Needing to get an office up to industry standards...

[MAREBER]

Hello,

First, let me apologize for what must seam a lame question...

I have been using CAD 2002 for years in Landscape architectural design, but am beginning a job with a new firm that has asked me to set them up with CAD at their office. Currently, everything is hand-drawn.

So, I am wondering if we should purchase 2009 since that is the current version? Are there other options available to us, or do we just bite the bullet and step into the 'real' world?

(I have had some experience with '04 & '08, but am pretty much an '02 throwback.)

Thanks so much in advance for any advice.

[chrisdarmanin]

the LT version would be suitable for your needs, be it 2009 '08 or '07.

whats different is it does not have any 3d capabilities, but i used to work with 2002 LT for a long time and its quite capable

[Alan Cullen]

If you have a look at this FAQ, it may give you better insight into the differences between full acad and LT acad.....

http://www.cadtutor.net/faq/questions/21/What+is+the+difference+between+AutoCAD+%28full%29+ and+AutoCAD+LT%3F

[LCE]

As a pointer to all that are considering upgrading, but may fear the 2009 interface.
Whereas in the past you were entitled to use your current licence with a previous release, providing that you had previously owned the software you wish to use, you can now use your 2009 licence and use 2008, 2007, etc. without having to have previously owned 2008, 2007, etc.
I am sure if you discuss this with your reseller they will be able to advise, if not, then jump straight to Autodesk.

On the point of LT, just my opinion, but avoid it. There are many, MANY tools that are not available with LT, and the fact that there can be next to no custom tools (well, not legally anyway). But, at the end of the day, it is all down to the mighty pound (yeah, I said pound, not dollar :twisted: ) LT is VERY cheap in comparison to full ACAD and there are VERY good reasons for that.

Have a good 1 all.

[f700es]

Landscape design huh...well LT will get your drafting needs done with no issues. I would also suggest SketchUp Pro for going 3D

(http://sketchup.google.com/product/gsup.html)

and then maybe at least one copy of Vue

(http://www.e-onsoftware.com/products/solutions/?page=2)

for your 3D rendering needs. Vue has an extensive collection of plants and landscape generation tools. All 3 work pretty well together. LT will be around $900. SketchUp Pro is about $500 and Vue Infinite is about $800. You are coming way under the price for one copy of full AutoCAD. Perhaps a copy of Photoshop and Acrobat as well. I do agree that full AutoCAD would be better but you can make do with LT if $$ are an issue. Good luck.

[Bloodwig80]

Go 2009. Dont waste your time with LT. As you learn more and more you will see you are missing a large amount of tools and functionality. Also, down the road you will hire people who are full fledged ACAD users and you're going to put them to work on LT? It's gonna be like clipping the testicles off a bull.

[Alan Cullen]

Well put. I wouldn't have said it quite like that, but very apt. :D

Poor bull. :lol: :lol:

[MAREBER]

Thank You each SO much! Very good points raised re: LT and the full version. I have worked in both and much prefer the full version myself.

I do have a follow-up question...

I was under the impression that only 2009 (or the CURRENT version) could be purchased. Is that not true?

And IF we do have a choice between years, is 2009 the best way to go from your collective experience?

I have used SketchUp a bit and know it is a very valuable tool to utilize. But have not been introduced to Vue.

Thanks again for the links and advice. I will look them all over this evening.

[Bloodwig80]

I cant help you with the last question, but I do know some resellers only offer software support up to a point, say 2 versions previous to the current release. But im not sure what each reseller does with the products.

[LCE]

The 2009 range of products coming out of Autodesk are all VERY good, from ACAD, to Architecture, to Revit and even Max. There have been some exceptional advances this year. However, bare in mind that they have only recently been released, so there are more than likely still bugs lying in wait to bite you in the a55 with 5minutes left on deadline day.
I would advise purchasing 2009 (make sure you have it on subscription, discuss this with your reseller) but possible settle with 2008 for a few months until service packs are released and the support is available on the internet, especially if they have not used cad before.

