Cost/Value of Solidworks?
Cost/Value of Solidworks?
(OP)
Hi,
We currently have 4 seats of Solidworks 2005 S.P3.0.
We would like to upgrade to SW2006.
The prices quoted all stipulate a mandatory 1 year subscription and maintainence contract to go with the software upgrade.
As we do not require support, is there any way to just buy the upgrade itself?
We currently have 4 seats of Solidworks 2005 S.P3.0.
We would like to upgrade to SW2006.
The prices quoted all stipulate a mandatory 1 year subscription and maintainence contract to go with the software upgrade.
As we do not require support, is there any way to just buy the upgrade itself?






RE: Cost/Value of Solidworks?
RE: Cost/Value of Solidworks?
We use solidworks classic or base edtion (no photoworks etc.)
We were paying £4000 approx EVERY year, the questions is, for what?
An upgrade that usually has more bugs than fixes,
Support which couldn't solve all of our problems.
Also, with each new version of solidworks the performance of your hardware decreases thus you have to buy faster processors, more RAM, better video cards etc.
RE: Cost/Value of Solidworks?
As for more bugs and fixes... SP0.0 is always a little buggier when it comes out, but as the SP's come they usually get better... it really varies on what you do in your company. Some people that find a show stopping bug and keep them from doing their job, while others may never encounter that bug at all. It varies between people and companies.
If you don't pay for maintenance your having to pay and extra fee just to get the upgrade, so you’re probably spending more money each year by paying this to upgrade. Your better off getting the support and the SP's then not getting them at all. If you upgrade to SW07 and don't get maintenance then your stuck with SP0... and if you don't have a bug that stops you from working entirely, then your not entitled to the SP that could help or fix the problem. If you have a workaround, then that's your fix. We have customers we never hear from, but they get their upgrades every year.
If support could not fix your problems its one of 2 reasons, they are not educated enough to fix them, or the way you use the software is practical for SW… in other words your design intent is wrong and SW does not perform that away. I have seen it a thousand times. Everyone designs difference, but SW has a set way of using Design intent. If you don’t follow this procedure, then your trying to make the software do something it was not intended to do like this. Its not to say it can’t be done, just might be your process perhaps.
Regards,
Scott Baugh, CSWP![[pc2] pc2](https://www.tipmaster.com/images/pc2.gif)
www.scottjbaugh.com
"If it's not broke, Don't fix it!"
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RE: Cost/Value of Solidworks?
I'm guessing it's a high-end workstation, maybe dual xeons, with a high-end video card, and at least 2GB of RAM.
I have P4 3.0 Ghz
2GB 400MHz RAM
128MB ATI FireGL X1 AGP
My PC is used as a server to another 2 SW seats, would this run SW2007?
RE: Cost/Value of Solidworks?
its a single 2.4Ghz with 3GB of RAM, Nvidia Quadro FX 1100... that's about it... its nothing special... in fact its a generic PC it has not brand name on it. We pick the PC up for $600 and just slowly added to it... 3GB of RAM is added along with the VC... and I recently got a DVD burner on it... its nothing special.
Regards,
Scott Baugh, CSWP![[pc2] pc2](https://www.tipmaster.com/images/pc2.gif)
www.scottjbaugh.com
"If it's not broke, Don't fix it!"
FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies
RE: Cost/Value of Solidworks?
Will you be using this PC for SW2008?
RE: Cost/Value of Solidworks?
Regards,
Scott Baugh, CSWP![[pc2] pc2](https://www.tipmaster.com/images/pc2.gif)
www.scottjbaugh.com
"If it's not broke, Don't fix it!"
FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies
RE: Cost/Value of Solidworks?
As they say, you have to pay to play. Depending on your organization, the annual maintenance is probably a small overhead expense.
Dan
www.eltronresearch.com
RE: Cost/Value of Solidworks?
Jeff Mowry
www.industrialdesignhaus.com
Reason trumps all. And awe transcends reason.
RE: Cost/Value of Solidworks?
How is your PC acting as the server?
RE: Cost/Value of Solidworks?
I sometimes think somewhat useless features are created towards this end. The next thing you know, you're working with bloated software.
Ken
RE: Cost/Value of Solidworks?
Heckler![[americanflag] americanflag](https://www.tipmaster.com/images/americanflag.gif)
Sr. Mechanical Engineer
SWx 2007 SP 4.0 & Pro/E 2001
o
_`\(,_
(_)/ (_)
"Avoid the base hypocrisy of condemning in one man what you pass over in silence when committed by another." -- Theodor
RE: Cost/Value of Solidworks?
Although you have to admit there is a coolness factor, guys. Nobody wants to admit that they still use their Amiga to play Pitfall at home, right? Is it just me?
Dan
www.eltronresearch.com
RE: Cost/Value of Solidworks?
• Service packs will be installation specific.
• Service packs cannot be installed on installations that are not current with Subscription Service.
• Product upgrades will be available only to active subscription customers.
Jeff Mirisola, CSWP
http://designsmarter.typepad.com/jeffs_blog
RE: Cost/Value of Solidworks?
If you never call your VAR for support can you justify the support cost?
Would you pay bill gates a yearly subscription fee after you bought one of his operating systems?
I was a lot happier with Solidworks when it wasn't trying to be autocad.
We shall continue to use SW2005 without subscription, as you say, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Thanks for the input guys.
RE: Cost/Value of Solidworks?
There are a lot of people that justify the cost with calling support, unless they find a bug to turn in. If you guys are one of companies that think calling in to help SW find its own bugs is nonsense, then you can't complain about the bugs in the software IMO. But if you are proactive and help SW to better serve you then more power to you... Its respectable. But at the same time to each his own.
