Rating: 
Summary: The Trouble with Software
Review: Is that once you open it you can't return it. 3D Home Architect Deluxe 5.0 is completely useless for both a novice user like me AND I believe for an experienced user as well. My house has angled walls. I want to layout my basement but I can't figure out how to draw angled walls with this thing. Not user friendly at all and not very high tech either. I can draw a box with it and that is about it. I have puchased and used great user friendly software for business plans, accounting, tax prep, barcoding, graphics, etc. and I know how things should work. This ain't how, please don't waste your money.
Rating:
Summary: Crashes computer & poor customer service
Review: Unfortunately, when I downloaded this software to my computer, and I then used it for approximately five minutes, selecting items from the drop-down menus, and the program not only shut-down, but my computer shut-down displaying a blue screen saying something to the effect of, "data currently being dumped." I then opened the application again, worked in it for approximately five minutes, and the same thing happened. I then uninstalled the application, and re-installed it to make sure that I did not miss any important instructions. After the installation, I shut down my computer, as the instructions suggested, and opened the application. Again, I worked in it for approximately five minutes, and the application and my computer turned to the blue screen, and displayed the same message. I had then noticed that some Microsoft Word & Excel files that I had been working on previous to the installation of this software were no longer accessible, and was displayed an error message saying that they may be corrupt. I called their Customer Service line (319-247-3333) and told the person that, under your Satisfaction Guaranteed" policy, I wanted to return the software, even though it was outside of the 90-day return period. I was then told that my only option was to have someone in Customer Service troubleshoot this issue. They indicated that I had no other options since the 90-day period has lapsed. Although they have a 90-day return policy, the person I spoke with was not very helpful. Additionally, I requested to speak with the person's supervisor, and the person indicated that the supervisor would tell me the same thing, and strongly discouraged me from talking to their supervisor. Then, I indicated that I would send a letter, and the person asked what I wanted to include in the letter and discouraged me from doing so. I would NOT purchase this software.
Rating:
Summary: DO NOT BUY THIS PRODUCT
Review: There is a problem with this software regarding overlapping items - I tried to delete a wall that was partially overlapping another wall and every time I tired it caused my PC to crash. Broderbund are aware of this problem because they told me that the file had become corrupt because of this overlapping problem. In short, the software allows you to overlap an item which in turn may cause the file to become corrupt. I spent over 2 hrs talking to their technical dept. (they don't have an 800 number so you better have a good long distance plan!). I finally returned it and am waiting for a refund.
Rating:
Summary: WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON?
Review: One reviewer says that Broderbund denies that it published Version 5.0 ... is version 5.0 a counterfeit? I don't understand what happened but I do know that Version 5.0 is awful. It looks like it would take weeks to understand. I gave up, thinking that I would try again when I had more time. Luckily, I have since read the reviews here and can see that I wasted my money. Did Bruderbund really do this to us? I loved all the other versions, and put the Bruderbund website on my favorites list. I feel burnt.
Rating:
Summary: Don't buy this
Review: Do not buy this product. Especially if you are a user of version 4. Its impossible to list all the short comings. it is cumbersome. automatically asumes to much. way to complicated. You'll find online support to have missing and bad URL's. I used version 4.0 to design and build my daughters house and cabinetry. It is a lot freindlier. Version 5.1 is a night mare of menus. right and left clicks and digging for answers.
Rating:
Summary: Not even worth one star.
Review: The software is simply useless as is the Customer Service department and the "documentation." I spent lots of time trading emails with the "Office of The President" in an attempt to get some insight into this product. All I got was double talk and a chief technician who answered only the questions he wanted to - not the questions I needed answered- just the ones he wanted to. Even after I enquired about a refund I was told my purchase was made over 90 days ago. It didnt' matter that there was an update to the software which rendered it even more useless.
I had version 1.x which was a very bare bones version of this newest travesty written by a different set of software developers. It worked great. Don't waste your money on this or any other product Broderbund is hawking.
Rating:
Summary: Even Version 1.0 was better!
Review: After years on the shelf I dusted off the original version of 3D home Architect to draw some plans for a bathroom remodel. That old version ran amazingly well considering it was designed for Windows 95. Thirsting for more power, I ordered 3D Home Architect version 5.0. What a joke. This is probably the worst piece of software I have ever owned. All of the rendering capability is really neat, but when you cannot even finish a floorplan without endless complications, like pocket doors that place as double doors by default and then never return the space in the wall when you change to a single door, or like different dimensions when you automatically dimension exterior walls than you see when you try to drag a wall to edit it. I have spent an entire day with the program and have only finished the perimeter of my home. This program is a total waste, save your money.
Rating:
Summary: The pits
Review: I have version 4.0 and wanted more copies for my company. This is not what I expected. The feel is totally different. I could get around that if they had built on the past version. They did not. This is a less functional version for what I do which is create furnished floor plans of apartments people are moving into. Not a good choice for this function.
Rating:
Summary: extremely difficult to use
Review: If you're stuck w/this turkey, at least go to the Broderbund website and download [free of charge] version 5.1. It's not as easy to use at the older versions, but it may be the only way to make 5.0 useful.
Rating: 
Summary: Dissapointed. Is a whole new product- not a better version!
Review: When I got a new computer, I wanted to re-install my floor plan program, which was 3D Home Architect Deluxe 4 by Broderbund. I liked it, but I couldn't find the CD anywhere! So I go to the store and buy the version 5. I found it to be too hard to use. I really liked the way the old one worked, because the controls semmed intuitive. On this one, the process of putting in fixtures, rotating things, resizing things, are all a big pain. Maybe I am fighting the future by resisting this new version, but the reason I used the version 4 is because it was SO MUCH easier to use than the product from PUNCH! software. Now the new version is not the easier alternative. There needs to be an easy to use program out there, because I'm not a real architect, do I don't need serious architect software. I need a easy to use program. Here is some good news- if you liked the old one, Amazon.com offers the version 3 (which is the old style) in a "Jewel Case" release ... It is not as good as the version 4, ...
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