Rating: 
Summary: don't bother
Review: I have used several previous versions of this software with a fair amount of success, but Broderbund has now made it nearly impossible. There is no advantage to upgrading to version 5.0. Virtually all of the user friendly functions such as automatically inserting dimension lines are gone. Don't bother. If you could use this successfully, you wouldn't need it. You'd know real CAD. In a nutshell, I hate the new version.
Rating: 
Summary: Ignore the Competitor & His Ringers
Review: The program is not an "upgrade", nor does it claim to be. It is a sequential release (v5). Broderbund clearly states in their promo material and manual that v4 designs cannot be opened in v5. The other reviewer's use of this forum to sell his product is shamless! Home Architect 5 is an intuitive and powerful program. I orignally bought it to use ancilliary features only (like the Plant Encyclopedia), but was soon surprised at the powerful and full featured CAD engine lurking beneath the hood. Buy this program if you need it... and don't be put off by all these whiners who don't read the specs before they order.
Rating:
Summary: Don't be dumb like me...
Review: I wish I had read all the other reviews about this "product"...
I'm having the same disappointing experiences as other sorry reviewers... firstly, it installed ok on my windows-me box, but it wouldn't register online. Kept giving me errors every time, even after the suggestions provided on the impossible-to-find tech support web pages. Likewise, when I tried to get online help from the program off the "Help" pulldown, all I would get was an empty browser window going nowhere.
The first time I tried to make a 4-wall room, the program hung and had to be killed with ctrl-alt-del.
I poked around for a couple hours trying to find my way around, but having owned two previous versions of 3D-HA, I found all the tools in this "upgrade" and their behavior anti-intuitive (pronounced UNUSABLE).
Steer way clear of this one...
Rating:
Summary: not user friendly
Review: very hard program to use, difficult to access features, very comlicated
Rating:
Summary: Broderbund Bombs AGAIN
Review: Just installed "deluxe" 5.0 only to find (as have many others, it appears) that is is not an upgrade. This is not the first problem I've had with Broderbund software. However, this is the last time I'll ever purchase this brand!Wish I had checked out these reviews before I paid my $... to Broderbund for an "upgrade."
Rating:
Summary: Terrible Program
Review: As indicated by the other reviews, this is NOT an upgrade, but a totally different program. A complete, total, and utter waste of time and money. Stick to version 4.0.
Rating:
Summary: Very, very sad
Review: Do not buy this product. It is NOT the next gen of the previous version. I have never, ever been so completely unhappy with a software purchase before in my life. And forget about tech support... all they do is try to sell you an upgrade. *sigh*
Rating:
Summary: Please do not buy
Review: All they had to do is update the library with a broader range and more contemporary items. The interface should have never been touched. Unfortunately this is near impossible to use.
Rating:
Summary: So close, and yet so far
Review: This software makes me sad because it demonstrates that the technology is available to do some pretty advanced designing on a desktop pc now. However, the interface for creating is HORRIBLE, and worse yet the "help" is woefully inadequate. Considering the crummy approach to creating and editing objects in a project, you would at least expect some lengthy help and examples - well forget it. All I can say is that it's a shame because Cadsoft seems to have tremendous quantity and types of details available - it just takes way too darn long to figure out how to actually add/manipulate them. In some cases, I honestly don't think it's possible at all. I've been trying to give my roof gable ends on BOTH ends (not just one) for like an hour now - I swear it isn't possible. Finally, the 3D rendering is great - and yet they managed to completely screw up the controls for it, so trying to do something simple, like scan around the perimeter of your house that you've designed, is more like trying to use your mouse to land a single-engine cesna in a wind storm. I wish Cadsoft would have partnered with microsoft or some company who can actually write good windows software rather than broderbund - I think that would have helped a lot.
Rating: 
Summary: Don't buy it
Review: This program is not an update of 3D Home Architect 4.0. It is an entirely different program. A program that appears not to be able to run for more than a few minutes without locking. If you are thinking of upgrading from an earlier version I would not recommend it.
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