Microsoft counters Google Sketchup
-
Dang...multi-processors, high-poly, realtime rendering: am I awake?
this looks to be a buzz...how 'bout merging these two threads to simplify the following:
-
I have to admit, within 15 minutes of starting the tutorials I wanted to punch someone...quite a non-standard GUI layout, and the colors are distracting. And I thought learning Blender made me proof against all sorts of crimes against usability! It doesn't help that the written tutorials discuss tools, but do not clearly indicate where those tools are, or what the icons look like. There is a way of turning most of carnival-colored eyecandy OFF and getting text-filled icons/toolbars, but it is still confusing. So I'll start again with the video tuts, and try the written ones later.
It looks like you are correct, Alan. Model units, not true measurement units. (Unless that is hidden somewhere...the manual is a set of linked PDFs that are only individually search-able. What kind of Microsoft company doesn't even use CHM files?) Strike one as a tool for architectural design!
-
Reading this (clumsy GUI, no real units etc..), I won't even bother downloading it.
If there is one thing that makes Sketchup addictive, it is the simple GUI and ease-of-use.Not even the bells and whistles on that other product impress me, at least not when the whole thing doesn't have a smooth interface and workflow. I might just as well learn C4D, Max or anything else (even Blender) in that case.
But it is cool to see that SU is getting some competition.
It should motivate Google to take their product (more?) serious.As a note: I thought 3DVIA was Microsofts counterpart to Sketchup, as it is used to populate Microsoft Virtual earth. I guess Microsoft decided to go for a more 'serious' product.
Truescape has character rigging possibilities. Would that mean a Microsoft Lively counter part is on its way? (custom character building for populating a virtual world) -
Maybe Google should buy Cinema4D and make it more Sketchup like?(=simplify workflow and better viewport control)
To me,that would be the most awesome thing for Google to do.
-
I'm starting to think that Blenderhas a better UI (and about the same capabilities, including the NURBS and character rigging). It's difficult to find a real advantage to this, so far. I already know Blender and Rhino, after all.
OK, time for a lot of coffee, then some real work (SU!), and try again later. I hate to dismiss things too quickly. At worst, this might be a capable alternative to non-free rendering and animation packages for SU...it will import 3DS and DXF formats.
-
Caligari site seems a little swamped...and confusing. There is at least one point where the software is indicated with a $495 price tag.
Does this mean we fold up all of this now, trash our rubies, and go home now? NURBS, booleans, real-time rendering, collaboration...Scripts with VB and Javascript (I frickin' HATE Ruby!); node-based-shader editor...on, and on... If it pans out, why would I stay with SketchUp? For goodness' sake: you could go through all of those whining "requests for SU7 features" and start checking them off in the Caligari capability list! It's like Microsoft has been reading the posts here!
Feature list:
(!)
Alan, while I'm waiting for the download, can you tell me if this software will model with dimensional precision, like SU? If I say I want a beam 1.075m long, will it create it that long, in other words?
-
For what it may be worth, back in 97 through 99 or 2000 we offered at the Boston Architectural College a Virtual Design Studio; not Virtual Reality but Virtual Realty. Students 'inhabited' via their 3D avatars a virtual space as they designed it; think modeling im Second Life whilst 'living' withing the environment.
The point, at last, is that the modeling environment we used was trueSpace; this was just about the 'only' means to get data into Active Worlds, a Second Life precursor of the time.
Today, and since release 7, trueSpace has another unique feature: the ability to collaborate, co-modeling in a 3D space synchronously. This 3D environment is appropriately called truePlace; people can chat, VoIP and clash-or-collaborate as they inhabit and model their environment.
I'd like to offer my point-of-view: to each their own; know thyself and understand your modeling/design needs, know and choose appropriately the tools, but more importantly know when to let them go, one for another as the needs and demands switch
Cheers,
- Diego -
PS Sorry for the 'Rant-mode'
-
@Dmatho,
The explanation you just gave could point indeed to the idea that Microsoft is going to come up with a Lively (virtual social world) competitor of their own ...I can't see any other purpose for Microsoft buying out this piece of software.
-
Well ... I'm not certain SU needs a real-time physics engine or real-time rendering. In any case, if I were Google, I wouldn't implement them. I'd keep things as they are: simple. I would, however, add some modeling tools and hig-poly support. Maybe I'd throw in a couple of texturing tools. That'd be it.
I am absolutely convinced there's only a couple of extra things needed for SU to become the top dog in it's niche.
-
.... if it wasn't attractive before why should it be now!
Being free is not good enough a reason
In order to top SketchUp, something will have to be writen
from the ground UpMike
-
My interest with this news is two fold:
First, I hope it provides the impetus so Google will finally tell us what the hell they are doing for us (blind faith wains at my age...as time is running out :`)
Second, I'm wanting/needing a realtime high-poly assembler to combine my sketchup models with my onyx growies and the other great stuff I don't have the patience or just can't to use in SU...if SU7 turns out not to fill this bill. (And I don't want to spend much bucks...free is pretty cheap ;~)
I'm 100% with Stinky: give me high-poly, multi-core, plus throw in a way to backstep some of the SU6 interface to the simplicity of SU5...and I'll be a giddy school girl in love with my first love again.
-
@unknownuser said:
Well ... I'm not certain SU needs a real-time physics engine or real-time rendering. In any case, if I were Google, I wouldn't implement them. I'd keep things as they are: simple. I would, however, add some modeling tools and hig-poly support. Maybe I'd throw in a couple of texturing tools. That'd be it.
I am absolutely convinced there's only a couple of extra things needed for SU to become the top dog in it's niche.
Like Tomsdesk, I agree 200% with Stinkie.
Multicore,high poly etc...
As for new functionality, Google could just provide an improved platform (and support) for external coders (Ruby or other languages etc...). -
@tomsdesk said:
...and I'll be a giddy school girl in love with my first love again.
Wow! Was I off! So much for my facility for judging the gender of forum members from their names and posts!
--
Read down the comments here:
Way to puncture the guy's balloon, Bruce!
-
@lewiswadsworth said:
Wow! Was I off!
Easy, Tiger, I just forgot a couple of as's...down boy, down boy.Bruce: yur bad! LOL
-
Did you read the "evangelist's" response to Bruce's comment? I know he was just suggesting to give the new version a try, but as I was reading it I heard a voice from the long-ago television commercials of my youth:
Don't hate me because I'm beautiful.
OK, time to take a break and get some coffee...
-
A quick scan suggests it doesn't run on OSX; therefore it is of about as much interest to me as liver and onions.
-
I can't really see how Truespace competes with Sketchup, unless it has had a total overhaul. Is this just an impulse buy by MS? What happened to 3d Via?
-
How intuitiv is SU, compare to that huge drawing monster. Really impressive, but like others friends , the GUI is so rich that you sink and hardly swim between the
features..Let me back to SU6 , even SU 7....
MALAISE.
Advertisement