It still seems that PTC still does not offer a good replacement for Intralink 3.x for very small companies. If they do, they are not marketing it well. Is PDMLink the answer? If so, it's hard to find comprehensive information about it on the web.
It seems as though PTC is marginalizing their very small customers and focusing on multi-million/billion dollar companies who can afford full time CAD Administrators and full time IT staff.
I think this is very a very poor long-term strategy for PTC, since many very small companies of today will grow into very large companies in years to come. Many very small companies feel drawn to CAD products like SolidWorks that are more hospitable to them (than PTC), and they will be ensconced in these other CAD products as they grow, and PTC will have lost the opportunity.
As a mechanical engineering consultant to many small, start-up companies, I have introduced several of them to Pro/Engineer/Wildfire, and they have purchased seats. I still feel it is the best CAD software on the market. Unfortunatley, as these companies grow and PDM becomes more of an issue, some are feeling drawn to other CAD tools that offer more affordable CAD data management tools, and I can't blame them.
This is a pivotal time for PTC. Just like Microsoft is playing catch-up to Apple & Google by introducing Windows 8, PTC needs to get serious about their small customers and introduce products that are functional and convenient for them. It's not too late, but it probably will be soon.
I would like to hear other people thoughts on this subject, and suggestions for good CAD data management without having to abandon Pro/E, Wildfire, Creo. Especially from PTC employees.
Thanks.