Seeking advice in comparing GIS software

Hi,

As a non-tech-savvy person, I am comparing some GIS software products
for my non-profit organization. I am looking for the most
cost-efficient way of meeting our GIS software and data needs. I have
limited experience with ARIS (Atlanta Regional Information System) and
Maptitude.

I am comparing:
ESRI
Maptitude
MapInfo

Our mission is to feed the hungry in Cook county (Chicago).
Conceptually, will use the software to assess need using Census data,
and assess how well we are meeting that need using our data in various
database applications.

Data needs:
-Frequently updated high resolution street and zip code boundary files
-Boundary files of 108th Congressional districts, local political
districts, Census tracts, centroids, etc.
-Census data Summary files 1 and 3

Question: What are important things to consider when comparing the
different GIS software?

Question: What technical issues should I consider?
1. Local university and city data sources use ESRI. Would this pose a
problem when using the other applications?

Question: What GIS software best matches our use?
1. Our use of GIS will remain within our mission. I am considering
that we do not need ESRI ArcView 9.0, rather a simpler software
program. It will be widely used among the staff.

Any advice is greatly appreciated. I have read everything on line,
compared services and prices, and have talked with a rep from each
company. No one I have spoken with is able to help me with the
comparison.

Thank you for your help.

I wonder why you are comparing only those software.
There are many GIS software all over the world including freeware.


What functions do you require for the GIS software?
What is your target and purpose using GIS?
How much can you spend for the GIS project?


If the GIS is following OGC criteria, the differences between some GIS
software
should be only to have rich functions or less.


If your staff are already familiar with ESRI ArcGIS series, those questions
which you mentioned above are meaningless. You should use it.
That is simple answer.

I wonder why you posted this article to comp.infosystems.gis.
Because I have much and long experiences in using various GIS and Remote
Sensing
analyzing software, I change the software for the purpose and the budget.

Y.Yamada
Japan

Maptitude had written this in response to
http://www.psjournal.com/gis/Seeking-advice-in-comparing-GIS-software-858-.htm
:
There are reviews here that compare the Maptitude mapping software <
http://www.caliper.com/Press/Reviews.htm

connollykatrina@hotmail.com wrote:
















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You could also consider the OpenSource GvSIG software, which provides
much of the functionality of ArcGIS, but less cosmetically packaged.
Fot better English support, use the version distributed by Oxford
Arcaheology.

Paul Cooper

On Wed, 23 Sep 2009 14:34:57 +0000, mtinfo_at_caliper_dot_com@foo.com
(Maptitude) wrote: