Bentley MicroStation Review

PROS: I’m a long-time user of MicroStation and I can’t imagine our team finishing any of our big or small projects without this powerful tool.

CONS: I don’t have anything negative to say about this tool. Its 2D and 3D capabilities are second to none. The 4D function still remains to be explored though.

PROS: I really like MicroStation because it does its job properly, plus it works well with the other programs that we use in our company. It’s pretty reliable as well, even when loading heavy data in its system.

CONS: While it can support larger files, the program does have a tendency to slow down a bit when opening said files.

PROS: I think one of MicroStation’s appeal is how absolutely easy it is to use. Everything is just within reach and the commands are as straightforward as it can be.

CONS: It does lack in sophistication a bit. But this is a price the users have to pay in lieu of simplicity, I guess.

PROS: I love how no matter how many updates this program goes through, it still maintains its file formatting. This means that we can still use and update files from way back.

CONS: While file formatting seems to remain constant, certain settings in a given workspace seems to constantly need updating. This can take up quite a lot of our time, especially in pinpointing which areas of the program need to be updated with our preferences.

PROS: I like how I can easily update MicroStation’s settings to fit my preferences. It has a pretty reliable and fast-acting system too. Plus, whenever I find myself stuck on a certain aspect of my work, all I have to do is to reach out to its active community of users.

CONS: I still have to go through so many boxes to tick off so I can personalize this program. There are some features that can be hard to access as well. Overall, this tool can be a little difficult to work with if you don’t have basic knowledge of drafting and designing.

PROS: I know this might spark a debate, but I think that MicroStation is much better than AutoCad. For one, it’s so much more intuitive and pays better attention to the needs of its users. There is a more solid community of users here too. If you feel stuck and would like to gain more perspective, you can always reach out to other users.

CONS: I can only afford a single subscription to this program. It would be nice if they were to lower the tag so that I can add one more user from my team. I’ve reached out to their team and I still can’t be too sure if they can adjust the pricing or license for me.

PROS: MicroStation can work with just about any file format. I’ve used this to tweak some of my older designs previously created from AutoCad, and I’ve been able to do so without much delay. For me, this is a pretty reliable and convenient tool to work with.

CONS: Previewing your shading works can be close to impossible. If you want to track your progress, you’d have to constantly switch your view from the design tool to the preview feature just to make sure that you are on the right track.

PROS: I’ve never had to worry about losing my work progress when using Microstation. Its auto-save feature really puts me at ease, and I can focus on what I do best--creating and drawing up models for my clients.

CONS: I really like using Microstation, but I do admit that its price point can still be improved. However, I would be willing to shell out the money if they were to improve some aspects of the program such as giving more assistance in the drafting of dimensions and custom lines.

PROS: I’ve tried other CAD programs before, and MicroStation really stands out from the rest because of how user-centric it is. The commands are straightforward and you won’t have to spend too much time second-guessing yourself if the buttons you clicked on are the right ones. I’ve been able to update the dashboard according to my preference too--a feature not readily available in other programs. To whoever is reading this--if you are in the market for a robust 2D and even 3D model creation tool, you won’t go wrong with MicroStation.

CONS: Although MicroStation has been a really useful tool, I have encountered some problems with it. The tool itself can be quite clunky at times. It freezes or even crashes at the most random times--something that I find increasingly annoying. It’s not meant for absolute beginners too. There are some features that one needs certain know-how about to fully make use of. Some of its more basic functions need a little work too. For example, if I needed to edit some parts of a project, I have to go through so many steps just to do a bit of trimming and editing.

PROS: MicroStation seems to be the go-to design tool in my work circle. This makes it a lot easier to collaborate with clients and some authorities in the industry. Passing down projects from one user to the next--to solicit feedback--has never been this easier. There hasn’t been a shortage of resources online regarding the use of this tool too.

CONS: The environment feels a bit like circa 1990s, to be honest. I do wish that MicroStation would update its layout and even some of its features too. I would appreciate it if the developers and customer reps would be more responsive as well.

PROS: I haven’t fully explored all of MicroStations’ features yet (there are just too many of them!), but I have bookmarked some of its uses that I particularly like. One is that it works seamlessly with Google Earth, allowing me to get a more realistic scale of the terrain which a certain project will be constructed on. I also like the ProjectWise feature that increases me and my team’s productivity.

CONS: I still need to go through so many steps just to login and to get started on a new project. I wish that MicroStation would trim this down so I can get to work right away.

PROS: We’ve been using MicroStation in drafting designs and creating models for roads and highways. So far, we’ve been able to create detailed and on-point projects.

CONS: Every time I try to load up and work on a project, I’d have to tick off so many settings boxes. I wish that there was a way for the program to save my preferences so that I don’t have to waste my time.

PROS: One commendable thing about MicroStations is its user-centric environment and layout. Everything has been arranged for the ease of use of account holders and the command buttons are all just within reach.

CONS: You can’t really leave the program open and idle for a long time. I’ve had trouble sending orders to the back of the kitchen too.

PROS: I really love how versatile this tool is. MicroStation has settled in quite nicely with the rest of the design and engineering programs that we already use within our company. It’s user-friendly and intuitive too.

CONS: I do experience a bit of loading delay and random program crashes whenever I use this program. I hope that the developers would look into this ASAP.

PROS: MicroStation has been instrumental in helping me draw up a commercial infrastructure recently. Unsurprisingly, the result was a polished model that I was able to make available in both 2D and 3D versions. This is a tool that I can see myself working with for long-term.

CONS: It takes a while for me to settle in and start a new project because the program is too thorough when it comes to setting up individual projects. I know this is for my ease of use but I don’t like losing my creative vision before I have even started.

PROS: MicroStation is truly one of the best CAD products in the market. It has an impressive storage capacity, plus it allows every user to be on-point in their measurements and designs too. As long as one knows how to fully utilize every feature in MicroStation’s toolbox, I think the design capabilities are endless.

CONS: When choosing tools, I’d have to tick off so many boxes of options. I wish that they would employ more of a click-and-use functionality.

PROS: MicroStation has been able to assist me and my team in designing and figuring out the logistics in building roads and highways. In fact, it has even allowed us to scale our projects based on the UK’s standards. One would think that this powerful tool would be bulky and difficult to use, but the opposite is actually true. It’s really easy to manipulate and you don’t have to guess what each command button is for. Its appeal lies in how straightforward it is. On top of all of this, it’s a great tool for collaboration as well. You can easily send files to your members and get feedback from them in real-time. It’s been truly a delight working with MicroStation.

CONS: One would need to have, at least, basic background on designing to be able to understand this program. It doesn’t support keyboard shortcuts too, thus prolonging the design process a bit. There are times when the program would lag too.