch-camp does not mean one has escaped hoi polloi, but
sometimes it comes across that way.

I also vehemently believe that things that have worked should continue
to work, not collapse. It looks like some of those things have
collapsed and some people are pissed (but not me yet)!

Regards-

SMA

(sorry - apparently I like to hear myself type)

Schatnerfreude - Joy at the misfortunes of others, particularly
William Shatner.
cf. Schadenfreude (grin)

 

Paid for and subscriber since 1998 = licensed paying beta testing user.

Venting bitching paying beta testing user who contributes unconventional
pos/neg feedback and help when time is available.

http://www2.burn.com/content/wave/wav-sp4/cartman-thats_not_fair.wav
http://www2.burn.com/content/wave/wav-sp6/stan-ah_damnit.wav
http://www2.burn.com/content/wave/wav-spxmas/kyle-on_prozac.wav
http://www2.burn.com/content/wave/wav-sp2/stan-youve_got_to_prioritize.wav
http://www2.burn.com/content/wave/wav-spxmas/cartman-super_bitch_is_at_it_again.wav

... ;^)

 

Employer pays for SolidWorks and subscription.
Top 25 SW Bitch Club

I've always worked for someone else who purchased the software and pays for
maintenance. Would I be more adamant if that cash was from my own pocket?
eyup. Do I still care a lot despite someone else paying for it? eyup. Why
you ask? Cause I tend to work for smaller companies by choice, start-ups in
fact, that for the past few years are really struggling to get a great
products to market. I don't like to cause a small company, with limited
funds in reserve (read: no revenue, just capital investment), to spend a lot
of money on me or the software I use simply cause I have to sit here and
document the problems out the a$$ when I could be getting my work done. When
the software forces delays or me working late nights, I get pissed. It makes
me look bad, causes a lot of frustration from Beta testing, and ultimately
causes a product to be delayed (read: loose of money on contract or entire
loss of contract). That makes a nice annual review for me as well. So throw
me in the top 25 bitchers club. That is something that non-users will never
understand or choose not to. Sorry, but I aint got 8 hours in the day to
reproduce the issue and write a tech doc about it, make CD's of files, and
answer questions like, "Did you reboot?"
Do I like getting paid OT? eyup. Do I like looking like the a$$hole cause I
need OT to get my project done because of a poorly written software package
that my employer paid/paying good money for? Nope. I like to be efficient
and while SolidWorks allows me to do a lot of things efficiently, there are
a lot of hang-ups that a)I've gotten to the point to simply accept and
b)have, after hours of troubleshooting, learned to work around. There are
still issues with large assemblies and drawings that have existed for years
and have not been addressed (edge bleed through on thin parts when zoomed
slightly out, for example). Guess they got thrown in the big pile of SPR
papers. Huh.
Yeah, but you waste so much time getting on here and bitching and whining.
That's cause on the productive days, where SolidWorks works, I don't make
time to post. I'm busy designing and documenting. Then when things go awry,
I take a break before the monitor assumes the brunt of anger, come over here
vent my issues, then when everyone shares the pain and I convert the
"Cheerleaders", I feel better, and get back to figuring out a workaround, or
maybe simply rebooting to make my troubles go away (j/k).
Maybe I should sign up for the basic course. Apparently, I don't know how to
make a view properly without causing SolidWorks to crash. Sheesh.

 

The company pays. I just bitch.

Jerry Steiger
Tripod Data Systems

 

Company pays SW for software. Company pays me to keep all the SW
trains running on time.

Not much of a bitcher. Well aware of SW's shortcomings and just
accept it for what it is (99% of the time). Just trying to get work
done and helping others get their work done. Isn't that why we have
the software?

 

Sounds a lot like Bally's business model. Make some money off new
customers, shaft the old.

 

Here now I am to laughing my asses off upon the floor.

If I Stop The Laugh Its Hurt!!!

Habib