SHS is definitely easier to use. For designing basic floor plans, it's very straightforward. Walls and windows are easy to move; roofs are easy to put on. The packaging oversells the 3D viewing capabilities - it's pretty basic. And if there's a way to create elevations of your work, I haven't seen them.

The biggest drawback is the limitations in cabinetry, fixtures, furniture and so on. For example, there are no bi-fold doors available in the pallette. There's no way to indicate foundation walls. Broderbund's package had generous 'catalogs' with a wide array of items, identified by list (nice idea if that POS actually worked). In contrast, SHS relies on a graphically narrow palette of icons on the right side of the screen. It's hard to determine exactly what each item is (nor is there any key or mouseover identification). So you've sorta got to guess what each item is.

Another problem: roofs are very limited. For example, there's no way to create a saltbox-style roof.

I got acceptable results with the app vis-a-vis floor plans, but that's about it. This app could be lots better.

"Punch Super Home Suite 3.0"
I recently fell in love with Punch Super Home Suite. I have tried other home design programs before, but spent most of my time frustrated by not being able to jump right in and time stakingly wading through pages of the manual. I want a way to be able to "virtually" create my dreamhouse and to be able to walk through it before we build it. Punch provided that! It was so easy to get started into the program. I was able to create the object of my dreams in about 45 minutes. After creating in the 2D, I walked around in the 3D only to be amazed by how closely it resembled what was only previously in my head. A fun part of the program is applying the brick in the 3D to see which sample I liked best. The color palatte is really nice to use allowing me to customize the colors for my walls. Outside I planted trees, shrubs, and flowers and was blown away by seeing what the yard will look like in 5,10,and 15 years.

"roofs and walls"
I was initially excited at how easy it is to create a structure, and indeed that is this program's strength. But as I used it more, I became more disappointed. Roofs are poorly done. You'll notice that all the samples have the same roof lines. You cannot create true gables. You cannot create anything pretty much out of the ordinary in fact. Try drawing a barn for example. And walls are a problem when you want anything that is not ordinary. Try drawing a knee wall. You cannot specify individual wall height. They have a good concept and an easy api, but ease of use is no substitute for basic features. I am disappointed.

"roofs and walls"
I was initially excited at how easy it is to create a structure, and indeed that is this program's strength. But as I used it more, I became more disappointed. Roofs are poorly done. You'll notice that all the samples have the same roof lines. You cannot create true gables. You cannot create anything pretty much out of the ordinary in fact. Try drawing a barn for example. And walls are a problem when you want anything that is not ordinary. Try drawing a knee wall. You cannot specify individual wall height. They have a good concept and an easy api, but ease of use is no substitute for basic features. I am disappointed.

"Definitely for amatures"
Having worked with a couple of design programs which work in 2D, I purchased Super Home Suite, hoping it would work essentially the same--only adding 3D capability. I immediately found the software essentially unusable for anyone who cares for precision. It is my opinion that presicion is highly important in building, architecture, and design, yet Super Home Suite's designers didn't seem to care. There is no way on the screen that I can tell exactly where my wall or window or door will be placed. After it is placed, measurements are given only to the center of objects--i.e. from the middle of a wall to the middle of the next wall, or from the middle of a wall to the middle of the window. I have done quite a bit of building, and everyone always works from edge to edge--never centers. This software took and incredible amount of mental work on my part to try to create a simple floorplan (subtracting & adding inches in my head from how I normally work and design). I skipped the interior wall layout, because I was exhausted, and tried to put a roof on. Even following the book and help files, I was unable to get the program to render my roof in a pitch other than 12:12. They say it can be done, but the computer disregarded my commands. Here I ran into another precision issue--I cannot tell exactly how my roof is sitting over my walls. Is the overhang 8" on one side and 12" on the other? I can get close if I squint really hard at the screen. Good thing they give a 90 day money back guarantee.