Does anyone seriously believe that a Free version of anything should be available for Professional use ?

If you want to make money from it, pay for it.....it's quite simple....!

As for SU 2013, here is my 2 cents worth :

• I think we have lost perspective of how brilliant SU was when @last first introduced it, and sure, it needed (and still needs) a bit of a kick to get it to do more because us humans always want things to do more. And yes, if it wasn't for certain individual plugin developers SU wouldn't be as good as it is now. My point is this, SU is still pretty damn good.

• I'm with Thomtom, Solo and a few others who are looking at this a little more objectively

and...

• We will eventually discover whether or not Trimble fully understand exactly what the needs of the high end users of SU are....the question remains if they can deliver all those things and at a reasonable price point and within a reasonable time frame, because if not, the market will talk with their wallets, and competitors will seize on the opportunity to secure our business. Trimble have been around for long enough to understand that basic concept.

@escapeartist said:

What's cookin'?

looks like it could be a nice Irish Stew for Oli...!!

@rich o brien said:

There's a bit more here and there. Try the SketchUp 2013 thread Thomthom started. All the heavyweights are in there trading blows.

.

In that case, I'll be a lightweight, avoid injury, and stay in here until the dust settles..!

Apart from discussions based around what SU 2013 can or can't do, there seems to be some confusion about it's cost....

The costs appear to be as follows for a single seat upgrade from SU8 Pro(please correct me if I am mistaken (and then beat around the head with a 10lb wet salmon...!!)

• $95US if you are upgrading from SU8
• $590US if you are purchasing a new (single) license

I haven't downloaded it, but went as far as the checkout and the details are as follows :

*- Upgrade to SketchUp 2013, Single User, No charge, Version 2013
Old Serial Number: XX-XXXXXXXXX-XX

• Upgrade 1 year Maintenance & Support, Single User, Version 2013 $95.00*

I wonder what Brad and Joe would be thinking about the way their brilliant program has been treated and the direction it is heading ?

[quote="Richard"]@ Krisidious AND @ jason_maranto

STOP IT!!!!!!

Have disagreements but guys don't lower the tone of your arguments!

Well said Richard...although a bit of 'biffo' can be entertaining.

Anyhow, I have a choice of paying a speeding fine or buying SU 2013....methinks I'll pay the speeding fine and I'll still have enough left over to take the lady out to a nice restaurant.

for just a brief moment there, i thought i had eaten the wrong type of mushrooms....!!

Oli, Rich and Pilou.....awesome stuff

...now bugger off and leave us mere mortals to suffer...!!;)

one day, just maybe, the rest of us will catch up with you guys...!!

it just gets betterer and betterer.....!!!

Nice work Dan

Do you have an image without the SU line overlay (for comparison)?

i have been using Shape Bender for over a year now and I love it..

....i can't remember ever thanking you, so, if i haven't, here it is >>>> Thanks mate...!!

Pilou,

Have you been eating those strange mushrooms again..??!!

Ditto to the comments made above + perhaps work on the paving material too and model the paving joints and junction to the grass area

Nice composition

ditto to the comments above

Massimo,

i once said i'd never speak to you ever again if you kept posting such amazing work....

....i lied....!!

bugger off Fred, you are starting to annoy me....!!

you know i am kidding mate..!

great execution of skills Fred...!

Happy Birthday Pete..!

we very nearly share the same day..!

@mrmikeesq said:

It's not like Google were the perfect people for the job! It's the great software that held everything together.

Both Trimble users I know (both spent an absolute fortune on Trimble stuff!) seem to love the company and it's products, which is a good sign too.

And yes, I'm glad it's not Autodesk.

Indeed, it is the legacy of @last software which has held it's ground......but I have never lost sight of the greatest resource of all, the SketchUp community....and add to that the communities which have sprouted from the vendors of several render plugins and we have everything we need at our fingertips.

Only a few things need to be done under the new ownership :

• Allow the SU development team to improve SU to meet the demands of SU users
• Keep a sensible price point
• Maintain a healthy and vibrant relationship with third party vendors
• Encourage the existence of Forum communities such as this

If not, we will talk with our wallets as soon as someone comes up with a software package which is able to replace SU....i wouldn't want that to happen for sentimental reasons, but lets face it, someone might take it on...!!...it has, after all, been done before.....!!