If there’s been something that’s troubled me of late, it’s where SpaceClaim fits into the 3D product development technology world. On one hand, the company has a fantastic product that, while still in its infancy, offers something different, something that, for a portion of potential users, is ideal.
On the other hand, the company itself has done itself very few favors. Bad marketing decisions are almost inevitable for anyone starting a new business, but when you’re trying to bring something ’sort of new’ to a mature market, then those mistakes are quickly become compounded.
Last year, the company went through a dramatic change, former CEO, Mike Payne, is out (but I’m told still present) and Chris Randles (formerly of Mathcad) is in – someone that has brought a new level of sensibility to the company, reigned things back in and the next rev. SpaceClaim looks like its finally getting its act together. Part of that repurposing process is that they’re relooked at how its products are packaged up and the new scheme makes sense – details are live today.
SpaceClaim is now available in two flavours: SpaceClaim Style and SpaceClaim Engineer. The basic difference between the two is functionality and cost. Engineer pretty much gets everything all in and costs $1,995 per seat (translators are not included in any package as is rendering). SpaceClaim Style ($895 per seat) and you’re missing Draughting, Sheet Metal, ECAD (IDF read), Model Clean up, CAE prep (model abstraction/defeaturing), no access to the API and no free home license.
No matter whether you’re using a mainstream modelling system, looking at 3D with fresh eyes, then you have to admit that this sort of price level is interesting and pretty attractive. While I’m never a huge fan of cut-down versions, the facts are that we’re talking about a $1,100 difference – in the grand scheme of things, that’s not a lot.
