[TheNewUtahHouse]

Is it just me, or is the Home Planner software absolutely horrible? I used it for the first time today and was extremely disappointed. For a company that prides itself on functional design, their software design skills need some serious work.

IKEA would do itself a big favor by not just improving the software dramatically, but making it Web-based. Not only would this allow use on multiple platforms (Windows, Mac, Linux), but it would ensure that pricing and parts information was always accurate and up to date.

After using the software I imagine there are many previous posts complaining about it - so sorry for the redundancy. But the squeaky wheel gets the grease, right?

[Kayla]

unfortunately you're squeaking to those with no oil.
We've pleaded in person to the muckity mucks begging that we be allowed to tweak (build even) or do QA on the stuff....no dice.

we just keep hoping. cause the planner sucks!!! (and their website is only a few steps above that!)

[Kayla]

oh yes, and welcome to the fray

[TheNewUtahHouse]

Originally Posted by DulcineaK

(and their website is only a few steps above that!)

I was going to mention the horrible website too, but didn't want to appear that I was just "piling on."

There is no excuse in the year 2008 for software that bad. Not from a major company like IKEA. And certainly not from a design-oriented company like IKEA.

Thanks for the welcome, I look forward to spending much time here. I'm building a new house, and I want to incorporate IKEA into the mix as much as possible. I'll probably end up calling it "The House That IKEA Built." Heh.

[Kayla]

funny, we joked about calling ours "The house that IKEA geeks built"
good luck on the build. and we're here when you need us (cause if ikea had good software, website or customer support we wouldn't be here )

[Susan]

(cause if ikea had good software, website or customer support we wouldn't be here )

Oh, c'mon! We'd still be a bunch of IKEA geeks looking for other IKEA geeks, right? lol

Welcome to the mix, TheNewUtahHouse! If you've got specific troubles with the planner, we do have an IT person from IKEA who answers techie questions and will try to help you through troubleshooting problems. And we are making efforts toward being involved in future iterations of the software.

Susan

	LOL definition LOL means Laugh(ing) Out Loud

[TheNewUtahHouse]

Originally Posted by Susan

If you've got specific troubles with the planner

Slow? Cumbersome? Buggy?

Not technical questions - just bad software.

Guess I'll be playing in SketchUp instead. Shame, that.

[hadirajan]

Originally Posted by TheNewUtahHouse

Slow? Cumbersome? Buggy?

Not technical questions - just bad software.

Guess I'll be playing in SketchUp instead. Shame, that.

Hi TheNewUtahHouse,

It's of course unfortunate that you feel like this regarding the planner. But as i mentioned in this thread, the software we're currently working with was started being used in 1999.Thus it might not be what you expect in today’s internetized world.
However I would of course like to receive more constructive feedback than "just bad software" if we should be able to do something about it...

Also as Susan stated things are being done to replace the software, and believe me when I say this is no easy task. A lot of the "good" software out there on the market are developed by 5-10 people with a good intent and now real business knowledge or (unfortunately) future in the business. So finding a replacer hasn't been an easy task.
However we've now found one and are trying to get this online planner up to date in regards to the old one, and this takes time. The hardest work that goes in the planner isn't really visible to the user, business rules, planning knowledge, country specific range and rules etc.

But, hopefully, in a near future you'll be able to try out or completely new software online. I hope that this will be able to fulfil the areas in which you think we're lacking at the moment.

[torrus]

I've been working with the IKEA planner since 2003 (both within IKEA and on the outside), and while it is not perfect - it has improved a lot over the years. I don't see any of the competion offering anything similar, and it's free...things could be worse (paper planner anyone?).

[Dave of the Coonties]

Well, yes. The planner, even if imperfect, allows you to figure out how things will fit and what you need. I believe in the notion that models (kitchen, ecological, etc.) need not be spiffy, just useful.

But in our age of high expectations, Ikea would benefit from having a spiffier Planner.

When I was getting started, it was very helpful to work on my kitchen at the Orlando store. The store has adequate computers (my PC is long past its use-by date), the staff know how to make the Planner do what you want, and they can sometimes spot mistakes or suggest improvements.