Map Suite dares to challenge Manifold
Manifold GIS has been on the market for some time now, with some good references from highly credible users such as James Fee. And just a few days before the eastern conference for Manifold users, when typing in Google the word “Manifold GIS”, a tool appears that is presented as an alternative to Manifold, this is Map Suite.
In particular I find a good alternative for developing licenses for distribution, but I have my doubts for desktop work. Let's have a look.
1. In-service competition (Approved)
Manifold has a bizarre way of selling, and that is that you cannot download a 30-day trial version, but you have to buy it with the guarantee that if you are dissatisfied within 30 days, you will get your money back. But this is not liked by many people, so Map Suite offers a trial version for 60 days ... not bad, apart from that the support tokens with Manifold are paid, $ 20 for each query ... and don't ask too much that from time to time they are moodily.
2. Features (mmm…)
It does not look bad Map Suite, which offers different tools both user but mainly for developers. We can already see the James Fee Chris C, then has secured Who downloaded it to prove it.
Input offers tools for Pocket PC, desktop and web, then components for web services development and geocoding. Nice the diagram but we will have to look for the easiness, because that way of ESRI brochures is until you want to do something serious and you start to say that you have to buy more extensions.
Its structure is based on at least 4 levels of scalability and although it is not easy to make a comparison for the questionable nature of the Scalability of ESRI, let's see it from the point of view of a user that requires certain functions:
Do desktop GIS work, Map Suite Desktop. An equivalent of ArcView Desktop $ 1,500, or what we'd call Personal Manifold $245 (Not in capabilities, but in concept)
Map Suite Desktop is worth $ 4,995 ... chanfle!
Map services publication, Map Suite Web. An ArcIMS equivalent $7,000 Or Professional Manifold $295
Map Web Suite is worth $ 4,995 ... others !!!?
Develop applications, Map Suite Engine. An equivalent of ArcGIS Engine or Arc Editor $7,000 The Manifold Enterprise $395 (... not so equivalent in capabilities)
Map Suite Engine is worth $ 4,995 ... others more !?
Applications for PDA, Map Suite Pocket PC, Or an equivalent of ArcPAD, Manifold does not have an equivalent for this, apparently.
Map Pocket PC Suite worth $ 4,995
It is interesting the distribution licenses, that is, if you develop applications with this platform you do not have to pay runtime licenses as is the case in Manifold and ArcGIS, the plugins for managing renders and also the videos Demonstratives.
They also ensure that their components offer native .NET, pre-designed components and better handling of bulky data sets.
3. Price (Disapproved)
Manifold GIS Has the advantage of being one of the most economic and affordable tools.
But with those Prices, Map Suite does not guarantee anything,
Map Suite Desktop, $ 4,995
Map Suite Desktop $ 4,995.00
Map Web Suite $ 4,995.00
Map Suite Engine $ 4,995.00
Map Pocket PC Suite $ 4,995.00
Geocode USA 2.0 $ 4,995.00Render USA 2.1 $ 2,495.00
USA 2006 Data By County $ 495.00
USA 2006 Data By State $ 495.00
World Data $ 695.00
Map Suite Icon Library $ 295.00
Of course that's a lot cheaper than ArcGIS Engine or ArcGIS Server but even so they are outrageously expensive just for having the slogan "Microsoft Gold Certified Partner", total if not even Microsoft guarantees itself with Windows Vista.
Anyway, if you want to download the trial versions for 60 days, there they tell us.
Ah, I forgot, the service is better than Manifold, a pretty girl attends live, contrary to the ugly and grumpy Manifold support. Not worth $ 4,995 dollars, but it looks nice
Thanks Chris, the change is done. Maybe a confusion by the slogan “Free James” with “James Fee”
Do not worry, your Babel fish is beter than my spanglish
I am not an honorary of James Fee, I am Chris C.
sorry if that's bad Spanish, I used babel fish 🙂