3D Home Architect Home & Landscape Deluxe Suite Version 9

List Price: $39.99 Discount Price: $7.89

Features:

• The ultimate easy-to-use home and landscape design solution that will ensure your dream home becomes a reality
• An intuitive user interface makes for a quick and pleasurable design experience
• Home and landscape design tools will allow you to modify every detail of your home and landscape project
• Create blueprints that include every detail of your home design
• Templates and libraries help you design your ideal home, room, patio, and more to your specifications

Accessories:

PC World

Customer Reviews:

Worthless Software [Posted on 2008-07-08]
Years ago, I had Broderbund's 3DHA, version 3. It worked fine. Then Broderbund had the audacity to completely revamp the software, and when version 5 came out (under the same name), it became almost useless. Now, Punch is marketing 3D Home Architect, version 9. This one is also useless. The libraries are small; e.g., only four door styles to choose from. There is no way to "cut a section" and view an elevation. The "Help" line is unresponsive; e.g., my current question has gone unanswered for 10 days. I could go on with a litany of reasons why this software is worthless, but the publisher hasn't earned my time.

Previous version files cannot be opened [Posted on 2008-08-27]
If you have created files with previous versions of 3D Home Architect, you might be interested in knowing what I finally located on a support forum (http://forums.encoreusa.com/tm.asp?m=29701):

What type of files does this product open? - 1/26/2008 11:09:07 PM

There have been several different 3DHA developers. And, unfortunately, each developer created file formats that were not compatible with the products created by the other developers.

So, this is pretty much how the file format for 3DHA breaks down:

3DHA versions 5-8 cannot open any 3DHA file created with version 4 or earlier.

3DHA version 9 cannot open any 3DHA file created with any previous version of 3DHA.

A Blatant Ripoff [Posted on 2008-09-06]
I purchased this program direct from the 3dhaonline.com website, because I had used it years before on my old PC...and it did a decent job of producing what I wanted. I was pleased to see that a Mac OS version was available (and this should have tipped me to investigate further before buying).

Well, after downloading it and stumbling through the non-intuitive activation process, I anticipated opening up my old 3DHA files. Well now, it doesn't seem to recognize the old file format, and the only Import option is for "Punch 3D" objects. Combing through the online help, I come to learn that version 9 is not compatible with anything prior! Didn't see that bullet in the features list (on later re-review, I saw that their promotional page does in fact declare incompatibility...but then what justifies revving the name?).

At that point I decided to check Amazon's reviews...and what do I see, but ten 1-star ratings out of 14 reviews with many comments reflecting exactly what I just experienced. And as further punishment, I see that the latest price is under $9.00!

I have personally confirmed each of the weaknesses mention in the other reviews, plus some:
- The editing of walls is cumbersome, as once two walls are connected, you cannot lengthen one without dragging the other along. The Wall Break tool is pointless, since the two halves are still connected.
- The dimensioning is lousy. Dragging to a desired length and then releasing the mouse button does not yield the choosen length, and requires many retries to acheive the desired measurement.
- It has no provisions for modeling porches.
- It doesn't do garage doors.
- It does not provide for pocket doors.
- There is too much emphasis on frivilous details, such as lighting.
- Roofs are not connected to walls...they are just separate objects that float above walls, with large visible gaps and no provision for adjusting their height.
- The zoom mechanism is imprecise.
- The 3D views are controlled only by the mouse, making for erratic movements and much wasted time in seeking the desired position.
- and so forth...

I am seeking a refund from the publisher. As mention by another, this is really a prime candidate for a class-action lawsuit. There is no connection between this program and the ones bearing the same name in pass iterations. If it were a decent program in its own right with backward compatability, I wouldn't mind some of the changes. But, as others pointed out, many many useful features of earlier versioned programs are no longer supported. Instant junk, and all those involved with it should be ashamed of themselves for its poor quality.

3D Home Architect Home & Landscape Deluxe Suite Version 9  [Posted on 2008-09-23]
Where's the manual???? A manual is not included with this software. The help files are not helpful either. I don't even know where to begin. I'm very disappointed.

Total waste of $10.00 [Posted on 2008-11-01]
I thought I was getting a super bargain on some older software. No. Whatever company is making this has just taken the brand name. I was looking forward to replacing a program I had used in the past. This was completely different. The menus and tools don't make any sense. I can't drag walls to where I want them to be; everything ends up with crazy angles. Cheap software made for a quick buck. No effort of any kind went into making this product. I'm just going to throw it away. Would not burden anone with such a useless "gift".

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