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Is SolidWorks going out of business? 17
- Thread starter LindseyAC
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SteveMartin
Mechanical
I wouldn't believe an awful lot of what a competing salesman says about any given product, especially if it's not backed up by any evidence.
Some people think SW's current R&D direction is shooting themselves in the foot, some think it's a great new world. The truth I'm sure is somewhere in between.
I don't see SW disappearing any time soon, however.
Some people think SW's current R&D direction is shooting themselves in the foot, some think it's a great new world. The truth I'm sure is somewhere in between.
I don't see SW disappearing any time soon, however.
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Obviously, with the use of Pro-Excruciating one can model a crystal ball like the one Ben Affleck used in the movie Paycheck and can see the future!
Instead of listening to a bitter salesman say anything about the demise of the competitor that has eaten his lunch you should check what people are actually using. More and more machine shops and designers are using SolidWorks. In fact, I cannot remember when I ran into anyone using SolidEdge, CoCreate, IronCad, or Alibre. Once in a while I run into someone using Inventor, but all of them say they are trying to switch to SolidWorks. The folks that are using Pro-E, UG, or Catia are mostly doing so out of legacy. Some of these are using advanced surface modeling and are happier with UG or Catia.
I have worked for four different companies that had Pro. Three of them switched to SolidWorks and the fourth one was trying to, but in the 11th hour the engineering director was over-ruled by the comptroller (eminently qualified to make THAT call!).
I hope you at least got a good lunch out of this guy, but I bet the salesperson stiffed the wait staff on the tip!
This is laughable!
- - -Updraft
Instead of listening to a bitter salesman say anything about the demise of the competitor that has eaten his lunch you should check what people are actually using. More and more machine shops and designers are using SolidWorks. In fact, I cannot remember when I ran into anyone using SolidEdge, CoCreate, IronCad, or Alibre. Once in a while I run into someone using Inventor, but all of them say they are trying to switch to SolidWorks. The folks that are using Pro-E, UG, or Catia are mostly doing so out of legacy. Some of these are using advanced surface modeling and are happier with UG or Catia.
I have worked for four different companies that had Pro. Three of them switched to SolidWorks and the fourth one was trying to, but in the 11th hour the engineering director was over-ruled by the comptroller (eminently qualified to make THAT call!).
I hope you at least got a good lunch out of this guy, but I bet the salesperson stiffed the wait staff on the tip!
This is laughable!
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[A salesperson from Pro E just told a co worker that in 2 years there will be no SW so we should buy ProE. [/quote]
LOL, just the opposite is far far more likely. Check the market cap for PTC (especially 1999-2008 - we'll toss the data for the last couple of years when everybody tanked because of the housing fraud).
Check out their user forum , you could go to sleep waiting for a new question - and when there is a question no answer. I guess those already using the software are too busy and already know all the answers.
One thing I do know - those Pro/E salesmen are the best I've dealt with (in terms of shoveling the bull). I guess you have to be a true blue oldtime fanboy to still be on deck.
LOL, just the opposite is far far more likely. Check the market cap for PTC (especially 1999-2008 - we'll toss the data for the last couple of years when everybody tanked because of the housing fraud).
Check out their user forum , you could go to sleep waiting for a new question - and when there is a question no answer. I guess those already using the software are too busy and already know all the answers.
One thing I do know - those Pro/E salesmen are the best I've dealt with (in terms of shoveling the bull). I guess you have to be a true blue oldtime fanboy to still be on deck.
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As a general rule, anytime one CAD company starts trash-talking another CAD company, I don't believe a word of it. I've known several sales reps over the years who were either laid off or got better offers from the competition; I'm sure you can guess what happened to all their trash-talking after they switched companies.
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As a thumb rule,
no. of job openings = no. of seats being used* = no. of subscription = amount of money a CAD software company makes = More chances of surviving for longer
So go & check your area's job website & compare Pro-E & SolidWorks jobs.
* = Seats being used is more realistic than seats sold
no. of job openings = no. of seats being used* = no. of subscription = amount of money a CAD software company makes = More chances of surviving for longer
So go & check your area's job website & compare Pro-E & SolidWorks jobs.
* = Seats being used is more realistic than seats sold
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- #8
I agree with the others.
Whenever I hear any salesperson trash talking a competitor, I walk away. If that's how they do business, it's not with me.
Read most publications about CAD and most of the time you read AutoCAD, SolidWorks, or CATIA. The mention of Pro-E is there, but I personally don't read about them as often.
SolidWorks does a fair job recruiting AutoCAD users.
Chris
SolidWorks 09 SP5.0
ctopher's home
SolidWorks Legion
Whenever I hear any salesperson trash talking a competitor, I walk away. If that's how they do business, it's not with me.
Read most publications about CAD and most of the time you read AutoCAD, SolidWorks, or CATIA. The mention of Pro-E is there, but I personally don't read about them as often.
