UGS NX 5: Does it Have to Cost So Much?

With ease of use improvements in its latest software, UGS seems not to be content with just jousting with high end CATIA and Pro/E but seems to want to take on SolidWorks, Inventor  -- even its own Solid Edge.

But with a starting price of $8700 (in US*) NX 5 is about twice the starting price of midrange MCAD products.

UGS deals with many Fortune 500 companies. For example, UGS has 30,000 seats in General Motors. UGS would argue that its users are not price sensitive. Large firms may consider design software that costs around $10K or above the cost of doing business. Also, companies that only a decade ago paid $20K per seat will think $8700 is quite an improvement.

But what of the ma and pa operations, the 10 engineer firms? For TenLinks new service, Innovate3D, the cost of acquiring licenses of CAD software was far and away the biggest single cost of setting up the operation. In fact, we are limited in the amounts and types of services we can offer because of the cost of software.

Despite the push towards the SMB market, it's hard for me to see NX 5 becoming the dominant player with the existing price structure. As the CAD market becomes increasing global, the path to world domination must include a cost that is low enough to be absorbed by small businesses, both domestic and overseas.

*UGS has mentioned a lower cost in foreign markets but at as of this time no price list has been provided.

Comments

[Peak]

hey suddenly all the CAD developing teams are moving to the same User Interface system and the same technology "Explicit Designing", Hey who initiated it? Please let me know the market rates of these cool softwares, some are mentioning NX to be cheaper, well they have many competitors and a new name SPACECLAIM. hope someone can really tell me the truth about it, everyone is claiming that they are the pioneers of this technology.

[Peak]

hey suddenly all the CAD developing teams are moving to the same User Interface system and the same technology "Explicit Designing", Hey who initiated it? Please let me know the market rates of these cool softwares, some are mentioning NX to be cheaper, well they have many competitors and a new name SPACECLAIM. hope someone can really tell me the truth about it, everyone is claiming that they are the pioneers of this technology.

[Peak]

hey suddenly all the CAD developing teams are moving to the same User Interface system and the same technology "Explicit Designing", Hey who initiated it? Please let me know the market rates of these cool softwares, some are mentioning NX to be cheaper, well they have many competitors and a new name SPACECLAIM. hope someone can really tell me the truth about it, everyone is claiming that they are the pioneers of this technology.

[Peak]

hey suddenly all the CAD developing teams are moving to the same User Interface system and the same technology "Explicit Designing", Hey who initiated it? Please let me know the market rates of these cool softwares, some are mentioning NX to be cheaper, well they have many competitors and a new name SPACECLAIM. hope someone can really tell me the truth about it, everyone is claiming that they are the pioneers of this technology.

[Jason]

More than that unless the Nx5 pricing has changed greatly. There are a lot of modules in UG and no one would need them all...Automotive stuff, Cam, FEA, wiring, etc.

[ralphg]

Anil:

$22,000, I believe -- similar to Pro/E and Catia with bells + whistles.

[Anil]

Have any Idea how much UGS NX5 cost with all the modules?

[Jason]

Dave, a lot for your bucks? They charge an arm and a leg. An entry level UG bundle doesn't do everything Solidworks does yet costs twice as much.

Overall, UG does more...but you are really going to pay for it. Luckily, most people don't need everything UG does....so why pay for it.

[Dave Cuttlebuck]

Hey Andy, fair comment about Works beleiving they are dominant - but who's technology is it built on? Why, UGS's.
Yes, NX5 is pricey, but you get a lot for your bucks.

[andy clarke]

remember guys, the dominant player in the smb market is solidworks, the ease of use and pricing structure cannot be matched, leave the price where it is on ug, small businesses see ug as a big player at big money anyway and that will not change in the next few years ,they should stick to what they know!