Software cost difference： CST and XFDTD

Hi,

Why is so expensive the CST software vs XFDTD? Well, I have a demo version of XFDTD, one disavantage I saw so far is they don't have a far field radiation pattern. But this don't explain that CST cost the twice. Please can someone tell me why?

Best regards,

Mica

Software cost is a totally random number. The person who sets it takes a wild guess based on things frequently unrelated to reality. The idea is to plot a graph of sales volume vs cost and from this derive a plot of total revenue vs cost and pick the peak point. The trouble is the estimate for the volume can be way off.

I am reminded of a company that made a math program that only ran on the apple macintosh line of computers. They thought that their program was so superior to the others that they priced it at twice the cost of the others. They sold one program per month for many months until they had no funds and ceased to exist.

Thanks, good info. But, CST has a lot of users, I suppose because a lot of threads are refered to it. XFDTD is less expensive but I don't heared about this product (not as CST) , why? It must have something not usual?

Mica

Another question, I have saw a software Ansys with a module Multiphysics which solves EM problem. Does you guys familiare with this, not many thread on it ?

Mica

How easy is it to use? In general the cost and ease of use are proportional.

Is it easy to import geometries?
Is it easy to "tune" the geometry?
Is it easy to post process the solution?
Is it easy to export the solution to the circuit simulator?

Until the simulators cost more than salary, it is still more cost effective to buy an expensive but easy to use simulator than a cheap but difficult simulator.

A further aspect is that a company who wants to increase their market share will have low prices. After they get more customers they raise the prices for updates.

One example of this was Apple giving away programs with their early computers to help the hardware sales. After they had a larger customer base, they sold the programs. They also gave away early operating systems by having them included in the software sold by third parties. That way all computers had the latest operating system and would be compatible with the most recent software. Now they sell the operating systems as well.

Before you compare the software prices you should carfully evaluate all features which are included in the programs

Optimiser included in both programs? (CST Yes; XFDTD: don't know)
Advanced Geoemtry representation (CST: PBA, TST, Sub gridding; XFDTD: NO)
....

One certainly could extend this list...

F.

So far I beleive CST has the most extensive feature list. But still it lacks some very usefull features. hmm... maybe we shall make a wishlist for the next version of MWS.

Why not!

It's almost X-mas

F.

Hi,

just to join the club and express my bitter feelings about software companies. Two years ago my company bought really good workstations to run an EM simulator. The workstations were from the highest brand name company, cutting edge performance. I was surprised that the price of each was 5 times the one of the best PC in the company, I thought it was well overpriced. However, I was told that it is just the fraction of the price of the software licence plus support for one year. Indeed, it was, again, 5 times the price of a workstation!

Acctually the price of a software is arbitrary and unreasonably high but once you got it, the really big (and sweet!) money comes from the support fee. They are there to support you and answer your question. According from what I heard, most of the question to be resloved by the support are either the consequence of poor documentaton from the software company side or poor educational level of the user. It can really be rediculous what questions are asked (to make my point, there are no stupid questions, but there must be cheaper way to get answers than paying 10-15000 a year just to be able to chat with a support guy on a regular basis!)

About EM simulators, I have to express my disappointment with one more thing. That is, on all demonstrations and short tutorials you will be tought how to draw! Yes, you have to draw your structure to analize it, but I think this is much less the problem encountered with EM simulators as oposed to port definition, convergence, mashing etc. And you will hardly ever hear a word about this. So, read for yourself or pay the support, preferably both!

flyhigh

Hi flyhigh,

I do not support your comments. The market for a 3D field solver is certainly much smaller then the market for workstations or the market of standard software. EDA companies will never be able to sell millions of licenses because a housewife or policemen do not really need a 3D field solver?.

The EDA companies have to make their money out of this limited market. As a result, the software has to be this "expensive" (a relaitve term) in order to cover the developing and sales costs. If you think it is overpriced, why do you think your company bought an EDA tools ?

F.

Hi RF Simulator,

well, we all buy what we need to by, it is the way of doing things and living in a real world. Yes, you are right, the software companies have to earn money and someone will have to pay for it.

However, I know for sure that certan, highly rated company making and selling top class of EM planar simulator will adjust a price to enable legal usage of its software in the countries not on the top of technology ladder and certanly not on a top of economic welth, but full of capable and creative engineers. It is sold for 20% (!?) of original price. And there is still profit in this price. So, imagine the profit coming from the full price. Yes, I am very sure the profit is enormous and that the price is based on the estimate what the user is able and willing to pay, not anything to do with costs etc at all. It is a direct consequence of the targeted market - still promissing mobile phones, deffence etc. have enough money to pay any price. The final customer eager to play games, take and email photos and enjoy funny ringtones will carry that bill to the counter.

I don't think cutting edge PC workstation costing 6000 euro is something a houswife would appreciate wery much.

Anyway, my point was the support fee and bizare level training that comes with basic purchase to stimulate companies to go for it and buy it. Any additional training comes with the price too.

Speaking about some, not all of the available products, once you have enjoyed successful demonstrations and gave the money to have the software, you might be slightly disappointed with its reall capabilities (simulating in real time and testing on a real problem). Then support will advice you to get more memory or to go with non-housewife workstation. And you will. Yet again, you might end up disappointed! And you will come back to them. Yeah, this is very poor but we are aware of it, it will be improved in the new version. Please buy it and get support! We will teach you how to draw for free!

flyhigh