SolidWorks does a fair job recruiting AutoCAD users.
Chris
SolidWorks 09 SP5.0
ctopher's home
SolidWorks Legion
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Theophilus
Mechanical
I'd differ in one regard--subscription renewals are probably far below expectations with SolidWorks. Diminishing returns on each new release is sure to have lots and lots of customers wondering why they keep purchasing the newest version.
My guess would be that SolidWorks is relying more heavily on annual subscription revenue than original software purchase revenue. If this is true, they ought to be hurting plenty by now. The VARs are probably beginning to starve. My guess is that we'll either see a slight change (flexibility?) to the subscription service or the punishment policy for failing to renew each year will increase from the current $500 fee. And I figure we'll see one or the other within six months at our current rate of economic happiness.
Other than that, I don't think SolidWorks is going anywhere. Now that I finally got v2010 to install on Windows 7 x64, I can see some benefits to this new release over v2009--several things I like better and that seem to behave fairly well. But I think the business model is troublesome and something's got to give.
Jeff Mowry
A people governed by fear cannot value freedom.
My guess would be that SolidWorks is relying more heavily on annual subscription revenue than original software purchase revenue. If this is true, they ought to be hurting plenty by now. The VARs are probably beginning to starve. My guess is that we'll either see a slight change (flexibility?) to the subscription service or the punishment policy for failing to renew each year will increase from the current $500 fee. And I figure we'll see one or the other within six months at our current rate of economic happiness.
Other than that, I don't think SolidWorks is going anywhere. Now that I finally got v2010 to install on Windows 7 x64, I can see some benefits to this new release over v2009--several things I like better and that seem to behave fairly well. But I think the business model is troublesome and something's got to give.
Jeff Mowry
A people governed by fear cannot value freedom.
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They are just playing on the buzz that was going around SolidWorks World this year when Dassault unleashed the scary cloud on everyone. People were freaked that DSS was going to drop SW or just morph it into Catia.
Short story is that you should tell the ProE sales guy that you are concerned, and you'd like to talk about it over lunch...at his expense. Then tell them to go scratch.
Dan
Dan's Blog
Short story is that you should tell the ProE sales guy that you are concerned, and you'd like to talk about it over lunch...at his expense. Then tell them to go scratch.
Dan
Dan's Blog
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![[lol]](/data/assets/smilies/lol.gif "[lol] [lol]")
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MikeHalloran
Mechanical
Did you notice that Pro/E salesmen always wear sharkskin suits?
They grow their own.
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
They grow their own.
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
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Pro/E supposedly had good year-over-year results on the subscription side for the past two or three quarters, where SolidWorks has been having some trouble with holding on to subscriptions for that same period. This may be the source of that saleperson's overconfidence in making completely unjustified statements.
Pro/E has a bad habit of overstating their perception of their own "advantages". I just talked to a couple of Pro/E PLM guys that made the statement that their PLM has more seats than any other PLM. I don't know what their definition of PLM is, but I'm guessing that the total number of Pro/E's PLM seats is a drop in the bucket when compared to Oracle.
Matt Lorono
Lorono's SolidWorks Resources & SolidWorks Legion
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/solidworks & http://twitter.com/fcsuper
Pro/E has a bad habit of overstating their perception of their own "advantages". I just talked to a couple of Pro/E PLM guys that made the statement that their PLM has more seats than any other PLM. I don't know what their definition of PLM is, but I'm guessing that the total number of Pro/E's PLM seats is a drop in the bucket when compared to Oracle.
Matt Lorono
Lorono's SolidWorks Resources & SolidWorks Legion
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/solidworks & http://twitter.com/fcsuper
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JohnRBaker
Mechanical
For what it's worth, this is a 2-year old press release:
John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Design Solutions
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA
To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.
John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Design Solutions
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA
To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.
John,
Good comparison, but how much of that "million" was sold to themselves?
Matt Lorono
Lorono's SolidWorks Resources & SolidWorks Legion
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/solidworks & http://twitter.com/fcsuper
Good comparison, but how much of that "million" was sold to themselves?
Matt Lorono
Lorono's SolidWorks Resources & SolidWorks Legion
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/solidworks & http://twitter.com/fcsuper
JohnRBaker
Mechanical
At the time of that press release, we had been part of Siemens for barely a year. Note that our current press release 'boilerplate' now lists that figure at 6.7 million seats.
John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Design Solutions
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA
To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.
John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Design Solutions
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA
To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.
Curious, what is the staffing level for this PLM outside sales?
Matt Lorono
Lorono's SolidWorks Resources & SolidWorks Legion
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/solidworks & http://twitter.com/fcsuper
Matt Lorono
Lorono's SolidWorks Resources & SolidWorks Legion
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/solidworks & http://twitter.com/fcsuper
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