If I had to pay windows for windows support and upgrades... No questions asked, I would pay. The SP that they release fix known issues and crashing, etc... Then if there was a problem I would call and tell them the problem. Its a good thing their system is not set up like that.
SW was never trying to be ACAD. SW is still SW and its a 3D modeler ACAD is a 2D drawing package period. Just because it added a few features to attract ACAD users is no big deal... just don't use those features, there are plenty of of commands that have nothing to do with ACAD. However some of the features they added like Blocks and layers can be utilized well.
Of course to me that's kind of like saying... I was a lot happier with SW when it wasn't trying to be Pro-E. SW is a form of Pro-E, just modified to be a MCAD software and easier to use, along with being supported on a Windows OS. I have been using SW since it came out in 95-96. So I am vet to this software. There is nothing added to SW that makes it anything but SW. There are items added to make your life easier and those that came from ACAD. If you don't like something they added, don't use unless you have too. No need to complain about it, its not going away.
Regards,
Scott Baugh, CSWP![[pc2] pc2](https://www.tipmaster.com/images/pc2.gif)
www.scottjbaugh.com
"If it's not broke, Don't fix it!"
FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies
RE: Cost/Value of Solidworks?
As I said before ... bad idea. That is probably part the cause of any performance problems.
"If you never call your VAR for support can you justify the support cost?"
To stay up to date with the latest additions to SW. If you change from SW05 to SW10 it will be like learning a completely new software. Better to learn the program in smaller steps and make use of the new stuff as you go.
"Would you pay bill gates a yearly subscription fee after you bought one of his operating systems?"
If Windows was adding capabilities which made me more productive or functions which made designing easier, (like SW is) then without reservation ... YES.
[i]"I was a lot happier with Solidworks when it wasn't trying to be autocad."[i]
I think Scott covered this very well. It's not trying to be ACAD, (there is no comparison in capabilities) but it is trying to make the transition to MCAD easier for ACAD users. Sometimes it works (blocks, layers, etc) sometimes it doesn't (2D emulator).
If you are that unhappy with SW, there are plenty of other choices. Just remember though, the grass only looks greener from this side.
RE: Cost/Value of Solidworks?
But what if SWx2005 still met all your needs what would be the purpose to upgrade? Because upgrading brings with it a host of other needed hardware upgrades. One thing that's stinging us right now is the need for more RAM. SWx2005 still meets all our needs. Albeit, the new features in 2007 make sense.
Just trying to look at it from another angle. I still use Pro/E 2001 even though I have a service contract to upgrade to WildFire.....
Heckler![[americanflag] americanflag](https://www.tipmaster.com/images/americanflag.gif)
Sr. Mechanical Engineer
SWx 2007 SP 4.0 & Pro/E 2001
o
_`\(,_
(_)/ (_)
"Avoid the base hypocrisy of condemning in one man what you pass over in silence when committed by another." -- Theodor
RE: Cost/Value of Solidworks?
RE: Cost/Value of Solidworks?
However;
From a company perspective, what would happen when one of those users need to be replaced, or there is a need to employ more users? Imagine, in several years time trying to find someone who would be capable and willing to revert to an older more limited version. Could you, in your current position, be as productive using SW98 with a (at that time) top of the line Pentium running Win98 with a whopping 48MB RAM)
... and;
From an employee perspective, what would happen if one of those users wanted to change jobs? Being knowledgeable in later versions might very well be the asset needed to land a job. As an employee I push for upgrades to keep me up to date.
It has to be much easier to create annual budgets for yearly upgrades/updates to software and hardware, than to have to arrange an appropriation budget for total replacement every decade or so.
RE: Cost/Value of Solidworks?
Pete
RE: Cost/Value of Solidworks?
Your company is loosing money by having your workstation as the server. If 3 people are actively working you need a dedicated server with Gigabit Ethernet and 3 new workstations with XP, Gigabit Ethernet and SW2008. This should have a few months pay back if work is actually being done.
We are a small company and replace the primary workstation every 3 years maximum. Back when a 200 Mhz Pentium was the fastest PC available I purchased a DEC Alpha for $15,000.00 for SolidWorks 97 and it had a 6 month payback. This machine was donated to a college when it was 18 months old.
Ed Danzer
www.danzcoinc.com
www.dehyds.com
RE: Cost/Value of Solidworks?
Just one thing, when we stored our SW files on a server, we were receiving the message `failed to save'.
We tried many things to resolve this to no avail.
We called in our VAR, they sent out network `experts', they could not provide a network solution. The last thing the VAR suggested was `keeping your files locally on your own PC' this worked, have not had one `failed to save' problem since.
I wasn't impressed by the VAR at all. This is a workaround not a solution.
RE: Cost/Value of Solidworks?
The "failed to save" message has been discussed numerous times. I don't recall ever hearing a definitive solution, but a faulty network has always been a primary suspect.
You're correct - saving files locally is a workaround, and a poor one at that. I'd push on your VAR or look for a new one.
RE: Cost/Value of Solidworks?
Ed Danzer
www.danzcoinc.com
www.dehyds.com
RE: Cost/Value of Solidworks?
As dgownas stated, saving locally is a poor work-around, but I don't think pushing on your VAR will get you anywhere. I think that with the amount of data companies push through their networks, the potential for packet loss on large files is great, which makes it a hardware problem, not a software problem. I'm curious if other MCAD packages have the same problems.
Jeff Mirisola, CSWP
http://designsmarter.typepad.com/jeffs_blog
RE: Cost/Value of Solidworks?