Upgrade Signlab or Try New Software: Opinion Please

[Peter Normington]

Phil why not have a play with the latest demo version, see what advantages it offers over your present version, then you can see for yourself if it is worth upgrading, it does depend a lot on what applies to your particular type of work.

Peter

[Phil Grundy]

Hi Pete, i mainly do plain text and fit to big panels in a store, a few vans,poster type boards its all quite basic but i dont want to fall behind with the times. I have been told i should upgrade so not to fall behind, (by the supplier) what do you think.

[Colin Hibbitt]

Hi Phil,

Ive always worked with Signlab from 4.95 to version 5 to version 7 now onto version 7.1 print and cut
I would say if in the future you going into Print and Cut ie:digital printing then an upgrade is a must but if your just working with vinyl cut lettering then stay with what you got

I certainly found it worth while upgrading

Colin

[Alan Drury]

Difficult question, I upgraded to 7.1 and even though I’m a vinyl only guy I’m glad I did, little surprised at the price, it must have been on offer because I paid well less than £1000. I use shadows alot and this is loads better than V5 and of course if you upgrade your computer then V5 may not work reliably with XP. Obviously you could cross grade to Flexi or similar but in a few years may find yourself in the same boat, I think I would be inclined to see what Corel X3 had to offer. For sign and vehicle layout it is very good and files are easily transferred to SL for cutting or directly to the many cutting utilities the plotter manufacturers are producing.
X3 is relatively cheap and upgrading from a previous version makes it even more so, for added functions CoCut or similar will help.
If you particularly want to stay with Signlab (and the newer versions are better) I would shop around and see if you can thrash out a better deal.
Alan D

[Phil Grundy]

Cheers lads
Alan,
Have you any rough idea what i should be paying for the upgrade and is it cheaper to miss out cadlink.Also i am running the dongle on parallel port and most new pc’s do not have one, does the upgrade come with usb dongle.
Cheers Phil

[Nick Minall]

Have a look here…

http://www.impactgs.co.uk/offers.htm

[David Rowland]

I have to say that the reason we use Corel is its veristleness in Print, Vinyl, Router applications, although you have to use it with cocut or another product for cutting, its file compatibility helps us a lot.

[Brian Hays]

An upgrade from version 5.0 to 7.1 is between £500+vat & £650+vat depending on your package. Where did you get the £1000 from? 😮 It has never been anywhere near that much to upgrade.

[Alan Drury]

Phil, I upgraded with Brian, as for the dongle – I used the original parallel dongle, I’m pretty sure upgrades don’t come with a dongle and the usb ones are about £75ish I think – Brian’s your man to clarify.
Alan D

[Phil Grundy]

Brian i have 5 revision 6.3 expert ,xp,2.8 processor 1gb ram,Graphtec plotter on coms port. What do you think this will cost. The £1000 came from cadlink about 2 months ago.
Cheers Phil

[Brian Hays]

Phil it will cost £500+vat to upgrade to Vinyl Pro or £650+vat to upgrade to Print & cut. The upgrade to Print & Cut is worth doing if you are considering a Printer in the future. It will also be handy for producing artwork for other to print for you. If you don’t think you will be going that way then you are best to go to Vinyl Pro.

As Alan said you can update your dongle to a USB one for £75+vat.

[Phil Grundy]

Cheers Brian,
Sorry to be a pest but on the upgrade is it just a matter of loading a disc and all my files etc stay the same.
Cheers Phil

[Peter Normington]

Phill you install the upgrade as a new programme so keeping your old version installed as well. The older version may not open the files created with version 7 though. but all yor files stay where they are.

Peter

[Brian Hays]

Peter beat me to it Phil, it will install into a different folder. So you can leave your old version on until you get used to the new version. You will have no problems opening your old files. Installing is easier these days as you no longer have to type the passwords, they are all written on the installation cd. You will just need to set up tour plotter.

[Phil Grundy]

Cheers lads you’ve all been a great help, i think i will upgrade and stop being a tight Bas****.

Brian can i purchase the upgrade through you.
Cheer Phil

[Phil Grundy]

Peter how many years have you been in the game mate.

Phil

[Brian Hays]

Phil you can buy it from us, or any Cadlink dealer it’s up to you.

Cadlink don’t sell direct, although they do usually give people the correct prices. Not sure how come the price they gave you was so far out.

[Phil Grundy]

Brian
i am sure they said its because i have missed a couple of upgrades out

Phil

[Brian Hays]

They may have quoted the usual price to upgrade from version 3.1 to version 7.1 Vinyl Pro, that normally costs £1000+vat.

They have extended their summer offer to upgrade from any version to 7.1 Print & Cut for £650+vat though. It can save up to £850 on the normal price. 😎

The Print & Cut Package is £2250+vat to buy if you don’t have an older version, so it’s a very good deal for some users.

[Peter Normington]

quote Phil Grundy:

Peter how many years have you been in the game mate.

Phil

Im a newcomer, only about 10 or eleven years

Peter

[Phil Grundy]

quote Peter Normington:

quote Phil Grundy:

Peter how many years have you been in the game mate.

Phil

Im a newcomer, only about 10 or eleven years

Peter

I am a baby in the game then.

[Brian Hays]

Did you take the plunge Phil or still undecided? 🙂