The Disadvantages of Landscape Design Free Software

Although the best things in life are free, so far landscape design free software has not been proven to be one of them.  This is not a bash on free software programs in general. There are some very good ones in the fields of web site statistics analysis, anti-virus programs and games.  However, on the whole, there has not been a lot of effort on anyone's part to make a professional quality free online design software programs.

Artistic Quality

You are best off looking for on line software reviews  or in your favorite gardening magazine before downloading the first free online design software you come across.  Look to see that the reviews were written by landscapers, groundskeepers, gardeners and the like so that you get the opinion of someone who would use it like you would. 

And many of these reviews lament the fact that the free online design software available is sadly lacking in artistic quality.  Some free online design software programs are not even in color, but are based on a drafting program called Smart Draw.  One of the main reasons people like quality online design software is because they can get a good idea as to what the final result will be, which

is something that usually can't be done by looking at a blueprint.

Safety

Another huge disadvantage of free online design software is that you don’t know how safe it is.  For example, there is a program on the Internet called Custom LandDesigner (note misspelling) which came out in the 1990's.  It was never updated officially since 1998.  A new version is out – but under a different name (Your Complete and Garden Designer) and it is no longer free. 

Any program that hasn't been touched for over a year is a huge safety risk.  Cyber criminals study all computer programs and websites to see if there are any security weaknesses that they can exploit.  Gardeners and people with a back yard are commonly thought to have money and are therefore targets for cyber crime. 

Tech Support

One of the most annoying disadvantages of free online design software programs is that there is no tech support or customer service people to ask questions of when syou have a question.  This is one of the reasons why these programs are free.  Once you download them, you are on your own!  You may get some help by asking questions on a gardening forum, but other than that, you have to figure the program out yourself.