gata, that's a pretty rosy view of SU's present position and future [ I can't actually agree but hopefully SU Google will stop lurching from one inept fiasco to another and finally start producing the goods.]
But we are talking about past right now, and if , for example, we were using our given names I would probably recognise you from 'way back then' 
Stu
Ahhhh, The good old days!!
I came in at version 2.
After searching for my first 3D app. I found a ridiculous 3D add-on to ACLT, then Design Workshop [which never excited me] and then finally, Eureka!! SketchUp!!
After pulling up a couple of squares, texturing them, importing a Palm tree, turning on the shadows and orbiting...I was hooked!...say about 30 min. flat!!
SU in those days was without text, dimensions, transparency and a lot more obviously, but was still incredibly useful.
SkechUp output was... well just that. This was before the Dennis or Marshall techniques and photo realism was just an impossible dream. Piranesi did however offer the chance of post processing at that early stage.
The forum consisted of three, then four sub sections and there was a core of about 20 contributors including about 3 @Last guys. Very exciting, innovative times.
People I remember from then include Ross, Mike, Susan Sorger, Grant Marshall, Kevin Hui [PushPullBar] and Frank [said in a whisper].
Ah well...we all move on
[And although this was all a while ago I still don't quite feel prehistoric 
]
Stu
Well, there you go, eh!
Another nail in the SU Pro coffin!
Grant,
That doesn't sound like a lot does it?
The only real restriction for professional output is the screen resolution export restriction.
This can be overcome, for example, by exporting to Kerkeythea [free as well] where it is possible to produce glossy, 3000x plus photorealistic images that will knock the socks off most clients!
Alternatively , if you are exporting to PhotoShop for a watercolour make over, the pixel count becomes less relevant in the final image.
So save yourself some dough unless you need something like Layout [still in Beta] or maybe add a couple of hundred extra dollars and get Mondo.
Stu
Mate, another masterpiece!
You are setting the bar really high!
I MUST have a real try with Podium!
Stu
Tom,
I'm glad someone is using the style builder.
The point I was making is that it would be nice if Google directed their obviously limited resources to getting SU6 right rather than playing around on the periphery.
It's all rather a pity but there seems to be a growing consensus that Google is doing a fine job of stuffing SU and that people are frantically looking around for an alternative.
The obsessive, fanatically loyal user base that used to surround SketchUp, seems to me, to be evaporating fast.
Stu
Gee Tom,
That's being a bit negative.
But if you have been having trouble with the latest update...well just put it all aside and fix your gaze on something that just everyone of us has been hanging out for....Its..its the Style Builder!!!! [er...its beta, but that's OK....every thing Google puts out is beta..yeah and it's free as well]
There are some negative people out there who would say that we have enough styles already and that they rarely use what there are anyway..but don't listen to them...this is a major breakthrough!....[and hopefully the guy who was busy doing this can now be swung back to helping putting out the next service release....which maybe wont suck quite as much as this time!]
Coen, 'bitchy' doesen't suit you.
Sounds like you had a bad experience at FFs....but then maybe there wasn't a huge demand for hamburger, intergalatic cannon etc. components
Stu
Gaieus, that looks good also.
It does however seem to correct barrel distortion cause by fisheye type lenses rather that linear distortion.
[The poor quality of the doctored image is due to my low res. screen capture rather than the application itself]
Thanks Jon,
That looks really useful!!
Stu
Thanks for that Gaieus,
Iv'e D/L it and installed the key and there seems to be no problems.
Stu
Tom,
I would go for the faster processor.....2 Gig of RAM should be adequate for XP [I've run XP home for years on 1 Gig. The Video sounds OK....the 8600 card seems to be ubiquitous at the moment but it seems nVidia is no longer the perfect solution for open GL apps.
Cant think why you would need an internal modem [faxing maybe] but a wireless network card would be essential, for me at least.
And just a thought...a 20" wide screen doesn't provide all that much real estate to work with...if it was me I would be trying to stretch the budget to a 24"....but there is a huge leap in price between 20"/21" and 24" screens.
Good luck,
Stu
Peter, you obviously know a lot more about Mondo than me but it does seem to be the complete package....3D modeler with fantastic organic capabilities and what seems to be a great, fast inbuit renderer.
And from another perspective....3 or 4 years ago SU was out there in the innovation stakes...if not cutting edge at least creating lots of interest.
Right now, if I was looking to buy my first 3D app. I think I would pocket a free SU and spend my hard earned on Mondo.
Stu
I keep saying to myself I must look further into Mondo...particularly when I see/read articles like this
http://www.cgarchitect.com/upclose/article1_JO.asp
I would really like someone [who knows what they are talking about:)] to tell my why I, or any other SU user, shouldn't simply make Mondo my/their principal 3D modeler/renderer!.
Stu
If you think that aeroplanes are pretty safe, you might be right...it's just the nut cases flying them that you have to worry about
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,22860764-2,00.html
I particularly like the pilot thinking that he's sitting on the wing watching himself fly the plane.....or the sensation that the plane is being held up in the air by a giant hand!
Hey! bus trips aren't that bad...are they?
Tom,
After much agonizing I have finally got an Asus 17" laptop with Vista. I was going to get it reinstalled with XP Pro but it was going to cost me, and the sales guy said it was an option later if I get too p....d off with Vista.
A couple of things.....if you have the option, go with XP Pro...Dell Vostro series, for example, all offer XP as an alternative OS. If you get a machine with Vista, only get Vista Business series as these are downgradeable (? ) to XP [Home series are not].
Centrino Dual Core is pretty much the standard offering these days so it would be pointless going for something with lesser specifications.
The lappie I have is 2.2Gig, 2 Gig RAM, nVidia GeForce Go8600M GS 256MB
and seems to be running OK and and at reasonable speed. I turned off Aero immediatly and have turned off that unbelievably stupid, idiotic, asinine, #$@^&%$#@*&%!!!!^%$#@& security warning that pops up so often it would drive me round the twist in a week. As a result Vista's security features are turned off and I'm relying on my router firewall and Norton and Spybot for protection.
To date SU seems OK on Vista and my ACLT 2000 seems to be OK as well, running in compatibility mode.
So, so far, Vista isn't quiet as bad as I feared, but I'm glad I have the option of going back to XP.
Stu
Thanks Tom!....finally.
I've been checking this forum...waiting....waiting [patiently]..checking daily....sometimes even twice a day!....but nothing.....and then in the blink of a eye....a new shrub!!
[Let's hope we dont have to wait this long for the next one]
