Google Sketchup Pro 7 is out

johnsenior1973 · 16 Nov 2008, 14:35

Just a thought, but what a waste of paper the NDA's have been. What's the point in making Non-Disclosure Agreements when there's nothing to disclose anyway?

I'm just hoping that this isn't the real SU7. If it is then it's frightening that they are still charging $500 for the Pro version and it's even more frightening that Google would allow it to be released in such a shoddy manner.

ScottPara · 16 Nov 2008, 14:44

I am not sure whether it has been stated or not but the only way to get Version 7 is to upgrade your pro version or to but pro 7. I tried downloading the version 7 free and it is still version 6.4. I guess most of us will need to wait until Monday to get the bosses credit card or wait for the free version of 7 to be made available.

Scott

cosycat · 16 Nov 2008, 15:01

As a teacher (and user of the free version) I probably come at sketchup from a different viewpoint. For me, new tools like interact ( have a look at the mailbox component ) and dynamic components open up lots of new possibilities and will further help to motivate my students.

If I were a professional user,however, I would be very disappointed with this new release, which feels much more like 6.5 rather than 7.

'4/10 Google , after a promising start you seem to be coasting, let us hope you'll make much better use of your talents over the next semester'

tomasz · 16 Nov 2008, 15:10

I think they have put all effort into dynamic components. I believe we can squeeze a lot from them.

ilay7k · 16 Nov 2008, 15:18

why do not you think about crisis in gsu development? it's not only economical crisis , also incredible investigations of D.Bur, Fredo, Whaat, Adam, Jim and many... as several months i saw only game in su (with webdialogs playing, from Google)
I think that some gsu's devs are crying in corner, decide that su 7 need to appear...
(i read article that Google management decreased influence at non-moneymaking products, some rumors about youtube...maybe reason to... )

rv1974 · 16 Nov 2008, 16:09

It took 2 years?
I have a feeling that an elephant gave birth to a mouse.
I guess even Autodesk (sorry for mentioning)make more efforts every 12 month..
You google people are simply turned to *** ***** *********(Edited by Admin. Please be more sensible about calling names and especially in that raw fashion. Thank you.) feeding from web ads.
...Or may be I'm simply jealous?

pbacot · 16 Nov 2008, 16:09

@unknownuser said:

I think the best and most capable modeler to look at is modo (http://www.luxology.com ).
Scott

thank you for the info Scott.

As for your tagline... it looks from your avatar, you've accomplished enough to live for awhile. Certainly good cause to.

remus · 16 Nov 2008, 16:31

Edited out.

remus · 16 Nov 2008, 17:34

@johnsenior1973 said:

If it is then it's frightening that they are still charging $500 for the Pro version and it's even more frightening that Google would allow it to be released in such a shoddy manner.

$500 seems pretty reasonable to me.

Id be interested if you could come up with any other packages that can compete at a similar price.

Cant hep but agree about the nature of the release though, seems like quite a bad way of doing things.

Mike Lucey · 16 Nov 2008, 17:45

@princedragoncok said:

All I really wanted was multi-core support, but sadly it is nowhere to be seen as of yet.. hugely disappointed. 2D drafting within sketchup was also something I was eagerly awaiting.. nowhere to be seen either - Layout looks better but I need to evaluate it more for the moment.. Unless Google releases some magic list of features and points me towards some magic button I missed, then unfortunately it is time to leave for another modeler..

Let me know when you find a better one

ilay7k · 16 Nov 2008, 18:19

Anyway, can somebody from GSU team(they are at forum now) say, is this leak of info or something?
somebody expects appearance at beginning of 2009....

johnsenior1973 · 16 Nov 2008, 18:23

@remus said:

@johnsenior1973 said:

If it is then it's frightening that they are still charging $500 for the Pro version and it's even more frightening that Google would allow it to be released in such a shoddy manner.

$500 seems pretty reasonable to me.

Id be interested if you could come up with any other packages that can compete at a similar price.

It's not a comparison between Sketchup Pro and other packages, it's a comparison between Pro and the free version.

I's seriously doubt the thinking of anyone who bought the Pro version. Even if it was on a company account, surely most people are honest enough not to waste their companies money?

remus · 16 Nov 2008, 18:53

John(s),

layout is probably worth a bit, as are the exporters.

rodrigonotor · 16 Nov 2008, 18:53

@linea said:

Have you found anything new yet?

nop, I look in whats new, but, I don`t see anything
http://sketchup.google.com/support/bin/topic.py?topic=13687 I asume this page is the 6 version.

