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First the disclaimer - I work for a MapInfo VAR
and we have an ATC (Authorized Training Center).
With
that said, whether ERSI, MapInfo, Maptitude, Mamifold, etc.... if you intend to
be a power-user, or need a team of strong users,
it
is essential to budget in training as well. I've taken and taught
training on both sides (MI & ESRI). GIS, however convincing the
marketing blush,
is a
complex and difficult field for new users. Just understanding the concepts
(and limitations) of geographic analysis takes time to
digest.
Its only user friendly if the user has a
clue.
Where
time is money and a limited resource, good training class can
save you hours of wasted project time
with
an ever-approaching and unforgiving deadline. Even if you later switch
products, a firm grasp of GIS concepts makes
learning
competitor software much easier. Will any of us
be using the same software in five years? Doubtful.
Eventually the GIS user is powerful, and the software
just a tool.
When
budgeting for software, budget for GIS training as well. It will
pay for itself tenfold regardless of the final product
choice.
Dick,
Perfectly put. Very few of us use anywhere near the potential of
any software; we learn what is necessary to do our tasks and complete our
mission.
It is great to be innovative but a couple of old expressions sum up the
risk..."The first guy on the beach gets the bullet" and "The leading edge of
the sword has the most nicks."
I like to remember the lesson of Levi Strauss. As thousands
gallumphed into the western horizon to grab the first chunk of gold, Levi
loaded his goods in a slow wagon team and followed to sell them the standard
commodities they would still need.
My cost of maintaining various editions of MI, with V
Mapper and data versus Maptitude and Surfer 6 and 7 and both product's
programming languages is 8 to 1. MI is around because my users had MI -
although no longer - ESRI made them a deal they couldn't refuse. So maybe I
won't upgrade. However if you have a job to do, saving money on software and
upgrades can certainly be a false economy. It of course depends on the job.
However, not every GIS user is a developer, or ever cares
to make a GIS app beyond using the programming language to automate their
own task to support. There are a lot of people who need almost industrial
strength GIS tools to work on particular problems and get things done.
Maptitude and Manifold could fill this void. What I hear from Manifold and
Maptitude sure indicates that they are not exactly stuck ... new things are
going to appear which I don't think ESRI or MI are capable of doing now
because they are "stuck" in a GIS paradigm that won't be here in 5 years.
Of courser, it depends on what you need to do, and I would
submit that a whole lot of people are spending $1400 when they could be
spending $400. Seems that MI is not exactly preparing for when folks figure
that out.
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, May 11, 2000 3:06 PM
Subject: RE: MI Best GIS for dollar
> For what it's worth -
>
>
Overall, I have to agree that Maptitude is the best generic GIS value.
Great
> data set, good functionality, fabulous import/export
capability, built in
> routing, etc.
>
> But there are
still plenty of reasons to go with other more expensive packages.
>
> A major factor in deciding which GIS use for many of us is the 3rd
party tools
> available. Mapinfo and Arcview both have hundreds
of free public domain
> utilities and programs available, and dozens
more for sale. Practically any
> vertical market need a user
has, from site selection to watershed analysis, has
> been covered by
the third party developer and VAR channel.
>
> Maptitude is
really deficient here, even though the package has a good
>
programming language. Maptitude's sale price is so low that Caliper
can't
> afford to have a decent reseller program (nor have they ever
tried hard to
> cultivate one), which forces them to try to do
everything in-house. Hence, they
> have a good generic package,
but very little vertical market tools or
> penetration. Routing
applications are the one exception, which Caliper has
> developed
in-house.
>
> And there's something to be said for critical
mass. ESRI and Mapinfo have most
> of the market share, most of
the trained GIS users, and most of the installed
> base. If your
company is making mission critical decisions with GIS, and you
> need
to find trained GIS users with experience in your particular industry,
the
> extra expense of going with an established market leader is
inconsequential
> compared to the risk of making bad operational
decisions by trying to save a few
> bucks up front.
>
>
Berk Charlton
> Geographic Marketing Solutions.
>
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> >
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On
Behalf Of Leore, Robert
> > Sent: Thursday, May 11, 2000 9:41
AM
> > To: MapInfo-L
> > Subject: RE: MI Best GIS for
dollar
> >
> >
> > Maptitude by Caliper is the
best GIS for the dollar. At US$395 it is the
> > cheapest
path to a full-featured GIS. I used to use MI but I now use
>
> Maptitude and its big brother TransCAD exclusively. Check these
programs
> > out at www.caliper.com.
> >
> >
Bob
> >
> >
> >
> > > > Hi
Everyone,
> > > >
> > > > I have been reading
the threads on MI and ArcView in the same office and
> > >
am
> > > > interested in peoples opinions as to value.
I am considering purchase
> > > of a
> > > >
GIS but would like info on value vs functionality.
> > >
>
> > > > Can anyone suggest a GIS system that gives the
best 'bang for your buck'
> > > > for business applications
such as demographic studies, network analysis
> > > and
>
> > > has decent spatial modeling capabilities? Map Design and
layout
> > > > capabilities are important also.
> >
> >
> > > > I have used ArcInfo and ArcView but realise
there are other systems such
> > > as
> > > > MI,
Esri Atlas GIS and Manifold. Unfortunately, as everyone knows
many
> > > > systems lack basic functionality required to
complete a project and
> > > either
> > > > you
need to buy expensive 'add-on' modules or use a different program to
>
> > > complete the project.
> > > >
> >
> > For example, what does the Esri Atlas GIS give that you cannot do
with
> > > > ArcView and a business add-on? Manifold claims
it does way more than MI.
> > > > Are there users experienced
with several of these systems that could
> > > shed
> >
> > some light on the relative strengths and weaknesses of these
systems?
> > > >
> > > > Is one of these
systems head and shoulders above the rest?
> > > >
>
> > > Thanks in advance,
> > > >
> > >
> Shepherd Stewart
> > >
> >
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> >
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> >
>
>
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