[Stonehenge]

It looks like a very large portion of the voting members either have attended or will attend a trade show this winter. For those that have been to a show, did you learn anything? Did you walk away with at least one good idea to help your business?

[Lanelle]

We actually left with the 'new' thing in our bag------a new suite of software.

[Stonehenge]

What was the software for? Design, inventory, production?

[Lanelle]

Design and proposals. We went with Prolandscape. I haven' had time to play with it yet.

[jwholden]

I learned that I really do need more equipment.

Excuse me, DON'T need more equipment.

I checked out Dynascapes and from a non cad persons perspective it seemed like a nice option. I think they went a little crazy with the bells and wistles when it comes to printing the design. Too much flash distracts from your presentation, IMHO.

I don't see myself buying a cad program, but wanted to see what all the hoopla was about. I really wish these companies would stick with what they do best and not try to cover all bases.

One other suprise, atleast to me. Most software companies will let you give there programs a trial for free or almost nothing. I realize that this is common but some are giving a two month trial. I think that is an excellent way to do business!

[HRLand]

Lanelle,

Didn't you use DIG software previously? If so, waht made you change?

[Lanelle]

The output of the 2-D program left a lot to be desired. With the new software, I can print off very simple black and white symbols to be hand-colored or I can choose outputs that look like watercolor, pastel or photorealistic symbols. Also the linking of specific symbols to specific shrubs and trees makes the labeling and proposal parts go much faster (or should once I get to spend some time with this program). Also, DIG seems to have put their attention to the remodeling segment of the market, so I wasn't seeing the types of upgrades to their software that I would have wanted.

[HRLand]

I know what you mean about the upgrades. When I purchased DIG 2 years ago the salesman told me I they would have more plant and hardscape images avilable to download. That never happened.

So what did Pro Landscape cost, if you don't mind?

[Lanelle]

The three program suite cost $995.00

[DynaSCAPEr]

Interesting Lanelle. You like the fact that certain symbols are linked to specific plants? We've always steered clear of that, since it's likely to make alot of your drawings look exactly like any competitors in your area that use the same system. We're also not big fans of having to know which 'specific' shrub you want to use during the 'conceptual' phase of the design - we'd rather have users be creative than force them down a given path. Are time savings the only reason you like the symbol to specific plant link?

[Lanelle]

There is a sizable portion of our business that requires designs that are very straight-forward. The faster that they can be produced, the better. So time is a very important factor. Maybe the software I was using had too small a palette of symbols because I found myself having to hunt and plan to avoid reusing certain logical symbols on a single plan at times. I like that the call-outs and legend are linked to the symbols so I don't have to type out each shrub name. They are compiled automatically for both the drawing and the proposal.
I do recognize that a custom look is required for truly high-end projects. Those may be partly designed on the computer, but hand rendering and other means of visual communication may also be employed.

[DynaSCAPEr]

Thanks for the reply Lanelle. The way our stuff works is that the labeling phase is where you pick your plants. You pick them from a customizable list in this case, so it's another method that saves you from typing the names out, but allows you to use whatever symbol you wish to represent each plant.