X3 Upgrade, is it worth it - Engraving Etc. Forum

<body> <h1>Full Version: <a href="https://www.engravingetc.org:443/archive/index.php?webtag=EE&msg=4499.1">X3 Upgrade, is it worth it</a></h1><a name="a4499_1"></a><p><b>From: Zelmon</b> [<a href="lmessages.php?webtag=EE&msg=4499.1">#1</a>]<br /> 1 Aug 2006<br /><b>To: ALL</b></p> <p>Question for engravers using Corel X3, and specifically bitmap to vector conversion. If you were previously using v11 or v12 do you consider the upgrade to x3 worth the effort and cost ? Are the new tools and re-vamp a worthwhile bonus over v12?<br /> Reason I ask, X3 for me is a big cost as I need a new mega computer to run X3 so it needs thought....</p> <p>Simon Cork<br /> Sheffield UK</p> <hr /><a name="a4499_2"></a><p><b>From: gingem</b> [<a href="lmessages.php?webtag=EE&msg=4499.2">#2</a>]<br /> 1 Aug 2006<br /><b>To: ALL</b></p> <p>Hi Simon<br /> I personally think that X3 is the best in a long time. Some feature changes that might take a little getting used to (text along a path) but once you get used to it it is great. The new trace feature for most is worth the upgrade by itself.</p> <hr /><a name="a4499_3"></a><p><b>From: Mike (MIKEN)</b> [<a href="lmessages.php?webtag=EE&msg=4499.3">#3</a>]<br /> 2 Aug 2006<br /><b>To: ALL</b></p> I upgraded a few months back and I must admit I still use v. 11 for my daily work but......X3 was worth the price because of the improved file import issue and because of Trace which is a huge improvement over previous versions. <hr /><a name="a4499_4"></a><p><b>From: logojohn</b> [<a href="lmessages.php?webtag=EE&msg=4499.4">#4</a>]<br /> 2 Aug 2006<br /><b>To: Zelmon</b> [<a href="lmessages.php?webtag=EE&msg=4499.1">#1</a>] 2 Aug 2006</p> I went from v11 ot x3 several months ago.<br /> I don't use 11 anymore except for testing compabitality.<br /> <br /> The tracing is vastly improved but I have only been able to use it a few times. Most of our art is coming in as vector eps files. Most of the other people only have a business card or low res jpg that isn't good enough to be traced automatically.<br /> <br /> But the biggest benefit and reason for me to upgrade was to be able to import/open customer files, many of which were done with new versions that wouldn't open/import on ver 11 anymore.<br /> <br /> <br /> . <hr /><a name="a4499_5"></a><p><b>From: Josh (WIZURD)</b> [<a href="lmessages.php?webtag=EE&msg=4499.5">#5</a>]<br /> 2 Aug 2006<br /><b>To: ALL</b></p> <p>Not to be repetative but x3 is great. The trace feature saves us a lot of time and comes "pretty close" on most logos. We have had a couple of issues when trying to trace on computers with less RAM but have upgraded those computers and the problems have slipped away.</p> <p>Even one of my engraver who thinks every change I made is a bone-headed decision thinks that x3 is a vast improvement!</p><hr /><a name="a4499_6"></a><p><b>From: Pedaler (ROYBREWER)</b> [<a href="lmessages.php?webtag=EE&msg=4499.6">#6</a>]<br /> 2 Aug 2006<br /><b>To: Zelmon</b> [<a href="lmessages.php?webtag=EE&msg=4499.1">#1</a>] 2 Aug 2006</p> Simon,<br /> <br /> I believe I understand you to say that if you go to X3 you've got to upgrade your hardware. The $139 that the upgrade costs is rather a no brainer. But $1,000+$139USD for PC and upgrade is borderline.<br /> <br /> I'll say that you darn sure don't want to get rid of 12 since it will still open some files that X3 can't; and, there are a few other areas in which we've lost precision abilities.<br /> <br /> Some of the new capabilities are enormous, however. In my case, SmartFill tool, Fillet,Scallop,Chamfer, better aCAD import improved "connect all loose ends" give us significant precision capability we have not had and each of these are used at least once an hour.<br /> <br /> Lastly, I strongly agree with LogoJohn, I don't like to tell my clients that I don't have the latest technology and ask them to step it down to an older version before sending. <hr /><a name="a4499_7"></a><p><b>From: Zelmon</b> [<a href="lmessages.php?webtag=EE&msg=4499.7">#7</a>]<br /> 2 Aug 2006<br /><b>To: ALL</b></p> <p>Thanks for the replies, all advice taken on board. Reference your comment Roy re-prices, perhaps the UK is a tad cheaper ?? I'll check out the bog standard Dell workhorse model and post the price up, just for a comparison. As a general rule with software / computers I have found that upgrades are inevitable ....eventually, otherwise we would all be in W95 territory.<br /> I also seem to be getting more EPS files this past year, do not really know why, not a problem though, let someone else sit with a wacom pen wafting around in a sweaty grip.</p> <p>Simon Cork<br /> Sheffield UK</p> <hr /><a name="a4499_8"></a><p><b>From: Dave Jones (DAVERJ)</b> [<a href="lmessages.php?webtag=EE&msg=4499.8">#8</a>]<br /> 3 Aug 2006<br /><b>To: Zelmon</b> [<a href="lmessages.php?webtag=EE&msg=4499.7">#7</a>] 3 Aug 2006</p> <p>This spring I bought a Dell with a P4 - 2.8Ghz, 1GB RAM, 80GB HD, CD-RW drive and 17" LCD monitor for a hair over $500. It handles X3 quite well.