That’s a cumbrous agglomeration to masticate on

Very cool idea.
I made a quick one for you, if you still need one.

xmas tree cutter.skp

Thanks James, I needed that too.

I never took notice of the 'free version' part...too quick to reply.

Only pro version can export...sorry.

Yes you can, but the exporter is additional cost, and the textures do not export very well.
SU .3ds exported models are huge within Iclone causing many crashes. The best is to import into Max, then into Iclone.

Too bad you cannot export figures from Iclone as it has a crappy render engine.

And projected, the prefered way.

Projecting a texture is the best way, extruding geometry is another.

Shindlers list?

By the responses it’s clear that there are obviously different ambitions for different users, Sketchup may have been primarily been designed for architects and still is an essential tool. These days there are many different uses for this magic app and that is probably another reason for the snobbery.
Just perusing around in 3d warehouse makes this clear that many folk use SU for so many different professional and entertainment reasons.

Cartooning, art, gaming, architecture, interior design, woodworking, component engineering, litigation, doodling, decorating, DTP, teaching visualization, furniture design, etc, etc, etc.

So based on the above there are many avenues and directions Google can take, do they keep to architecture and compete with Cad apps or go more general and attract a bigger market? Tough call if you ask me, maybe branching out to various derivatives of the product to be tailored for other industries may be the ultimate answer.

fat faces?

Come to think of it, there is a thread about anti SU snobbery, now if the next "pro version" included a built in render engine, texture editor and additional modeling tools (bolean included) and the free version a basic learning addition without the bells and whistles, we may be taken more seriously.

Rendered animation may also be included this way...hmm.

I agree Biebel, organic modeling tools or even a bolean tool. Wrap around texturing will really help the workflow, however paint on texturing would be amazing. Having a texture editing tool as a plugin is also a good idea.
I do not believe SU needs to get involved with a render engine as plugins available are good enough, and if they did attempt it they would be competing with themselves really, Podium already works within SU and version 2 will be on the level or better than the current Vray engine. (maybe buying out Podium and doing a full integration might be a good option).

I agree the thatched umbrellas work well.

Just give me a shout if ever you help on a creative project, it would be great to do something exciting again.

The Miami theme

Cape Cod

The whole Tiki Hawaaii theme is also great, thatched roofs, beach bars, tropical feeling (not sure about the Palms though, that will be dependant of your vegetation zone)

This is a dream project, you seem to get some really great commissions.

The themed beaches sounds so exciting. I would use 'Destinations' as a theme, the worlds beaches in one place.

I would look at:

1. Mykanos - The white buildings with varying blue highlights

2. Miami - very vibrant, colorful which explodes at night as the 'in spot' with reflective neons shimmering as caustics.

3. Morrocco - tent style, open seating with linens, cushions and decorative walls and shiny domes.

4. New England, cottage style theme. Sun aged woods with blue and white fold out chairs, picket fences lining the beach (red and white or blue and white stripped theme)

I would not use a European based theme as that is readily available, so pick a theme from somewhere 'out there' that folk can enjoy, almost like a trip abroad.

I have no idea, I have never used the film and stage plugin, could you post the skippy for me to check, and can you also post the link to get the film and stage thingy?

Thats very cool, I understand they are not going to be expensive either (the multi touch monitor that is)

The other link you posted next door was to me even more amazing, if you do not mind I post it here.

http://www.diniro.net/fabbblog/