Sketchup Free/Pro Question

Mistro11 · 26 Nov 2013, 17:25

I am about to work with a Animation studio and I chose Sketchup to be part of my tools at my work station. I looked at the differences between Sketchup free and pro versions. Since I will only be using Sketchup to model and porting the models into other software like Blender and 3DSmax. (not using layout, styles, etc.) The limitations of the free version are of no consequence to what I have planned. I was wondering if it would be a waste to have them spend $600.00+ if I am just fine with the free version. It's a small studio with a tight budget. My initial response to this was to just suggest the free version for now since it's a new studio but now I'm concerned since Trimble took over, did any rules change? To my understanding, the free versions of past years allowed us to use for profitable projects. I just want to make sure not to put the studio at risk but don't want them spending if it's not necessary.

Gábor · 26 Nov 2013, 17:36

SketchUp Make's licence ( http://www.sketchup.com/license/b/sketchup-make ) is very definite in this question:

@unknownuser said:

Trimble Navigation Limited and/or its affiliates ("Trimble") gives you a personal, worldwide, royalty-free, non-assignable and non-exclusive license to use the executable version of the Software for non-commercial use only. Non-commercial use means: you may not sell, rent, lease or lend the output of the Software or the Services. If you are a for-profit organization of any kind, or an employee of a for-profit organization using the Software or Services in that capacity, you are engaged in commercial activity; therefore, in order to use the Software and Services, you must purchase a SketchUp Pro license.

So no commercial use of Make is allowed.....

Of course it is for the latest version not for the previous ones.

Mistro11 · 26 Nov 2013, 18:43

So what if I'm using version 8 from Google I got 3 years ago? I never upgraded to 13 because what I have does everything I need.

Box · 26 Nov 2013, 18:50

Yes, the free version of SU8 has no commercial limitations on it.

Mistro11 · 26 Nov 2013, 19:56

We decided to just buy a pro license. My only other issue now is getting v8. I'm worried some of my plugins may have complications so I will poke around about my concerns. Thanks for your replies. I will continue asking in another thread already asking about buying v8 pro.

Dave R · 27 Nov 2013, 02:08

Just download fresh copies of the plugins. This is advised over copying them from SU8 to SU2013 no matter whether pro or free. You aren't likely to create any problems for yourself if you do download fresh copies.

Krisidious · 27 Nov 2013, 02:58

Yeah...Trimble decided to screw everyone that uses the free version.

Mistro11 · 27 Nov 2013, 03:38

I think I will be fine. It's for the studio's computer. As long as I have my faithful SU8 on my home system, I have no worries. It's not like what's on my personal PC is gonna change. For the record, they decided to just get the pro to be super safe and "professional". All is well. Besides, I will get to see what it's like to use the pro version for the first time.

sketch3d.de · 27 Nov 2013, 12:17

@krisidious said:

Trimble decided to screw everyone that uses the free version.

commercial users are obviously not everyone... paying for a software one is making a living of it seems to be fair, at least to me.

jm2cts,
Norbert

Krisidious · 27 Nov 2013, 15:12

Not when it was the other way for more than a decade... When you build a large following, especially a world wide following of 'makers', many in nations that $700 would be a year's salary, it doesn't seem fair. Don't get me wrong, I'm a Pro owner. However, I Own/Operate a small sketchup facebook page and 9/10th's of my followers are from small south east Asian nations to whom that kind of money is just not reasonable. Especially when you rip the rug out from under them and your major release improvement was to add your name to the product... Just my opinion.

sketch3d.de · 27 Nov 2013, 15:58

@krisidious said:

... Especially when you rip the rug out from under them and your major release improvement was to add your name to the product... Just my opinion.

then probably nothing will prevent them to simply stay with the commcercially usable and still available SU 8 Free version ... which in my opinion doesn't comply with your claim that "Trimble screws up everyone who uses a free version".

jm2cts,
Norbert

Krisidious · 27 Nov 2013, 20:14

Yes, I'm pretty sure we were all aware you could keep the version you had. And not get any of the updates or fixes from future releases... Cuz you know, it's not like SU ever crashes. We have members that are still using version 6, they're free to keep using it as well. However, we'll be leaving all of those 'makers' behind. And even though they never asked for dxf/dwg export or layout they won't be able to move forward without paying for it. How long before plugins and extensions conflict with past version? and it will push future users away. and shrink the overall user base. While things like Blender are taking users, Trimble decides to push more of them away with this. To me... It's bait and switch.

Wo3Dan · 27 Nov 2013, 23:33

@krisidious said:

Yeah...Trimble decided to screw everyone that uses the free version.

I don’t think SketchUp/Trimble (decided to) screw any of the free users. IMO they were most generous when bringing out a new free version. (The 8 hours trial period at startup is awkward and hard to understand, but the program is still available and free) And you can still save as …. version 3.
Plus some free versions have no commercial restrictions.

Don’t forget that this all has to do with bringing out a new version under different conditions (different ownership).
Google “screwed things up” (not badly meant but meaning: created the strange situation) by giving a free version away in return of free 3D buildings. Now that they moved on to a new “populating the world” system, SketchUp became more or less useless to them. (I felt it already in September 2011 when being in MountainView, and even mentioned it then to some people, that SketchUp felt like an outcast on the summit held then and there. Only to hear (without any surprise) that SketchUp was sold a few months later. It was just a matter of time).
Google could afford to have a free version that paid itself by other means. The SketchUp developers team can’t work for free. And Trimble can’t ask (like Google did) to join in and return anything to balance the costs.
Trimble and the SketchUp team are just having a hard time to get themselves out of an awkward “free program” situation created by the previous owner. Till now they have been generous with the free version.

p.s. I didn’t give you a –1 or -2 although, as you see, I do disagree with you.

Krisidious · 28 Nov 2013, 03:14

@wo3dan said:

@krisidious said:

Yeah...Trimble decided to screw everyone that uses the free version.

I don’t think SketchUp/Trimble (decided to) screw any of the free users. IMO they were most generous when bringing out a new free version. (The 8 hours trial period at startup is awkward and hard to understand, but the program is still available and free) And you can still save as …. version 3.

What's different about that? It's always been 8 hours and then to free version hasn't it? Or did you have to reinstall?

I agree that Google bought it for Google Earth and that was the intent. And that they gave up on that years ago. But Trimble didn't buy it for SketchUp itself either. They wanted the system for a merge with their systems.

I guess the main thing I'm trying to say is people that weren't going to buy, aren't going to buy. They aren't making anymore money than they would have. In fact I would argue by making it Maker Pro they're pushing people out before they would ever realize they needed pro. Now they're competeing with serious programs that are completely free. Blender is getting some of our core users here at SCF and there have been no serious upgrade to our system. I know they rewrote the whole thing on the backside, but I haven't noticed. It still acts the same way and has the same features we had before 13.

Don't get me wrong, I own it and I'll continue to use it, and I have spent many a thread defending this software... When 2013 came out I was one of it's loudest supporters. I just really don't like pushing people with little or no money, who are struggling to live in a third world country, to buy something they didn't have to buy for the last decade. And let me say those third world modelers have some serious talent and drive to learn.

You can thumb up or down... It won't make me think any less of you. People like me learn to live with the fact that others don't like what I have to say.

in fact I got a thumb up for you...