ScottPara · 16 Nov 2008, 18:56

While I do not want to take this thread over to post something other than news or data regarding Sketchup, I feel I need to at least make a real comparison to Modo as a far better modeler and complete package in comparison to Sketchup. Here is how I come up with Modo being a better deal for the money:

Sketchup $500

Modo $895

Granted, $400 difference but when you take into account things that Sketchup can not do out of the box that Modo can like:
Multicore support (not sure how loud we need to yell for this)
UV tools
Rendering (and a very good renderer at that)
Sculpting tools
Paint tools (directly on your model and can be baked out)
Animation tools

Coming soon:
Volumetric lighting
Hair
Advanced animation tools

You can start to add up what it would take for Sketchup to get to a level of Modo.
You would have to add things like:
Zbrush ($595) or Mudbox for sculpting
DeepPaint ($595) for UV editing. Yes there are free ones but nothing that would compare to DeepPaint or Modo's native UV tools.
Vray ($799) or another rendering tool. (yes podium is cheaper but I feel it still has a bit to go yet)

Total cost to get Sketchup to the level of Modo=$1989 This does not take into account the $500 for Sketchup or an animation package.

I would find it hard for anyone who gives Modo a shot to ever compare it back to sketchup. While sketchup is really easy right out of the box (I will give it that) and Modo will take a little bit of time to learn, but after that you will be modeling things that will take you days to do in Sketchup, and doing them minutes using Modo.

I write this only as a comparison and not as a deterrent to upgrading or buying Sketchup. Sketchup is a great tool but I find it's development lacking behind many other software packages. I think Google dumped a lot of their resources into developing their new brick of a phone and many other things under the Google umbrella were left to fend for themselves and it starts to show.

These are my two cents as a while back I started looking for an advanced modeler and I came to the decision that Modo was the one for what I wanted to do and it had a great price when you start ti compare it to MAX, C4D, and Maya.

Scott

Stu · 16 Nov 2008, 19:00

@frederik said:

Wonder why they've chosen to release it on a Saturday...?!?

My guess is they were hoping no one would notice.

From what I can see there is just about nothing in V7 that are 'must have' features. More incremental improvements.......re-arranging deck chairs. And by the look of it, adding a degree of compexity and non-intuitivness that we dont expect with SU.
Its disapointing to see that this is the result of 18 months feverish work at Boulder.
It looks like the best thing that Google can do is provide a stable platform for the Ruby masters to work on.

Compare the jaw dropping amazement and excitement of the release of Tools on Surface, Subdivide and Smooth etc etc etc with Su7!!.....It's just embarrasing!

linea · 16 Nov 2008, 19:03

Yes Su is very cheap, brilliant value but I am self employed so purchasing a Pro 6 license was a significant cost to me. A hell of a lot of professionals do use the free version commercially. I am hoping that I am not going to start thinking I have "Mug" stamped on my forehead.

I really hope Google do have at least a few fat rabbits to pull out the hat that we have yet to see for SU 7.

matteo · 16 Nov 2008, 19:05

I don't know you, but I believe that most of the pro users come from the @last age: the update fee is not so expensive and I must admit I really need some of the pro features, like importing and exporting to dxf/dwg and the possibility to save big images.
If you really work with sketchup, 500$ is a reasonable price for me too.
Otherwise let me know if there is a reasonable alternative to sketchup ( heresy ) for less money.

But now, let me introduce a couple of videos of the new born sketchup 7:

[flash=425,344:1fpqvsjf]http://www.youtube.com/v/4X0RzqAz-lI&hl=it&fs=1[/flash:1fpqvsjf]
the new interact tool

[flash=425,344:1fpqvsjf]http://www.youtube.com/v/XbjqpeIvzjE&hl=it&fs=1[/flash:1fpqvsjf]
overlapping lines intersection

[/matteo]

remus · 16 Nov 2008, 19:07

Stu, i dont think you can compare the development of plugins with hard coded tools.

When was the last time follow me didnt work? compare that to trying to use subd and smooth with 'preserve materials' on.

Stinkie · 16 Nov 2008, 19:12

Well, if what I dl'ed and took a peak at today is indeed the New And Improved SU, then I must say I'm with Stu. And with Scott.

Personally, I think I'll keep using SU, but not to the extent I have so far. Still love it, though.

EDIT: I can see you, Bacus!