[Alan Cullen]

2009 is very good. We have Map 3D 2009 and also Civil 3D 2009. No problems yet what so ever. Despite what other members are saying here about 2009, we have not found any problems. in fact, I would go so far as to say it is more stable than 2008. And much better.

I'm sure you can purchase any acad product, version you want, but why would you, they are all going to cost about the same, so get the latest.

Go for 2009, it is so far advanced from 2007, it will knock your socks off.

[f700es]

Thank You each SO much! Very good points raised re: LT and the full version. I have worked in both and much prefer the full version myself.

I do have a follow-up question...

I was under the impression that only 2009 (or the CURRENT version) could be purchased. Is that not true?

And IF we do have a choice between years, is 2009 the best way to go from your collective experience?

I have used SketchUp a bit and know it is a very valuable tool to utilize. But have not been introduced to Vue.

Thanks again for the links and advice. I will look them all over this evening.

As far as I klnow and that I have seen this is true. Only current version are sold. You might get lucky with your reseller but don't hold your breath on this. Good luck :)

[CADTutor]

The new EULA for 2009 entitles the licence holder to use any previous version of the software (this is new). So if you buy 2009, it entitles you to use 2008, 2007 etc.

[f700es]

The new EULA for 2009 entitles the licence holder to use any previous version of the software (this is new). So if you buy 2009, it entitles you to use 2008, 2007 etc.

But one would still need the software, correct?

[CADTutor]

But one would still need the software, correct?

Oh, sure but I guess most people have old AutoCAD disks hanging around or at least know someone who does. (Or is it just me who has an inability to throw away old CDs?)

[Alan Cullen]

Nah, we've still got all ours back to R14. And that includes all the manuals. :lol:

I keep putting them on the throw-out table, and they keep ending up back on my desk. :?

[MAREBER]

You guys are great! Thank you!

I did speak with a reseller today and had most of my other questions answered. I was wondering however...what is the advantage to purchasing through a reseller vs. from Autodesk on-line?

I also learned that both of the designer computers at the office are low in memory. They both have 512MB and are only capable of holding 1G each.

After reading that the newer CAD software 'should' run on a 1G minimum... I was thinking of downloading the trail version to see if things drag or not on the current systems.

Have any of you had experience of dragging systems with lower memory than what is recommended?

Am I asking too many questions? :wink:

[Alan Cullen]

You keep firing away with your questions, we'll keep trying to answer them.

We have an FAQ on hardware requirements for various versions, it may give you some idea......

http://www.cadtutor.net/faq/questions/16/What+computer+specification+do+I+need+to+run+AutoC AD%3F

Generally, if you have too little RAM, the computer will slow down, because it has to "page out" to the hard drive rather than to the RAM.

[NuttZ]

As a pointer to all that are considering upgrading, but may fear the 2009 interface.
Whereas in the past you were entitled to use your current licence with a previous release, providing that you had previously owned the software you wish to use, you can now use your 2009 licence and use 2008, 2007, etc. without having to have previously owned 2008, 2007, etc.
Does 2009 use 2007 file type? Meaning..if i have 2007 and and someone sends me a drawing they did in 2009, can I open it?

Thanks :)

[LCE]

Yes.
Althought you have to be careful in annotation scale is being used.

[NuttZ]

Yes.
Althought you have to be careful in annotation scale is being used.

Thanks...just wanting to know if i was going to go ahead and install 2009.

Most of our architects and engineers are still using 2004. Which means i have to save down anyway.

[LCE]

OK. If you are planning to install 2009, my advice would be to wait a month or 2. That way if there are any bugs (which there are bound to be) then there is a good chance that hot fixes - or better yet, a service pack - will be available.
There will also be a wide range of knowledge available on the net for the smaller problems that you may encounter.

Just my 2 pennies worth.