</p> <p>It's not my main design computer, just one to sit in the laser room, but I do a lot of touchups and tweaks on it using X3. My main design computer is a dual Xeon 3.2Ghz, 2GB RAM, dual 250GB RAID drives, and dual 21" monitors with a graphics card that by itself cost almost 3 times what the Dell cost. But I use that for pc board CAD, Lightwave, and a lot of other graphics work besides X3.</p><p class="edit_text">EDITED: 3 Aug 2006 by DAVERJ</p> <hr /><a name="a4499_9"></a><p><b>From: Goodvol (JIMGOOD)</b> [<a href="lmessages.php?webtag=EE&msg=4499.9">#9</a>]<br /> 3 Aug 2006<br /><b>To: ALL</b></p> Tigerdirect.com has some good prices on computers and peripherals. It's worth taking a look.<hr /><a name="a4499_10"></a><p><b>From: Awardsguy</b> [<a href="lmessages.php?webtag=EE&msg=4499.10">#10</a>]<br /> 5 Aug 2006<br /><b>To: ALL</b></p> Dell has made me a couple of good deals this year. Got a new desktop with flat panel and a new notebook for a total of about $850. Good features on both. As for X3, I think it's worth the upgrade. Really like the Trace improvements. It's save me a bunch of time. <hr /><a name="a4499_11"></a><p><b>From: Johnny Orange (LIFETIME)</b> [<a href="lmessages.php?webtag=EE&msg=4499.11">#11</a>]<br /> 5 Aug 2006<br /><b>To: Zelmon</b> [<a href="lmessages.php?webtag=EE&msg=4499.1">#1</a>] 5 Aug 2006</p> x3 is a good to me. I find the <b>create a boundary </b>a big step as I cut out a lot of graphics from acrylic and then fix them on a plaque using spacers between the plaque and acrylic. looks superb. Many other features as well. The question you should be putting to yourself "Can I afford not to have it" Keep up with tech mate <span class="e_smile" title=":-)"><span class="e__">:-)</span> </span> <hr /><a name="a4499_12"></a><p><b>From: Zelmon</b> [<a href="lmessages.php?webtag=EE&msg=4499.12">#12</a>]<br /> 6 Aug 2006<br /><b>To: ALL</b></p> <p>OK so here goes with UK prices for you yanks, not that it is an issue on this forum, just for interest. I thought, for some reason a Dell computed in the UK would be cheaper, but it is not. In fact we are an expensive country and taxes are high, though this post is non political!! Assuming $1.78 to ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â£1 then :<br /> Petrol is $1.66 per litre or about $7.5 for an English gallon, of which 85% is tax. A meal for two in a decent restaurant in an average town with a bottle of wine would be $75, I dread to think what central London would cost, I never go there. A decent seat for a top West End show (like a Webber production) would be $80 just for the ticket, so two people for a meal, drinks, show and taxis in the West end, take $400 with you<br /> To heat an average house for the year, most people have gas, would be $1100. An average 4 door mid size car from a reputable European manufacturer would be $14k and a Toyota RAV 4 which I know you have over there is about $35k. For me to fly to Vegas next February, well Manchester via Atlanta return on Delta would be about $575 inclusive.<br /> Computers, I could only just manage a very basic Dell for $500, that might have a 15" flatscreen, but for some reason Dell assume 3.5 inch floppies were never used in the UK, cos we have to pay $25 for a floppy drive. The price look good in the adverts, but they add things on, like delivery at $65, I can get a computer size box/weight next day delivery in the Uk for about $20<br /> As for a Dell with plenty of RAM and a big screen, well it has got to be a bit over the $1k mark, but not by much<br /> Corel X3, well I have located an academic version for ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â£85 plus delivery at say ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â£5 making a dollar total of $157, but for that you get no book, which I am not bothered about, because I think the Corel manuals are rubbish actually</p> <p>So there you have it, if you fancy a holiday in the UK, bring some dosh</p> <p>Simon Cork<br /> Sheffield UK</p><p class="edit_text">EDITED: 6 Aug 2006 by ZELMON</p> <hr /><a name="a4499_13"></a><p><b>From: Dave Jones (DAVERJ)</b> [<a href="lmessages.php?webtag=EE&msg=4499.13">#13</a>]<br /> 6 Aug 2006<br /><b>To: Zelmon</b> [<a href="lmessages.php?webtag=EE&msg=4499.12">#12</a>] 7 Aug 2006</p> <p>Some of those prices are inline with ours, some are certainly higher. Broadway plays cost 30% more than the same ones in the West End. A high end bottle of Scotch costs about the same here, but good wine might be 2 or 3 times higher here.</p> <p>Most computer companies here stopped including floppies a year or two ago. I guess they feel people mostly use CD-R for computer to computer, or have a LAN.</p> <p>Many European countries charge high import duties on anything electronic. Even before all this RoHS/WEEE crap went into effect. Now with the added EU regulations on disposal of electronics, it has become very expensive for companies to sell electronics in Europe. (I manufacture electronic equipment and between CE, RoHS, and import duties, I have to charge almost double to sell over there)</p> <p>For a lot of electronics we also have the economy of scale, with 5 times the population of the UK.</p><hr /><h4><a href="lthread_list.php?webtag=EE">Back to thread list</a> | <a href="llogout.php?webtag=EE">Login</a></h4> <h6>© 2025 <a href="http://www.beehiveforum.net/" target="_blank">Project Beehive Forum</a></h6> </body>