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Why should someone buy MapInfo?


Capricorn

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Hi people,

 

I've just installed MapInfo 15.2 x64 to setup some data for my friend using (in the firm he works with) legal MapInfo and all the time I have that feeling of something is missing or hidden in this software. I started using ArcView in 2001, and now for many years I use ArcGIS and QGIS, and also tried many others, including Geomedia Pro.

 

Is there any particular reason to buy MapInfo when QGIS is so good lately. I do not see anything that MapInfo has and QGIS doesn't have. Or I miss something? Even I am still much more productive in ArcView 3.3 then in MapInfo. My first experience of MapInfo was v7.0 and in that time it didn't look so simple to me.

I can't even get symbols scaling with zoom yet.

Edited by Capricorn
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Simple answer - ignorance and tradition.

 

To elaborate, if your workplace has only used MapInfo, if it's the only GIS software taught in school etc and you're not particularly interested in widening your horizons, then it is only way to get stuff done. Historically, MapInfo has been cheaper, so it is easier to find money in the budget also.

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jorrarro correct

 

it just a matter of feels, you said that you came from ArcGIS and Arcview users, that is the first barrier for you , you expect same function and tools just like arcgis/arcview.

 

the second one is the purpose, if you have a lot geoprocessing or analisis stuff, yeah you cant compare arcgis with mapinfo, but if you want to make a nice map, go for mapinfo.

 

but I found that the recent mapinfo have a really nice improvement, if you combine it with some extension like encom or some others , you got nice GIS Software suite

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MapInfo is getting bigger, heavier and slower and it just serves "information" as its name. Previously, it was good to use MapInfo for vector editing, map layer preperation, printing and database conversion. Nowadays, all these things can be done with QGIS or ArcGIS.

 

If it's fast, compact, light-weighted and cheap, MapInfo can be used for some standard GIS applications.

 

One important thing MapInfo is left behind other applications, which is "Internet" thing. Poor WMS, WFS and no WMST service with this app. Direct data format reading is poor as well. Of course, no raster processing is the biggest negative thing.

 

I prefer MapInfo to be compact and cheap, not like now.

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Thanks for your inputs people.

 

It is true that I come from Autodesk and ESRI World. I made thousands layouts in ArcView GIS and lately I made some identical (even better) in QGIS. In the era of ArcView GIS, MapInfo was good news for those wishing better Windows compatibility.

 

I won't talk here about ArcGIS, because I don't think MapInfo (or any other software) can be compared with ArcGIS.

I also know about strength of Encom products, and I understand those people using MapInfo with Encom.

 

To my mind, (I may be wrong or blind) QGIS is better then "core" MapInfo. That's where I want clarification.

I work in spatial planning firm, so final product for me is a map layout, not only analysis.

Edited by Capricorn
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in the mining industry we prefer mapinfo because its cheap and it has Encom Discover Module which is more oriented towards our industry. in your case maybe it boils down on usability or ease of use or whichever you are confident to use. in the mining industry Mapinfo alone without Encom discover is like having a car without an engine.

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I can tell that MI+Discovery is an  essential   tool in the exploration and mining industry.

Example: I can generate in less than a hour a grid for soil geochemistry and in the second hour to load in the GPS units the coordinates and send people to work.

No such module in Arc.  And  they are a lot of such specialized modules in MI/Discover

 

It is not about the core MI vs Qgis,it is about the final products.

Same in geophysics, you will never find Qgis or Arc, you will find products processed in Geosoft.....

Same in the oil industry. Other families, not Qgis or Arc

 

So, see what you are targeting...... 

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Hi juliusmall,

As I already said, I work in the field of urban planning and make final documents (spatial plans) with 20-25 layouts, so no sending data from me to others for further processing. I collect all the data (some of them I make myself, in many different applications) of an urban area and after making decisions I make maps and layouts. Layout is the final product for me. No layout = no plan. Finished layout becomes the part of law. That's why I talk about core products, because I think making GIS maps and layouts should be the basic part of them. Making layouts in QGIS became very easy and intuitive.

 
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@Capricorn

Perhaps you haven't understand.

I am not giving data to other to post processing. Just  sending people to work in the field according to our goals.

I suppose also your urban planing layouts are put in place by some people, starting with the architects, engineers etc and finishing with the last  shovel guy. 

 

I am returning to the definition: GIS.... Geographical Information Systems. That System from the end is including far, far more than a collection of maps, layouts, etc.

 

ArcInfo maybe it is ended far more powerful, full of  analyses capabilities, etc. But it was started on exclusive Unix machines.

At ESRI they recovered slowly, migrating late, during the end of '90 to Windows machines. But as you said, we have only the core.

Nothing to go, lets say, beneath the the surface. Of earth, water.....

 

@batiporky

Low technical users, loosing market ? :)

I know some attempt of ESRI  to enter on specialized markets...... and..... :)

So:

Exploration, mining: MapInfo/Discover (they are all now, ENCOM-Discover-MapInfo at the same company), Surpac, Vulcan, MicroMine

Oil (exploration-production): Petrel,  Kingdom

Geophysics: Geosoft, Surfer

Engineering: Underground water, foundations, etc

 

Just count the possible  business figures and try to find the ArcGIS or QGIS corespondent modules.

Also, you will discover that they are a lot of highly specialized "low level" experts  :) working in multi trillions industries.......

Successful, with high tech results..... and without ArcGIS or QGIS.

 

As I wrote before, beware to  what you are targeting, to the appropriate software.... and to the GIS definition

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This goes off the title topic ...

My specialization is HVAC, I also work in the field of civil/road design, photogrammetry, water supply, sewer and storm, 3d visualizations for architects (from 1996.), web design ...

These all have their specialized tools/software I use to make the job done.

But they aren't the topic either ...

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