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Punch! Home & Landscape Design Suite with NexGen Technology |  | From: Punch! Software
Category: Software
List Price: $99.99
Buy New: $39.99
as of 9/9/2010 05:58 CDT details
You Save: $60.00 (60%)
New (17) from $39.99
Seller: deeper.life
Rating:  34 reviews
Format: CD-ROM
Platforms: Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows XP
Genre: Childrens Construction Software Games
ESRB: Everyone
Media: CD-ROM
Operating System: Windows Vista
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.3
Dimensions (in): 7.6 x 5.3 x 2.3
MPN: 20800
Model: 20800
UPC: 664446208002
EAN: 0664446208002
Release Date: October 20, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Features:
| • | In Quick start- Build a house in just 59 seconds! | | • | Building Green- Green features inculde eco-friendly tips & ideas that save energy and money | | • | Intelligent Room Detection- Complete automation that changes when you change the size or shape of your design, including the roof! | | • | Google 3D support- access millions of options for your design. | | • | Integrated Internet- Fina a local contractor, plotting service, or other support to complete your project. |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
This entry level home design package allows you to begin designing your dream home immediately. Drag and drop rooms into place, size to the appropriate dimensions, and easily build a roof.
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 34
 How to Install, Overall a good upgrade August 22, 2010
Special Kids (UT United States)
I had a little trouble getting this to install, so I included instructions below and also in the discussion section for this item. Because of this, I give it a 4-star rating. However, I am so far pleased with the product overall. I previously had a 2001 version of Punch Home Platinum, and when I got my Vista laptop I needed a new Home Design Software. Because of the large number of house plan projects I had from my old Punch! software I wanted something compatible. But I was concerned when I saw the large number of negative reviews of the new products. I decided to take a chance and I am so far glad I did. I am able to open all my old plans, and I enjoy the updated furnishings available in the new program. It does take a little getting-used-to to use the new controls, but I feel confident that I will be able to accomplish results better than what I could before.
This program DOES have a steep learning curve, especially if you are unfamiliar with Punch's previous products. There are a lot of controls to allow you to specify all kinds of object and wall characteristics. This lets you customize things, but it also requires you to tell the computer what to do-- if you expect the program to read your mind you will be disappointed! I have found the manual to be reasonably well-written and have no complaints so far, except that I wish I could do four-story house plans.
Here is how I managed to isntall this. I have Vista, and my disk kept spinnning but not installing. Once I researched the problem online, the actual installation procedure (below) took about 10 minutes. You might want to write down or print these steps for convenience.
1. Remove the disk from the drive.
2. Turn off the User Account Control (UAC). To turn UAC off:
.....a. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
.....b. Click User Accounts.
.....c. Click Turn User Account Control On or Off.
.....d. If it asks for your permission, click Continue.
.....e. Remove the check in the checkbox that says "Use User Account Control (UAC) to help protect your computer". Click OK.
.....f. Click Restart Now, or click Restart Later and close the User Accounts tasks window.
3. Restart your computer and go into Safe Mode.
.....a. Click Start, click the arrow, and then click Restart.
.....b. Before the Windows logo comes up, press and hold the F8 key. Select Safe Mode.
.....c. If that doesn't work, you can do an `emergency' reboot as follows (not recommended):
........i. Close all programs, so you can see your desktop icons.
........ii. Unplug your computer from the power source (and remove the battery for a laptop).
........iii. Plug it back in (and replace the battery). Turn it on.
........iv. When it powers up again, the startup screen should say the computer did not shut down normally and it will give you the option to start in Safe Mode.
4. Put the disk back in the drive. Install the software, following the on-screen instructions. If the disk spins but does not start installing, do the following:
.....a. Click Start, then click Computer.
.....b. RIGHT-click on the disk drive containing the disk.
.....c. Select "Install or Run Program". It should then start loading almost immediately. Follow the on-screen instructions.
5. Once the software is installed, shut down, and restart in normal mode.
6. Turn the UAC back on by following the steps in Step 2 but re-check the UAC box. Restart the computer to implement the change.
7. Click on the Punch! icon on the desktop (a silver, blue and green circle with a black P). Fill in your information to register your software. You will need an internet connection to register and receive a registration code. It is sent immediately as well as by email. Without this code the Save and Print functions will be disabled.
 Exceptionally hard to use June 30, 2010
SoftwareExpert
I'm a VERY experienced Windows user, and I found this product almost impossible to use. There are so many things wrong with this product, it's hard to organize my thoughts.
