Path: utzoo!censor!geac!torsqnt!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!samsung!munnari.oz.au!brolga!bunyip.cc.uq.oz.au!lance!kirk!cameron
From: cameron@kirk.nmg.bu.oz (Cameron Stevenson)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: Cad??
Message-ID: <2658@kirk.nmg.bu.oz>
Date: 5 Dec 90 01:13:26 GMT
References: <90338.000430JKT100@psuvm.psu.edu>
Organization: Network Management Group, Bond University, Australia
Lines: 47

From article <90338.000430JKT100@psuvm.psu.edu>, by JKT100@psuvm.psu.edu (JKT):
> I've been TRYING to get the company I work for (Bentley Systems, an
> Intergraph affiliate) to port MicroStation to Amiga.  Unfortunately,
> it's not anti-Amiga bigotry that prevents them from doing the port,
> but finances.  CAD software is incredibly complex, and porting
> MicroStation over to Ami would require that someone give Bentley
> Systems a couple hundred thousand dollar kick in the wallet.  :-(
> They estimate the conversion from PC to Mac will cost over half a
> million, so it is not reasonable to think the Ami port would
> be much cheaper.
> 
> Suffice it to say that if MicroStation WERE ever ported to Ami,
> the Amiga CAD market would be wrapped up right there and then.  ;-)
> This program actually makes the PC look good, and it takes a lot
> for me to say that!
> 
>                                                             Kurt
> --
All I can say is: "Kurt, keep trying, man!"

I agree totally with him about MicroStation. It really does fly as a CAD
package (we use it on ALL the platforms it is available for), and does indeed
make the PC look good (especially the new V4.0). It has all the features I 
was talking about for a CAD package for the Amiga, and I am sure it would
bottle up the Amiga CAD market if it was ported (especially considering the
way Bentley have carried out their previous ports - very thorough adaptation
of the hardware's OS and operating principles, while maintaining command
compatibility across all platforms. Incidentally, I am sure this is why it
cost so much to port to the Mac: a lot of research and programming effort
went into ensuring that the product would conform to the unique way Mac's and
their users operate. I don't THINK it would be as expensive to port to the
Amiga. At worst case, porting the UNIX/X version shouldn't be all that hard:-))

With all the talk about the A3000, the A300UX, CBM advertising, and
CBM buying good commercial software, perhaps here is an ideal opportunity
for them (are you listening CBM guys??). MicroStation is a very strong CAD
package (has 2nd position in market share for PC based CAD packages I believe),
the Amiga is a good, fast platform, there is a gaping hole in the Amiga's
avaliable applications, and Bentley Systems may be tempted to do a port with
the right sort of incentive (they have at least one senior programmer apart
from Kurt who knows the Amiga well).

Today's dream.............

Cameron Stephenson                    ph +61 75 951220
Bond University
Gold Coast    Australia