I hate to say it...

toxicvoxel

I am resolved not to use Autodesk software again but reading this makes me feel that Google has fallen into the same syndrome that Autodesk was in for many years:
COMPLACENCY.

In the mean time the gorilla has woken up, smelt the coffee and got it's act together.

AECbytes Page Not Found

(www.aecbytes.com)

What are those guys doing in Boulder? Time to start a petition and send it to Google HQ.

linea

I see your point Toxic but you are comparing free/$400 software with a product that costs alot more.

fossa

I've been running AutoCAD as my primary app for 15+ years. Trust me that gorilla is still fast asleep.

HFM

@fossa said:

I've been running AutoCAD as my primary app for 15+ years. Trust me that gorilla is still fast asleep.

yeah, I seccond that! Although, the freeform tools look impressive. I'm gonna try ArchiCad 12 as an alternative to AutoCad this afternoon.

Glenn at home

@fossa said:

I've been running AutoCAD as my primary app for 15+ years. Trust me that gorilla is still fast asleep.

I too am a long time user (since 1989) and I will pass judgment when I see 2010 in action. I really liked 2008 and 2009 is a pain but if these new improvements come and are usable then the bar will be raised. It seems to me they they are finishing the addition of tools from 3D Max into AutoCAD. These seem to start with 2007 getting the Max rendering engine. We'll see how it is.

pbacot

Actually SU is not $400, for the most part it's free. I think it would be a good thing if a stronger version were added for $1000+, keeping the current version free, and Google got off it's duff.

As for CAD programs, it seems to be a common malaise. I have used PowerCADD since 1988. It's a great intuitive, graphic-oriented application for the Mac, but lately it's stagnated, and besides improving .dwg translation and finally regaining drawing speed, it has had little improvement for years, going backwards in performance, in fact. The company is abysmal at marketing besides. It remains 2d which would be fine if they'd just fix things, and keep progressing (add a SU translator). Anyway that's been my successful escape from AutoCAD, which I trained on but disliked.

Kenny

Apart from the high prices and complexity, Autodesk can't seem to produce a complete product for an industry. They seem to cripple each product so you are forced to buy another piece of overpriced software to complete the job. For example Revit is marketed as an all in one BIM application. However despite the long standing requests from users, they still haven't introduced a decent terrain/road creation system for the site planning so you are forced to use Civil 3D for that. Then detailing isn't quite there so you get Autocad for that. Then there's Revit MEP for the services, Max for visualistion, Navisworks for presentations etc etc.

broomstick

@hfm said:

@fossa said:

I've been running AutoCAD as my primary app for 15+ years. Trust me that gorilla is still fast asleep.

yeah, I seccond that! Although, the freeform tools look impressive. I'm gonna try ArchiCad 12 as an alternative to AutoCad this afternoon.

And, i assure you, you will love it.

I have been working with archicad since version 9, and I can tell you that version 12 is an enourmous leap. It helps productivity, it is quite fast and responsive (well, compared to previous versions at least), it delivers good models in no time and excellent models with little effort.

The only thing you have to get used to is the idea of working on the floor plant first, and then going in 3d/elevation.

If you need some tips to get started, send me a private message

toxicvoxel

The point I am trying to make is : after years of slumber Autodesk is actively developing it's application base, adopting many of the new methodologies first shown in Sketchup, Spaceclaim and the like.

nobody knows what Google is doing...