Nice to see the discussion on perspective. Edson, the little example image you posted is definately working better with the verticals parallel, but for many views, I find that forcing parallel verticals generates a 'top-heavy' image. Your eye 'expects' perspective. In our office we have constant battles with professional architectural photographers who (without asking) supply images to us with parellax correction as 'that is the traditional way'. My view has relaxed somewhat over the years and I have Sketchups FOV on a shortcut key and change it constantly for artistic 'punch'. I do think its important though for people to understand that in 'reality' our brain expects convergance (in ALL directions . .not just to the horizon) but that variable FOV, 2-point, axonometric, planometric and isometric projections all have their uses when appropriate.

Just by rotating an image a view degrees and tweaking the FOV can make or break an image . . .as every photographer knows. At least in Sketchup we dont have depth of field to contend with as well! Maybe soon though . . .

Another house sketch

Measured survey sketch

House sketch

Hotel sketch

Its all very nice to hear that the team are working very hard on 'new stuff' but there are two BASIC things needed if they are truly serious about the 'Pro' in Sketchup Pro : -

1 - Dimension text has the option to 'lay flat' relative to a surface.
'Normal' text needs to be able to do the same. Why on earth can it not? It floats about aligned to the view all the time meaning there is no real control over how it looks. Pro's need to put notes on their work!
I use a 'workaround' trick whereby I use dimension text all the time with a micro-scopic mark . . . but its really not good enough.
Surely this is an easy one to implement? The dimension text can do it already.

2 - Support for text when importing dwg or dxf.
Sketchup can import a detailed ordnance survey contour map very nicely . . . . . but loses all the text data, the contour heights . . .everything.
This is another basic requirement.

I suspect these two achilles heels may be linked somehow . . . . . . but if I was Mr Google I would put ALL the developers onto it and leave the airy-fairy stuff for now.

I pretty much agree entirely with Kenny.

They NEED to fix the text thing though, if they seriously want the Pro version to be used by Pros and not just hobbyists.

I have pretty much given up on Layout for now and dont use it at all. I have pretty good 2D workflow involving exporting 2D graphics and placing them in pageplus to scale (pretty much as Layout is meant to do . . . . ).

But the text thing . . . we NEED to be able place text flat and have it stick to surfaces . . like the dimensions can.

I hope they dont bloat it with render engines and Google Earth nonsense . . . . but I suspect they will. You have to remember that there is a 'google agenda' which almost certainly wont be the same as yours and mine. Google Earth is fun but totally pointless IMHO. If I am working on a site I pretty much always need to buy the full detailed contoured ordnance survey map from Promap, or have a site survey commissioned. We then create a sketchup terrain from the contours. Google Earth should be kept well away from the Pro version.

I suspect that by the time we reach Sketchup Pro v.10 we will look back fondly at version 6 as the 'perfect' version!

Jackson, you realise they just released version 53.1.2.3 of that last week. Your old files won't open unless you pay for the 'upgrade'!

Interesting debate . . . . despite the (obvious) genius of Sketchup, Architect's still need to supply clients (and local authorities) 2D plans and with dimensions and text. A Client recently asked us (annoyingly) "can your software do basic plan views? The 3D stuff looks 'too good', and makes it look like the work will be too expensive' my Main Board wont sign this off unless I give them a simple plain plan view that looks cheaper."

We gave them the simple plan view. But SU's has an achilles heel when you try to produce 2D plans with text and hatching to the standard that traditional CAD can.

If you are doing a live presentation for a Client and feeling inferior and downtrodden by the little sketchup logo at the top of your screen . . someone on the old board gave me a link to an app called WinSpy which lets you rename the title bar at the top of the window to whatever you like. So rather than 'model 4 - sketchup' it might say 'model 4 - ZEN CAD' or whatever you like.

I cant live without the sectioncutface ruby! Another thing I do now and then is to make the section faces 'not receive shadows'. This means you can cut further up and (when in plano view mode) still get the impression the cut face is moving with you. As the great man says . . . just ideas.

Some SU+VRay stuff here http://www.sketchucation.com/forums/scf/viewtopic.php?f=126&t=290

I will try to upload some SU+VRay experiments for you . . once I work out how!

hope I am posting this is in the right place Juju . . .
PS the forum message says "cannot add another . . 3 is the maxmimum" . . . should be 'maximum'