GIS software reviews

Exploring low cost options for desktop GIS

Web-based solutions are fine for many applications, but for creating and maintaining vector-based spatial data, desktop solutions are currently the most effective solution.

If you are on a tight budget, what are the alternatives?

It's even possible that ESRI ArcGIS at $1500+ per seat might even be the best. I am not ruling that out... yet. Your requirements might demand it.

The options

ESRI ArcGIS ($1500+) incl. for comparison purposes
ArcReader (view maps published from ArcGIS via ArcPress extension) (free) ArcExplorer 2 (Windows) and ArcExplorer 9.1 (Java) (free)

Corvallis Micro Technology PC-GIS ($500)

Manifold No trial version available; 30 day refund policy ($245-545)

Map Maker Gratis (free) and Pro (Pro version is free if you are in Africa); see Comparison of Gratis and Pro.

QGIS is a "user-friendly Open Source Geographic Information System" (free)

Thuban is "an interactive geographic data viewer". (free)

CMT PC-GIS

First impressions

When it imports shapefiles, it forces you to define the projection instead of reading the existing PRJ file.

After loading up a shapefile, nothing appears on the screen. Hmm.

Qunatum GIS (QGIS)

release 0.7.4 it is < 1.0 !

First impressions

Loads vector shapefiles. (Points, Lines, Polygons) Loads orthoimages.

Reasonable user interface. File dialogs remember where you are! :-) Allows loading multiple layers.

Crashes consistently upon loading signals shapefile!

Does it read the TFW files? GeoTIFF's don't come up in the right place.