Problem- Now I have to really think about it.

[scadvice]

This is going to be a long post… A time back I posted this:
…even though I been unhappy with how they have handled me personally. Their first action should be to move on to a better (I assume that is what v23 is) program thereby getting them back in the game. Next, change their low sales tactic opinion of a lot of their customers (myself included). On this issue I do have an opinion… and suggestion (though how workable it is I don't know). Get rid of the sales people (sorry...bye guys) and increase your tech. service people to the point they can call, sell and service the product. Well...that’s my idea anyway.
I've moved on to another programming system as my main software but still I’m trying to learn BCC for the lathe. Whether I stay with BCC in this is wholly dependent on BCC and the support I get... and... when I have the funds and time available to upgrade or move on and train on a new one... that will be the deciding issue...support and usability.
In an earlier post I stated I was disappointed by the performance of 2007/v22 in the form with this comment below:
”The only thing I can think of that might get me personally to spend the long hours taking a look at v23 would be for them to offer to send a licensed nontransferable version of V23, at no additional cost, to us, who bought 2007/v22. Would I respond to this if they called or sent a note??? I'm not sure... I would really have to think about it. “
I was very honest about it and did not expect a response from BC. So, when I was PM’d by Chris (BC) for contact information (phone E-mail address ect), I was surprised, and I assumed he would contact me... and we would have a reasonable discussion about it... and then I would have to ”I would really have to think about it.” That was toward the end of Nov. 08. I’m not sure what happened but, I did not receive that call.”

And a few weeks back I posted this
I stand by my past post...
________________________________________
on this subject and that Bob Cad has been inconsistent with how they have supported individual complaints. Also, I am bitter at this point because I was asked to give a contact pm number by a BC representative to "take care of my problems", I did, but was never contacted.
I payed a fair price and was not supported when v22 was found to have serious issues. If I supported my customers the way BC did me, I would be out of business.
I was not taken seriously that in the 2007, and V22 versions were almost impossible to learn correctly by a new user. In my history with BC, I purchased 4 versions, with CD's( when available) started to learn the first, then had to go through a divorce which delayed me almost 3 years. I bought the upgrades during that period to keep up the software, and when I was able to get back to being serious about learning it again, found it was almost impossible to do so with all its problems and errors. It may be somewhat workable for one who has been using it for years, but not to me a newbe within what I would consider a reasonable amount of time. Is v23 a workable solution? I have no idea. I'm not sure at this point I would be willing to give it a try even with some kind of free or near free upgrade. As I said before in past post, I would really have to think about it.
PM from BC:

" The One The One is offline

Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: United States
Posts: 397
The One is on a distinguished road
Contact Request
I want to extend a request to gather your contact information. I will not have the sales department call you. Instead, I will have some one from Customer Service get in touch with you. If you PM me your information I will forward it off. You may not get a call until Monday.

Regards,
Chris R.
Forward Message"

The date of my first post on this subject was Nov 8th of 2009 or sometime before that. Yesterday I received a call from "Julie" at BC checking up on how I was doing with the software as that she understood in Dec. I had called with problems that were not resolved. she said she was unaware of any post on cnczone I had made when I asked her. I gave her some background on these post and my dissappointment with BC. I was calm, polite, and respectful in my explainations and did not say anything about the posts as far as free replacements ect. The conversation just worked out that way and my comments were about v22 and it being, for me, impossible to learn with all its problems, errors, and workarounds. So for now I had given up and was using another program. But that I was going to need Lathe program very shortly because the one I now used did not have lathe.
She has offered to give me a free upgrade of v23 and some hours 3?? of free training, the type of training I don't recall...on the phone/eternet I believe. No time limit on when I decide,
So...now I have to decide if I want to spend the time going through v23. To give it a fair try it will take 10 to 20 hours I would guess. That is a lot of time for me right now. My other option is say no thanks and spend the hours on some other new software plus the a fair amount of money. Now I'm thinking about what upgrade was she offering? As I understand there are now two versions and I did tell her I used 4 axis machining. I feel that I would need the Pro version (is that what it is called?) for it to be a worth a test to me and the fact of the money I have paid over the last 4 yrs. Comments from everyone would be helpful, newer users and old users.
Steve

[BurrMan]

The "Pro" version is just the inclusion of a couple different toolpaths. I dont know about Lathe though???? You could also visit the BobCad Forum where a guy has been producing some nice demos you can view on how the software works.

I think you just said "Free" so you could at least give it a try?

If you got the new software and wanted some quick starts, you could post in the forum and be shown how to do it, so no huge learning curve. If it cant do it then no loss on your part. You can continue your move to another software. If it can, then maybe your dissatisfaction with the old software has been addressed! You may then grow fond again!

But me......I'm just a dreamer!

[dcskid]

Version 23 has made a world of difference for us. We had returned V22 and moved on. The Boss wanted to give V23 a shot, I did not. I was wrong. It has worked very well. I am pleased with it.

[moldmker]

I am by far no cheerleader for Bobcad, but v23 is much better than v22 concerning functionality and dependability.

It's no $5000 software package and I do 90% of my modelling in Solidworks.
For me, I think that v23 will at least keep itself paid for this year.

Take a look at what Allen is doing with the software:
http://www.bobcadsupport.com/forum/s...ead.php?t=3737

Good luck,
moldmker

[scadvice]

...as a "free" version, but rather as "good faith offer by BC" of a replacement to correct for the last version problems. I'll look at Allens links, thanks.
Steve