The installation instructions for Vista and Windows 7 are scary. I mean, why on earth would an application program need you to disable the normal security features of these systems? That's a tip-off that the programmers who built this product didn't really know what they were doing. I installed on an XP machine. But, given the security hacks needed for later systems, I'm a bit worried now that I installed a Trojan of some description. Registration required giving personal information to their web site, which I find intolerable -- if you own the disc, you own the product and should not need to tell them ANYTHING to make the product work. Needless to say, I gave bogus information to safeguard my privacy.
It took me a long time to figure out I needed to click the "Continue" button on the initial screen to get to the point where I could draw the bathroom I wanted to model.
The help screen insisted on overlaying the product window, so I couldn't easily switch between the two. This is a rookie programming mistake that should have been spotted early on in development.
Resizing the window moved my room out of view, and there were no scroll bars to clue me in to where it went. This is another rookie programming mistake.
While the product shows wall dimensions from the centers of walls, it paradoxically shows the dimensions of windows and doors from the OUTSIDE of the wall. This makes it hard to model a pre-existing room. The Help screen for walls refers to something called the "collapsable Edit Toolset," which I couldn't find anywhere.
After struggling for about 10 minutes, I still wasn't able to create a base cabinet without a wall cabinet to model my planned vanity. The product insisted on putting the drop-in sink next to the wall, and I couldn't move it. At this point, I had to give up.
Before purchasing this product, I read several reviews from people who either loved it or hated it. Sorry to say, I'm in the latter camp. I used to use a 16-bit Windows 3 program called 3D Home Architect. Clunky as it was, it had very useful camera and 3-D views that allowed me to quickly get a sense of the overall design. Luckily, I still have the original diskettes, and one of my computers still has a floppy drive. So maybe all is not lost.
A waste of my time May 11, 2010
LR (Santa Clara, CA United States)
I have never hated a piece of software so quickly. I'm getting a refund. I have a new computer running Windows 7, so any problems are not with my computer. Problem #1 - It took almost 15 minutes for the software to initiate installation. It seemed like it was a blank disc. Then, it took another 15 minutes or more to install. #2 - to use the product you must register it to get an authorization code, or use a limited 7 day trial. I wasn't pleased, but went through the registration process. #3 - I didn't really want to use their "Quick Start", but went through the process to generate a basic representation of my home's floor plan. That was simple enough and it did create a floor plan. However, 3D absolutely did not work. It would flash briefly on the screen and then the screen would go black. You need 3D to do any design work. #4 - I imported a photo of my house to see how that would work. That seemed to go ok and I got the 2D representation. Again, 3D didn't work. I tried using the icon & the menu option. The photo would flash briefly and then the screen would go black. The manual is not well written, so I gave up and submitted a help ticket. My time is valuable and I shouldn't have to spend hours to do something basic. #5 Tech support made a couple of suggestions but whether they were helpful or not, I couldn't tell. When I opened the program, there was the registration screen again. I pasted in the authorization code they had sent me the day before, but nothing happened. The registration box wouldn't accept the authorization code or allow me to use the program. (perhaps it sensed my hostility)
The company should send their programmers to some HCI conferences for serious education. Don't buy this product unless you have an unlimited amount of time to spend solving its issues. I would rather use Photoshop with a raging migrane, than waste any more of my time.
Don't waste your money!!!! April 6, 2010
Jaeger Dean
I bought the program with the intent of using it to build a garage. There is nothing user friendly about this program. It auto generates a hip roof on every design and there is no way to change it. Support is a joke. The help menu doesn't match the book and neither are user friendly. Regretably, I waited too long to install it and now I can't return it. Talk about a waste of money. I will throw it away so no one else will be supjected to it. Horrible, Horrible product!!!!
Doesn't matter the cost, don't do it. It aint worth it. April 2, 2010
P. HELCK (duckburg)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I wanted a tool that I could use to visualize my ideas for a home renovation, then translate those ideas into a set of meaningful actions. I found this program on ebay for $20.00 and bought it with that hope in mind.
This software is woefully underdeveloped by any standards. It sucks, in a word. You will spend many frustrating hours trying to nudge screwy walls and other objects into the right place, only to discover that it didn't matter. All it is is a bad version of "The Sims". You might get a pretty picture, but I promise you won't get any meaningful information about how to actually build anything using this program. It is a joke, really, not a useful tool.
There is a little bit of support, I got one question answered in a day; my second, more serious inquiry wasn't answered for a month, and the answer was inadequate. The truth is, they have no answers, once you catch on to what a P.O.S. this program is.
Add a few of the poorly rendered library objects, and watch the 3D walk through come to a screeching halt. Your computer will not have the horsepower to actually run this dog of a program if you perservere long enough to create a floorplan with a reasonable set of furnishings.
I am now exploring Chief Architect, which looks to be vastly more developed and functional. IMHO the development team at Punch should all get their own hot dog stands and pursue a career path they are more qualified for, this product is a non starter.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 34
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