Joe Zorzin wrote:
I just posted the following in comp.infosystems.gis.
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I'd really like ArcGIS (I'm a forestry consultant) but can't afford their
outrageous prices. So, I'm considering either MapMaker or Manifold. I've
downloaded the Gratis version of MapMaker and I'm having a problem getting
it to print- but I'm sure I could solve that problem if I really tried. I've
spoken to the company and they've shown an interest in helping to solve it.

I was hoping that Manifold had a similar stripped down program, but no luck
with that. Basically, I'd like to bring up ortho photos for a base map- use
GPS on property corners, then upload those to the photos- then layout cruise
plots which could then be downloaded to the GPS- use the software to do
stand typing, acreage calculation, etc.

I'd also use the GPS to track trails, etc. I don't think I really need
ArcGIS, other than it's the standard software and it would be nice to have-
it would almost certainly be overkill.

Any comments will be appreciated.


I use the updated Mapmaker for most things but it is an odd sort o
cludge sometimes. Sometimes it only prints the top layer. Arcview is
too expensive but has become the norm for natural resource agencies.
Everybody expects you to be able to read their shp files, same as
everybody expected AutoCad five years back. Haven't tried this but
their other stuff is top of the line:

http://www.cmtinc.com/nav/frprod.html