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Spatial News Review
Mapinfo vs ArcView by: GeoCommunity Staff (April 1999) editor@geocomm.com Boy, I didn't know what I was getting myself into when I posed the question: "What do you think are the pros and cons of Mapinfo and ArcView. If you responded to me don't be upset because I didn't reply - my mailbox has been very full for the past 3 weeks! Let me start by clarifying a few things. I did not specify what versions I am comparing so keep in mind that many people are griping about Mapinfo 4.5 and ArcView 3.0 issues when there are fixes to their problems in the latest version. In case you're not aware, both products released upgrades last year - Mapinfo 5.0 and ArcView 3.1.I feel its worthwhile hearing from the MI 4.5 and AV 3.0 users because there are many users that have not upgraded yet. Products that were excluded from this comparison are not presumed inferior or superior. I simply wanted to get some real users opinions on what they liked about the 2 products. I'm on the Mapinfo-L and ESRI-L and read threads from both sides on a daily basis. What occurred to me was that there are many people, like myself, that use both products on a daily basis (I also use Genamap, AutoCAD Map and PC ARC). Each product has its ups and downs so I'm going to relay to you what REAL USERS feel are the strengths and weaknesses of the two products. Mapinfo Pros:
Mapinfo Cons:
ArcView Pros:
ArcView cons:
Common gripes about both:
These essentially summarize how actual users feel about Mapinfo and ArcView. Basically, it all depends on your level of expertise, your learning curve, and what you expect when you start out. Here are my perceptions. MI seems to appeal more to novice GISers, whereas people that have been around GIS for some time are more likely to become ARC users. I'm not a die hard programmer type, but I do find that MapBasic is simpler to learn than Avenue. I really like the way you can have a Mapbasic window open in Mapinfo and simply watch the code scroll by (or copy and paste it) as you invoke commands - what a great way to learn the code. Mapinfo labelling gives me head aches all the time and the non- WYSIWYGness (is that a word!) is a pain. Here in B.C. it is common to have data stored in several projections including lat/long, UTM and Albers Equal Area. This poses a real problem when using ArcView because all coverages must be stored in the same projection - talk about filling up your network drive in a hurry! Well that's my 2 cents worth. I have seen ArcView 3.1 in action but I haven't seen Mapinfo 5.0. I can say that the ArcView upgrade is HUGE. They have fixed a lot of problems and I expect that they will get many new users as a result. I haven't heard as much positive feedback regarding Mapinfo 5.0 and it seems that many users are reluctant to upgrade mostly for financial reasons. The real Mapinfo keeners seem to be embracing the new version though so you may want to get on the Mapinfo-L and discuss it. I use both products but I likely use Mapinfo more and have used it longer. If I seem biased it was not intentional. To get the answers you are seeking I would recommend taking the products for a test drive yourself! Here are the main features promoted in the upgrades:
Go to the ESRI web site to find out more Mapinfo 5.0 - Price $1,295
Go to the Mapinfo web site to find out more |
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