SketchUp 2019 release

db11 · 14 Nov 2019, 16:30

Didn't receive that email, no.

But did just receive my notice for renewing my annual Maintenance & Support license. I hesitated, since I never use Trimble Support and there has been little of value in recent upgrades (while long-identified bugs, missing features and UI annoyances remain unaddressed). In the end I decided to give them the benefit of the doubt for one more year and I renewed.

Apple's latest MacBook release yesterday shows that they've finally started listening to their pro users again (and designing product features to meet their workflow needs), so it's not impossible that Trimble will turn the same corner sometime soon — one can hope

kaas · 17 Nov 2019, 12:50

Anyone else received An email with An offer to 'upgrade' your classic license to the new PRO subscribtion for a one time 60% discount?

Not remotely tempted... Using blender nowadays for some parts of the work.

Edit: after using Blender for a few weeks now and then - I must say; I'm really impressed with it. Tried it a few years ago - it just didn't work for me then. Now, the new version has a much more friendly UI and it makes all the difference to keep going.

With Blender, I feel like the software isn't holding me back anymore - like SketchUp does in several areas (high poly, materials/ uv-mapping, modifiers, optimizing, speed, etc). After all those years of really mediocre updates and the 2019-subscribtion-move its nice to use software again that surprises me in a good way - just like Unreal & Oculus every new (sub-)version do.

Still using SketchUp for architecture projects and LayOut for making working drawings. But when I need something high poly, mapped and/or optimized for VR, its Blender.

function · 20 Nov 2019, 23:41

interesting that there was no "Sketchup 2020 release" thread this November..

Dave R · 21 Nov 2019, 00:08

@function said:

no "Sketchup 2020 release" thread this November..

Why? 2019 was released in the first quarter of this year and there's been three additional releases of 2019 this year. They've never said that new releases would occur in November, either.

function · 21 Nov 2019, 00:39

well I guess it isn't that interesting anymore

Dave R · 21 Nov 2019, 01:23

Have patience. It'll get interesting eventually. Besides, it's about time for the conspiracy theorists to get busy telling us how Trimble is dumping SketchUp and how there'll be no 2020 version or if there is, how the only thing they'll change is toolbar icons. Of course you'll remember they are uninformaed and making pulling that stuff out of their, um, hats.

david. · 21 Nov 2019, 15:06

I recently received the email from the SU team that my maintenance and support is expiring. After wasting my money for so many years with SU, I installed the Rhino3D evaluation. To put it mildly, I'm very impressed. I makes SU look like a toy. Their 3 licensing options are very customer friendly. No subscription and they have a "Cloud Zoo" license (check it out, it allows the user to install/run on any PC with a frequent internet connection.. not simultaneously, though). You can switch back and forth between Cloud Zoo and Single PC if you need to.

I'd rather spend my money on a true professional 3D modeler than paying SU to come up with dashed lines for their yearly release. IMO, SU Layout is still a joke and has been a joke since its release. The only thing SU has over other apps is that it is slightly easier to use. I won't be renewing with Trimble.

Glenn at home · 21 Nov 2019, 20:15

@david. said:

... I installed the Rhino3D evaluation. To put it mildly, I'm very impressed...

You should give MOI 3D a try as well. It is developed by a former Rhino developer.

MoI, 3D modeling for designers and artists

MoI is a new 3D Modeling/CAD application for designers and artists. Offering a blend of precision and freeform NURBS drawing tools, it sports a unique user interface that operates seamlessly with a pen tablet.

(moi3d.com)

david. · 22 Nov 2019, 14:05

Yes, I had looked at MOI 3D some months ago. It looks interesting and has a customer friendly price. My concern is that it seems to be only a niche product. Rhino 3D seems more mature and widely used. I've also looked at FormZ. It looks promising, too. I found it a bit harder to use than Rhino. Rhino has multiple developer API's, including a graphical programming API (Grasshopper). That is a huge plus for me since I'm also a developer.

Glenn at home · 22 Nov 2019, 14:34

Ah, yes as a developer I can see Rhino's draw. I have FormZ as well and it's taken some time to learn it's way as opposed to SU's way. I do like FormZ's openness to allowing their free and Jr versions to be used for ANY purpose, even commercial. I also like the included tool set missing from SU, stairs, walls, nurbs, etc..