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Better Homes and Gardens Home Designer Pro 8.0 Review
User Submitted Better Homes and Gardens Home Designer Pro 8.0 Reviews
Date: 2009-01-09
Feature filled and easy to use
I recently got the BHG Designer Pro 8 version and started by watching the video tutorials and skimming through the extremely thorough manual. This was adequate to get me started on using the software even though I had no previous design or CAD experience. In very little time I had reproduced my architect's plan and was looking at it in 3D. This helped us identify changes to our architect's plans (and getting my wife's agreement) and no doubt we saved a lot of money than making these changes after the work starts. I have not yet developed my roof building skills to where I can match my architect's drawings but I am working on this.
I also experimented with importing my architect's plans into Pro and using the CAD to Walls features and amazingly in a matter of seconds my architect's plan was in my system. As it turned out, I reverted to the manually drawn plan since I was having some problems (probably me rather than the software) with the doors and windows in the CAD to walls drawing and doing it from scratch was easy enough anyway.
This is a fantastically powerful, feature laden program and the many things I have tried actually work !!! I have not used any competitors' design products so I cannot compare across these. However, if you have basic computer skills, this program is easy to use even for complex items of a plan. Important thing is to do the homework of watching the tutorials / skimming the manuals before using this immensely powerful system. Also they have a very active user forum and lots of great info there too.
Date: 2008-10-24
Forgett Autocad !!!!!
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 and enjoy designing, with Autocad, you never finish feeding the beast!!!
Date: 2008-09-08
Pro 8 is a very good deal
I have been an avid user/teacher of Chief Architect Inc software since 1995 (I mainly use Chief Architect X1 in my /drafting and design business) but the line of consumer software like Home Designer Pro 8 is a great way to introduce yourself to professional level output. Yes it is a cut-down version in terms of choices and productivity tools that are available in its "Big Brother" (Chief X1) but at 1/5 th the price it makes up for the extra steps its economy warrants. The only thing that is more difficult to do in Pro than Chief X1 is curved roof planes, other than that it can easily do what programs costing many thousands more can do.
David J. Potter
Date: 2008-06-14
Great Product
Product is great - much better and more powerful tool than 7.0 or Designer Suite.
Date: 2008-04-16
Finally
The Home Designer Pro software is a cut-down version of the full Chief Architect product (allowing a building to be drawn that is less than 4 stories tall). It is a good product for professionals in the residential construction field -- WAY better than the others available. If you have version 7.0, Chief Architect's website would be a good visit -- they update to version 8.0 for products purchased between certain dates.
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