Autocad 2008 is coming . . .

[Cad64]

http://www.rand.com/imaginit/1/technology/software/autocad.htm

[rkmcswain]

A few more:

http://rkmcswain.blogspot.com/2007/02/autocad-2008.html

http://mistressofthedorkness.blogspot.com/2007/02/news-about-autodesk-2008-products.html

[ReMark]

"...increase speed and accuracy while saving time."

Geez. I wish I had a dollar for every time AutoDesk made that claim. What about the time wasted looking for commands that no longer exist or have been buried so deep in a menu structure that it would take a magician to make them appear? How about fixing archaic prompts that give no real clue as to what is expected?

For a change, why doesn't AutoDesk just fix all the bugs in the most current release? They could promote it with the slogan:

AutoCAD - improved! Your old software [I]without bugs! We've actually fixed everything that didn't work the first time!

Now that would be an improvement.

[CromCruithne]

Never going to happen ReMark. If they fixed all the bugs there'd be no point in buying all the new versions. As it is, most folks I know don't update but about every four to six years anyway. If they put out a version that actually worked correctly then people could go for a decade on one version if they're doing 2D work. On the other hand, I have wondered why there hasn't been a mass revolt from the buggiest piece of 4,000$ dollar software to something that actually works correctly.

-Crom

[rkmcswain]

I have wondered why there hasn't been a mass revolt from the buggiest piece of 4,000$ dollar software

Because they have a monopoly on the creation and editing of DWG files, of which there are a few million out there in the world...

[ReMark]

What would happen if the AutoCAD community, as a whole, just dug in its heels and refused to upgrade say for one full year. Everyone...at the same time I mean. Would AutoDesk even take notice?

[Seann]

What would happen if the AutoCAD community, as a whole, just dug in its heels and refused to upgrade say for one full year. Everyone...at the same time I mean. Would AutoDesk even take notice?
Probably not. I love this program, mostly because I get paid good money to draw pretty pictures all day, but with a new version coming out every year I can't afford to upgrade. I bought 2000 when I was in High school and ADT 2004 when I graduated from college and should buy 2008 this year but with just paying off 2004 about a year ago I don't feel like starting that cycle over again. Can't they just do upgrades like online video games? I know too much hope in the capitalist society.

[ReMark]

Upgrade pricing...don't get me started. That's why AutoDesk rolled out its "subscription service". What another rip-off. If the user reads the fine print they'll see that AutoDesk doesn't promise to give them anything for their money. In other words, AutoDesk does not feel obligated in any way to provide the end-user with anything of value over the lifetime (one calendar year) of the fee. So, you spend 3k to 4k for the program, spend another 1.5k to upgrade it because you didn't see any worthwhile value in subscribing (at the time), then fall prey to the scheme and pay another $500 or so with no promises what-so-ever of getting anything in return. What a scam.

[CromCruithne]

I'm wondering if the US courts are advanced enough to recognize that Autodesk is creating a monopoly on professional level design software with their buyout of Alias, Ulead and the others. Granted, they made Maya slightly cheaper but 3DMax got a serious price hike and I haven't priced Ulead programs from them yet, so I can't say which way that's going.

-Crom

[Seann]

If Microsoft can still be around then Autodesk is safe.

[rkmcswain]

Upgrade pricing...don't get me started. That's why AutoDesk rolled out its "subscription service". What another rip-off. If the user reads the fine print they'll see that AutoDesk doesn't promise to give them anything for their money. In other words, AutoDesk does not feel obligated in any way to provide the end-user with anything of value over the lifetime (one calendar year) of the fee. So, you spend 3k to 4k for the program, spend another 1.5k to upgrade it because you didn't see any worthwhile value in subscribing (at the time), then fall prey to the scheme and pay another $500 or so with no promises what-so-ever of getting anything in return. What a scam.

With all due respect, it's only a scam if you fall into it.

Why do thousands of companies continue to purchase new Autodesk products and pay subscription fees annually? Nobody is making them. There is no law that says if you want to perform CAD, you must purchase from Autodesk. Nobody has a gun to anyone's head.

Why? Take AutoCAD for example, as 'buggy and expensive' as it may be, it's still perceived to be the best (and in some cases, the only) CAD program out there. I'm not saying that it IS, only that it's perceived to be. Either that or everyone buying it is an idiot, and I doubt that is the case.

By keeping the DWG file format a secret, they will continue to do well.

