Apex 6 Problems Continue (microsoft Surface 3)

[BlueDog007]

For those of you considering Apex 6 to use with a Microsoft Surface 3, please beware and read below:

I've been a loyal customer and user of Apex for over 20 years. I have upgraded to newer versions of the software over the years even when I didn't really need to. I've always been supportive of Apex over the years both on this website and in the field when talking to my peers.

However, I must say that I am disappointed with Apex at this time. It's interesting that Randall Garrett is pushing his product to appraisers who are trying to become more mobile. Based on communications I had with Randall last summer (2015), I decided to upgrade my tools. I had previously used the Apex Mobile Sketch for Android, which was extremely basic with very limited tools to really do the sketch right in the field.

I purchased a Microsoft Surface 3 (not Pro), a new Disto 330i, and 4 licenses of Apex 6 (2 from Apex and 2 from ACI / $300 each / $600 total).

I read a lot of positive articles from Randall Garrent and about was how great Apex 6 was going to be and how much time it was going to save. Well, that hasn't been my case at all. I've never been able to get all of the functions with Apex 6 to work on the MS Surface I bought in July. I contacted Apex and ACI tech departments directly several times, but pretty much gave up on it from August through January. In January, I re-tried using Apex 6 again. I updated the software and continued to have the same issues. Apex felt like the issue was my computer, so I returned it and got another one. The replacement computer continues to have issues including the following:

1. When you "customize" the label list (by adding ONLY 1 custom label), the software freezes and requires me to wait 30-45 seconds to input each individual label. Therefore, I can't create my own custom label list (The list included in A6 is very small, maybe 15 items tops).

2. The icons only include a "corner" fireplace; there is not a rectangular fireplace available. I am sure there are others that have been left out.

I realize this is a short list, however, they prohibit me from using the MS Surface 3 with Apex 6, and the 4 versions of Apex 6 that I purchased. So, my investment of $1,300+ is basically worthless until Apex can fix their "bug".

I have worked with Jonathan Colon at Apex on numerous occasions trying to resolve these issues. Jonathan has been extremely helpful and after all of the time we spent, he finally figured out that the issue was the customized label list. He explained that he has created a ticket with the Apex programmers, but at this point, I can't use these tools nor do I have any idea if I ever will.

Interesting, I have emailed Randall about these issues several times since last summer, but it just doesn't seem to be at the top of his priority list. Maybe Randall's niche is just being a salesman!

So, for those of you considering purchasing Apex 6 to use with a Windows Tablet, I would recommend you save your hard earned money before spending it on Apex until they can get their issues resolved. It has been extremely TIME CONSUMING and frustrating to put it lightly. I hope this is helpful!

 

[Mike Ault]

http://appraisersforum.com/forums/threads/windows-8-tablets-for-fieldwork.191490/page-60

 

[Leon Marcus]

For those of you considering Apex 6 to use with a Microsoft Surface 3, please beware and read below:

I've been a loyal customer and user of Apex for over 20 years. I have upgraded to newer versions of the software over the years even when I didn't really need to. I've always been supportive of Apex over the years both on this website and in the field when talking to my peers.

However, I must say that I am disappointed with Apex at this time. It's interesting that Randall Garrett is pushing his product to appraisers who are trying to become more mobile. Based on communications I had with Randall last summer (2015), I decided to upgrade my tools. I had previously used the Apex Mobile Sketch for Android, which was extremely basic with very limited tools to really do the sketch right in the field.

I purchased a Microsoft Surface 3 (not Pro), a new Disto 330i, and 4 licenses of Apex 6 (2 from Apex and 2 from ACI / $300 each / $600 total).

I read a lot of positive articles from Randall Garrent and about was how great Apex 6 was going to be and how much time it was going to save. Well, that hasn't been my case at all. I've never been able to get all of the functions with Apex 6 to work on the MS Surface I bought in July. I contacted Apex and ACI tech departments directly several times, but pretty much gave up on it from August through January. In January, I re-tried using Apex 6 again. I updated the software and continued to have the same issues. Apex felt like the issue was my computer, so I returned it and got another one. The replacement computer continues to have issues including the following:

1. When you "customize" the label list (by adding ONLY 1 custom label), the software freezes and requires me to wait 30-45 seconds to input each individual label. Therefore, I can't create my own custom label list (The list included in A6 is very small, maybe 15 items tops).

2. The icons only include a "corner" fireplace; there is not a rectangular fireplace available. I am sure there are others that have been left out.

I realize this is a short list, however, they prohibit me from using the MS Surface 3 with Apex 6, and the 4 versions of Apex 6 that I purchased. So, my investment of $1,300+ is basically worthless until Apex can fix their "bug".

I have worked with Jonathan Colon at Apex on numerous occasions trying to resolve these issues. Jonathan has been extremely helpful and after all of the time we spent, he finally figured out that the issue was the customized label list. He explained that he has created a ticket with the Apex programmers, but at this point, I can't use these tools nor do I have any idea if I ever will.

Interesting, I have emailed Randall about these issues several times since last summer, but it just doesn't seem to be at the top of his priority list. Maybe Randall's niche is just being a salesman!

