Do you ever look at sites like this when you need a software tool? Should we pay any attention to what people say about Rhino on sites like this?
I was reading some of the things people dislike about Rhino. “Inaccurate”, “expensive”, “steep learning curve”.
I’m going to have to disagree with all of that. How is it inaccurate? We use it for automotive fixturing, where our tolerances are up to 10X tighter than automotive part tolerances. We’ve produced tens of thousands of fixtures using Rhino over the last 17 years. Not once that I recall have we had problems with Rhino’s supposed “inaccuracy”.
Expensive? Compared to what? I’m guessing this is coming from people who have never had to purchase other modeling software. They may not even be aware that most charge annual maintenance fees which are more that the price of Rhino. Perhaps they’re thinking everyone should give it away for free like Autodesk does. Using that logic, I suppose any work they do with Rhino they should do for free as well?
With regard to a “steep learning curve”, I don’t agree with that either. Maybe if you expect to learn absolutely everything about Rhino before you plan to use it, then maybe, but to sit down with it, review the tutorials, and start being productive, no, we find it pretty easy.
So I would have to say that the reviews shouldn’t be taken that seriously. My biggest complaint about Rhino is that it doesn’t ship with a mousepad anymore. 
Dan
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Yes, I agree, there are a lot of misconceptions about Rhino from people who have either never used it or don’t know how to use it… Often they just hear this stuff from someone else and repeat it. --Mitch
“Often they just hear this stuff from someone else and repeat it.”
I think you just described 95% of the internet!
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Right…! 
Philip
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Thanks for the feedback.
We rely on you all to tell others about Rhino. Both the good and the bad. (Hopefully, you will also tell us about the bad.)
Usually, I ignore these sites, but from time to time I notice one. In this case, they are trying to get us to advertise on it. I was just doing them the courtesy of looking to see what they were selling.
Thanks,
- Bob
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Maybe you can ask them to find some reviewers who actually USE Rhino… 
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Based on my interaction with Rhino users through tech support and testing, I would say your typical Rhino user is generally not a “mainstream” work-a-day slogger.
The Design professions seem to attract self-starting, curious people, with a wide range of skills and interests, that tend to work independently. I doubt many of you spend much time writing restaurant or hotel reviews, and perhaps even less time writing reviews of the software tools you use. Most Rhino “evangelism” seems to focus around casual conversation among friends and colleagues.
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As near as I can tell, they only have ad sales people. 
Also, the fact that the program shows the user four different views at the same time is game changer, it helps a ton. Finally, it’s straightforward and clear design creates a good atmosphere to let the user’s creativity flow into the modelling and designing process.
this comment reads like a resume for an ex - employee which has to be written positive by law (at least in Austria) but says actually that its worth nothing because it points out facts which are nothing special. 4 views are a game changer? sure… i guess he saw a mouse for the first time just a few minutes prior and thought its the 8th Wonder of the World. and for this he gave 5 Stars while talking about its imprecision. i am not sure he ever used it. sorry if this sounds very cynical.
also some comments are contradicting each other, somebody for instance says Rhino is expensive, the next person says its cheap. if you summ up all the comments you probably come out with 0 information. i did not read further but those comments are worth nothing and i feel sorry for it.
I think you all are welcome to add your comments to that site if you think someone on there is confused.
Now if you can just figure out how to download the Rhino mouse pad over the internet! I had forgotten about those.
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rather not… reading such unreflected comments upsets naturally but everybody has their own way of experiencing of course. i didnt intend to take sides that fast so i apologize if any of this sounds rude. but i am not very interested which tools perform how terrific and how its public reputation shines or not. i just got curious whats happening here. if a tool can do the things i need in the speed i need its done for me. the rest ist marketing and does not concern me as a user. they can talk whatever they want… talk is cheap and i do far too much of this myself.
We don’t have any Rhino mouse pads now.
But … does anyone want a Flamingo mouse pad?
Sandy McNeel
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Coffee? Are we getting that coffee?
Thanks again,
I’m an architect. In the course of a given day, I use Rhino, Archicad, Illustrator, Photoshop, Vectorworks, Meshmixer, and a whole host of other more specific tools. I bounce work backwards and forwards between them constantly. They all have their strengths, and are part of a well equipped toolbox that lets me do the best job I can right through from concept design and studies to detailed construction drawings. Of these tools, Rhino is my favourite. The command line interface is perfect for power users (I virtually never use the pallettes, though some people use them a lot). If ever I have a complex surface or profile to work out, its straight into Rhino. Even basic 2D drawing I prefer to do in Rhino. There are a few things Illustrator and Vectorworks do better, but not a lot. And when you throw in Grasshopper, Rhino is a killer app for design. All at a price considerably below the other tools. The main thing I’d like to see Rhino do better is working with point cloud data. The Rhino 6 WIP is much improved in this respect, but more tools to filter and manipulate point clouds, and generate geometry from them would really see Rhino at the cutting edge of where architecture and other 3D design disciplines are going, especially during the early stages of design and modelling.
Cheers
Ben
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@bobmcneel
Thanks for pointing out the site. I think you can safely ignore most of the comments. I went through the reviews of other software packages, and they are inaccurate as well. Most reviewers may not have undergone official training in using the software.
Maybe an instructor led training program could be bundled along with the software. In India, official Rhino training is available only in Mumbai and Chennai. Most of the students using Rhino, have picked it up on their own using online lessons.
Rhino has a simple beginning, then a chasm: it has great tools for creating surfaces (sweep, revolve etc), but getting from there to the watertight surfaces you want is a chasm that requires you to have a method that is non-obvious.
For example, the network surfaces and fillet edge tools often fail, leaving the user stumped trying to figure out a method to solve them. Once you have found that method, it gets easier again, but Rhino doesn’t really help you out of this chasm.
I love the way Rhino allows multiple methods to work around problems, but when you start surfacing with Rhino you don’t know these methods. Intermediate users would benefit from being given a hint when commands like NetworkSrf fail, to suggest method that might work (e.g. a link to a tutorial).
Seems superficial to me. I think you should get more feedback from users inside important architecture companies because they bump into day to day work problems.