wolfordj@ihlpa.ATT.COM (452is-Wolford) (02/05/88)
TOPIC: Requesting mice and CAD reviews - questions follow. I am getting ready to do some PC Based CAD work, both 1- electronic (i.e. schematic ) and 2 -mechanical (i.e. drafting), and would like to get some feed back on mice and software. The software does NOT have to do both types of work, but if it does that it is a plus. Commercial, shareware, and public domain software is ok. My personal objective is to get a mouse/CAD system for < $300 that works with a hard disk, supports both monochrome and color (I only have monochrome now, but have the a CGA card waiting for $$$ for the monitor), supports a C.Itoh Prowriter or a Toshiba 1340 printer and a HP laser jet. But please don't limit it to this, if the options warrant it, I can wait and save a little longer. I WILL post or send results. Jeff Wolford ihnp4!iwsag!jww harvard-| | ucbvax--+---- ihnp4 --- iwsag!jww | decvax--| MICE A) What brand of mouse people are using and what they like and don't like about it ? 1) Brand ? 2) Number of Buttons ? 3) Buttons on top or front ? 4) Serial or Bus ? 5) Reliability - Does the mouse skip or work on any surface ? 6) Bundled software - what software does it come with ? 7) What software do you know of supports this mouse ? (Microsoft windows ....). 8) Have you used another brand of mouse, and how does it compare ? 9) Product support - Is the manufacture helpful and easy to do business with ? 10) What machines have you used it on ? 11) Approximate cost ?, List ? 12) Any magazine reviews ? Publication, date, and page number if possible. B) What CAD programs are they using ? 1) Brand ? 2) What type of input devices does it support ? Brands if possible. keyboard [ ], mouse [ ], tablet [ ], roller ball [ ], other [ ] 3) What type of output devices and brands or generic classifications Dot matrix printers [ ] Plotters [ ] Laser printers [ ] 4) Does the package allow the user to save the printer output to a file so that it can be printed on another machine ? 5) Machine requirements ?, and support ? PC, XT, AT ? Hard disk ? memory ? MGA, HGA, CGA, EGA ? 6) Program Options ? 7) Program Capabilities ? Auto dimensioning ? Rubber banding ? - (i.e. move a part and the lines move with it). Macro support ? Library support ? - user definable parts ? Printing output to scale ? Support multiple line widths (Weights) ? Support multiple line types ? Solid - Dashed - Dotted - Define your own ? Text support - Font types ? Font orientation - horizontal vertical any angle. Can you link it to a line or part ? Zoom and pan ? Multiple page support ? Put several pages together to form one ? Able to duplicated lines and macros ? Editing features ? Change line types ? Move, or delete a user definable block ? 8) Manuals Good introduction ? Good for reference ? Complete coverage ? Good explanations ? 9) Program Easy to learn ? Easy to use ? (i.e. is it easy and fast to use after you learn how to use it). 10) Magazine reviews ? Name, Date, page # if possible ? 11) Cost ? List ?, Mail order 12) Overall review ?