So, for those of you considering purchasing Apex 6 to use with a Windows Tablet, I would recommend you save your hard earned money before spending it on Apex until they can get their issues resolved. It has been extremely TIME CONSUMING and frustrating to put it lightly. I hope this is helpful!

I assume you don't do 100% of your work on the surface right? You bought 4 licenses so you use a desktop or laptop of some kind correct? Do all functions work on the other computers? If not then it would be a software issue.l but if they work fine on your other machines it's the surface. While all you mentioned is annoying, how would it make the program useless? I am sure tech support went over everything but the surface 3 is not a powerhouse and A6 is not a minor program. Maybe A6 is too much for the non pro?
I don't do 100% of my sketch while I am at the property. I do the major part then complete it when I get back to my main computer. Not being able to add a corner fireplace or custom label does not seem to be enough to prevent you from getting the majority of the sketch done on the surface.
Randall does "hype" Apex as he should, it is an awesome program. I think his enthusiasm is based on knowing it is superior to other choices in sketch programs so I have no problem with him promoting it as I feel it is not greed driven rather quality driven.

 

[Elliott]

I have Apex 4, and after a recent update in Window 10's operating system, Apex wouldn't work. I called Apex support and said they no longer supported that version (so I was SOL) and would have to shell out $295 for a new version. I called SFREP and they ran it under the Windows 7 compatibility mode and it restored it to normal. So one star for Apex support, five stars for SFREP!

 

[BlueDog007]

Leon-

I do have 4 licenses. When I purchased them, I believe they were buy one get one free, or something similar. I use my main desktop, a laptop, and I'm trying to use my MS Surface 3. The A6 is useless to me because it doesn't work the way it is supposed to work. If I can't create custom labels, like "Bedroom" (the current software lists "Bed"), or "CL" for closet, or "Sunroom", or "Rec. Room", etc..., then I can't complete the sketch 100% in the field. Isn't that the purpose of using a computer and software in the field? I'm not like you, I don't want to do the major part of the sketch back at the office. In my opinion, that defeats the purpose. If an appraiser can't add at least 1 single custom label to the library, why does the program even have the labeling option? It sounds like you may not even use labeling in the field.

The Apex tech state they have zero issues using A6 with MS Surface 3's within their office. That's great! I find it odd that I have had the exact same issues with two separate MS Surface 3's. I have replicated the issues to the tech support via remote assistance, while they are logged onto my computer. Ironically, just today I was told by their office that they have recreated the issue themselves and can now see my issue with the labels freezing on their computers.

I am not bashing Randall or Apex, I simply want the program to work properly, which is what I paid for. They certainly have technical engineer's/coders who should be able to resolve this issue promptly and make the product the best it can be. Like I said earlier, I've been waiting for a fix since June of 2015.

 

[Randall Garrett]

BlueDog007,

As requested, I am replying here to your several posts on another thread. I will try to keep this short (for me) but I’m not at my best when trying to be concise.

Apex is “useless” to you – I am sorry you are having problems with your Apex v6. I’m not getting any report of others having issues which make it feel useless. According to our tech support folks, your "freezing" issue is reportedly intermittent and I have saw it for the first time yesterday when it happened in a random fashion in “touch mode” only on different machines in our office. (I understand that you do not wish to use the pen and that this issue does not exist using mouse & keyboard.) I understand that Jonathan has reached out to you yesterday with a work-around which I have also observed to work on all our devices, but you have not yet responded as to whether that works for you, but is seems not, right? As for your question of when your issue will be fixed, I simply do not know. I would like for all bugs to be squashed, sure, but the programming manager types pick which items that programmers work on based on their assessment of how many folks are affected and how severe the problem is. The Apex v6 folks are currently working on things that are reported to affect more users, and thus they are rated higher on the bug list than your particular item. I understand that this response may not satisfy you so if you feel that the program is useless to you we should be refunding the $295 ($147.50 for each copy) you paid us. Perhaps in the future – at such time as it is performing adequately for you to the point where you feel comfortable buying it – we can earn your business again. I will authorize a refund for you immediately if that is your decision. I’m not sure how to handle things with ACI licenses since I don’t have anything to do with that sort of thing, but if need be I will have our folks contact them and go to bat for your refund there, too.

Only one FP in Av6 - You now know that there is not one, but several Fireplaces in Av6. It was an oversight on our part to have left out a rectangular FP without a log lighter, so I am having one with no log lighter created and I’ve requested that it be included in the next update. Thanks for bringing it to our attention - to my knowledge, you are the first to mention it. I don’t know what a “vinyl” fireplace is, but the best I can offer is that you submit a dimensioned line drawing of the item you require to Jonathan and if a significant number of other users feel it is worth creating, I will authorize that it be created and included in the following update.

Please be aware that I am not in the Apex office daily and thus not working on Apex things every day. Some days, like today, I have to drive into town to attend specific business meetings and that is why I posted early this morning and did not post this reply until just now. Most times, when I post on this forum, it is in my private time at home and I am a member here to try and help users with mobile hardware and the like, not to sell Apex product. This particular (Av6) item has already been assigned to Jonathan to follow through on. If you have any further questions, please work through him as he is more likely to be on-line and aware of the issues.me. You say that you have good rapport with Jonathan, so that seems like the logical point of contact for these items going forward.


Regards,


-Randall Garrett-

+Apex Software+


/end/