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Advantage has analysed data from its CAD/CAM User Site database
on the Architectural sector over a three-year period. The years
analysed are 1997, 1998 and 2000 and are based on a minimum of 180
interviews in each of the three years.
The data relates
to Operating Systems, CAD software (top 10 brands), number of
CAD seats, Hardware and PC brands.
Operating
Systems
In 1997, Windows
95 was the leading Operating System in the sector used by almost
half of the sites sampled. Windows 3.1x and DOS were used by a
quarter of the sites, while the Apple MAC was present in one in
four sites. Windows NT (12%) and UNIX (4%) were also used by Architectural
sites in 1997.
In 1998 there
was a decline in the use of DOS and Windows 3.1 among Architectural
sites. Use of Windows 95 and Windows NT remained practically the
same. A quarter of sites were using the Apple MAC as their OS.
Ten percent of sites had installed Windows 98 shortly after its
launch that same year.
In 2000, as
would be expected; DOS and Windows 3.1 almost disappeared as the
Operating System in the Architectural sector. Despite a decline
in use over 1998, Windows 95 was still used by a third of sites
in 2000. Windows 98 was by then installed in over a third of sites,
while the Apple MAC remained used by almost a quarter of sites.
Use of Windows NT doubled from the 1998 figures and in 2000 was
installed in a quarter of sites.
The chart
below shows the Operating Systems used during 1997, 1998 and 2000
by the Architectural sector.
Software
Brand
AutoCAD is
the leading software brand used in the Architectural sector
with over half of sites using this product in 1997 and 2000.
AutoCAD LT is also commonly used in the sector with over 40%
of sites using it in 2000.
One in five
sites used MiniCAD in 1997 and 1998; however, usage of this software
declined in 2000 and was used by one in ten sites.
Other leading
software brands used in the Architectural sector include the AutoCAD
add on AEC, MicroStation, TurboCAD, ArchiCAD, FastCAD, 3D Studio
and Architectural Desktop. Of course, some architectural practices
use other software packages in addition to those used exclusively
for architectural design.
The chart
below shows the top brands used in the Architectural sector in
1997, 1998 and 2000.
Number
of CAD Seats
The most common number of CAD seats per site in the Architectural
sector is two to five. In 1997, 45% of sites fell under this band,
growing to 46% in 1998, and 50% in 2000.
Sites with
only one CAD seat are also common accounting for a third of Architectural
sites. One in ten sites in the sector have from six to ten CAD
seats. In 2000, 7% of Architectural sites had from 11 to 25 seats.
The chart
below illustrates the number of CAD seats used in the Architectural
sector over 1997, 1998 and 2000.
Hardware
Platform
PCs dominate the Architectural sector as hardware platforms. In
1997, 75% of sites used PCs as their main platform increasing
to 83% in 2000. Apple MACs are also a common hardware platform
in the sector installed in a quarter of sites.
Workstations are installed in only 5% of sites.
The chart
below shows the hardware platforms used during the three years
analysed.
PC
Brands
Of the leading brands, Gateway has gained considerable market
penetration since 1997, and in 2000 was used by over a third of
Architectural sites. Other leading PC brands in the sector are
Dell, Compaq and HP.
However, overall,
non-leading brands, referred to here as "clones", have,
since 1997 been used in over half of all sites.
The chart
below looks at the leading PC brands used in the Architectural
sector in 1997, 1998 and 2000.
Further
Information
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