MasterCAM
Even though MasterCAM has been marketing Windows software for many years, the cat is finally out of the bag in an official way. The MasterCAM that you have today is not Windows-based software. This year, MasterCAM-X was unveiled to address the growing concerns of interface ease of use and functionality. The name choice was very interesting considering that Esprit just dropped their name of Esprit-X within the last few years.
Complete with a new booth and new uniforms, MasterCAM-X could not be missed. The software kiosks looked like machine tool stations complete with computer and monitor to make you feel like you were still at work. Viewing a demonstration of MasterCAM-X, the software unfortunately shut down mid-way through. It should be understood that "X" is not completely ready, and will not be released until the bugs are ironed out.
In my discussions with the MasterCAM personnel, I was assured that customers would still receive the same level of support for the older software. I was also instructed that the posts from the older system will still work with the newer software. This remains to be seen since pre-release information is usually different than what actually happens once new software hits the street.
Another concern is the functionality inside the new software. Will MasterCAM-X hold a candle to the legacy MasterCAM software? What about third-party add-ins? These questions were asked, but the answers left me thinking about the outcome. MasterCAM-X is being taken very seriously by the company, however, so it will be interesting to see how the new interface is received by the many users of MasterCAM that have grown accustomed to their legacy look and feel. |