[StykFacE]

me and a guy up here at work had a little debate about the monopoly that Autodesk and Microsoft have. when i first met him he said that he was the most conservative and republican man i'd ever meet - and he proved that point yesterday.

he says he doesn't see any wrong in monopolies, and governments that stop them is stopping the very thing that makes this country what it is - free market capitalism should have free reign according to him. lol

i still think there should be limitations on monopolies, and i'm a conservative/republican too. :)

back to topic, what is the big deal with the Autodesk monopoly? i mean, do they not make enough money to survive otherwise? lol, i doubt it. i wonder how much money the top 5 exec's make over at Autodesk. probably enough money between them annually to give 20,000 familes a great yearly salary... lol

[CromCruithne]

I've had this arguement several times in other forums, but this is a CAD forum so I'll just state my view once and leave it that, so as not to clutter the place with non-CAD talk;

As much as I view Bill Gates as the bespeckled spawn of Satan at times, I fail to see how Microsoft actually has a monopoly. There are other OS makers out there. It's mainly public choice that has put MS in the forefront. Several countries, the US included, but mainly socialist leaning countries, see MS as a cash cow they can milk at will for imagined slights to small companies. When you look far enough behind the scenes in several of these anti-trust cases, you will find a fairly high level of nepotism involved between the prosecuting government and the slighted small company.

Autodesk, on the other hand, has been busy being the virtual equivalent of WorldCom, buying up any and every company that competes in the same market. It's much like the current worries in the US of AT&T reforming the Ma Bell conglomerate of the early 80s.

-Crom

[Ronrico19]

I would think Autodesk would be running out of good ideas for Autocad. I can't really think of any new features that could be added, only ones that could be improved upon. I've only uses 2007 seven a few times, but it seemed to me they threw in WAY too much stuff. When I first opened it there were at least 4 tracking lines and a little box telling me the length and angle of my line. (I was very flustered). That's about it...

[CromCruithne]

I've known several people to get flustered by the new Dynamic cursor, but I frankly love it. You can easily turn it off if you want. While I could do without some of the tracking lines, those boxes are exceedingly useful in a couple of ways;
1. I can see exactly what, where and how I'm drawing an entity.
2. You can hit Tab to get to those boxes and type in constraints like how long, what angle and so forth. It's very similar to ADT's function.

As for things that could be updated, I can think of a few off the top of my head, but they probably never will, since Autodesk owns other programs which already do them;
1. A constraint system like Inventor
2. Complete vertex editing of 3D objects
3. A MUCH bigger materials library

-Crom

[Shiloh]

If Autodesk would pull their heads out and put my ACAD to Bryce or 3DS function back, I would be happy and never ever ever complain about AutoCAD again....I promise:roll:

[f700es]

Well if MS and AutoDesk are monopolies why is Apple not in there as well? Only they control both the hardware and the software. They also have a monopoly on the digital music market. Still no lawsuits or millions of tax dollars wasted to break them up.
Is AutoDesk a monopoly? Can I buy other products that can open and edit dwg files? Pretty easy answer it seems.

[CromCruithne]

Actually there are parts of the EU, mainly France, which are taking Apple to court over the iPod. My idea of Autodesks monopoly has nothing to do with the DWG format. That's their own format and I've got no beef with them keeping a hold on it. My problem is them buying up almost every piece of professional grade modeling software and then removing the options that let them work together.

-Crom

[f700es]

Yeah, I have no problem with them doing what they want with the dwg format. It's theirs and they can do what they want.
Which application are you referring to, the Alias applications (Maya, Studio Tools)? Revit?


Actually there are parts of the EU, mainly France, which are taking Apple to court over the iPod. My idea of Autodesks monopoly has nothing to do with the DWG format. That's their own format and I've got no beef with them keeping a hold on it. My problem is them buying up almost every piece of professional grade modeling software and then removing the options that let them work together.

-Crom

I want Apple in court over their OS. Why should you only be allowed to install OSX on Apple computers? It works just fine on regular x86 hardware, why should you only be allowed to install in on 1 type of computer? That would be like saying you can only install Windows on Dells and not HP, Compaq, eMachines and such.

[Ronrico19]

That's a good point, but why is apple getting sued for ipods? Everyone only buys them because they're "cool". There are loads of mp3 players, it's just that everyone wants an ipod. Now itunes is retarded because you have to only use your songs on ipods (unless you do it the long and really annoying way).

[CromCruithne]

My biggest problems with Autodesk are their taking over all the Alias and Ulead softwares. By this point there's only a handful of really good modelers that aren't owned by Autodesk. Between Maya and 3DMax there's not much left.

The iPod suit has to do with the whole thing of "you can only load songs on through iTunes and songs from iTunes can only go on the iPod".

-Crom

[f700es]

My biggest problems with Autodesk are their taking over all the Alias and Ulead softwares. By this point there's only a handful of really good modelers that aren't owned by Autodesk. Between Maya and 3DMax there's not much left.

The iPod suit has to do with the whole thing of "you can only load songs on through iTunes and songs from iTunes can only go on the iPod".

-Crom

XSI and Lightwave are in good shape it seems. The fact that Alias let AutoDesk buy them speaks volumes to me.