Favorite AutoCAD Version

[Cad64]

Stykface is not the only one. I closed all the Toolbars a long time ago, so using the Ribbon seems like a step backwards to me. I'll use the Ribbon once Autodesk makes it a permanent part of the program that cannot be closed, but until then, I will continue doing everything from the command line and being the fastest drafter in the office.

[rkmcswain]

I still don't believe in the Ribbon. I don't use it and don't know if I will ever fully adopt it.

Stykface is not the only one. I closed all the Toolbars a long time ago, so using the Ribbon seems like a step backwards to me. I'll use the Ribbon once Autodesk makes it a permanent part of the program that cannot be closed, but until then, I will continue doing everything from the command line and being the fastest drafter in the office.

We use Civil 3D and started professional training on it about a year ago. At the time, we decided to train on it using the OOTB interface (i.e.: Ribbon on, menubar OFF).
As time as gone by, I can't speak for others but I find myself primarily using toolbars, along with much more use of the right-click menus, as almost everything in the Ribbon can be found there also.

The biggest positive about the Ribbon is the contextual tabs.
The biggest negative is it still feels like it takes more time to find commands, not to mention the actual switching of the tabs is dreadfully slow, even on a powerful machine. It took several releases to get the CUI interface really usable, so I anticipate the Ribbon will continue to get better.

For programs that I use less, like Word, Excel, etc., the Ribbon is a real killer because I can never find what I need.

[f700es]

The ribbon seems to take up just a bit more space than I am used to. In r2008 I only used two rows of toolbars at the top of the screen and I used the Dashboard. When we moved to versions with the ribbon it just seem to cut down on drawing space. That was at old job with a 24" lcd as my cad screen. New job has a 28" lcd and it (ribbon) does not seem to be as big a problem but I am still not a fan. I found it easier to move around in the new Office versions than I did in CAD. I guess I was just not as used to the old Office versions like I was to in CAD.

[StykFacE]

For programs that I use less, like Word, Excel, etc., the Ribbon is a real killer because I can never find what I need.

So true!!!

[ReMark]

"For programs that I use less, like Word, Excel, etc., the Ribbon is a real killer because I can never find what I need."

Agreed.

That's why I haven't upgraded from the 2003 version!

[StykFacE]

I'm hoping the market complains enough for these companies to offer something else to the users. I'm not saying for them to go back to Toolbars and Menus, but the Ribbon interface in these programs just aren't cutting it IMHO. Only in certain robust programs that have a lot of tools available. If a simple program wants to adopt a Ribbon interface, then I can understand completely because it doesn't have the level of complexity that Word, Excel, or even AutoCAD has.

[CAD89]

Well I use the following versions of ACAD: 2000, 2004, 2006, 2008, Land Desktop 2009 and AcadMap 6, from all these versions I have installed in my computer the following: 2000, 2006, 2008 and Land Desktop 2009, the rest are installed at work. My personal favorite is ACAD 2006 because the Help file and the tutorials for Lisp are very well structured. At my workplace I use mostly ACAD 2000!

[Jack_O'neill]

I use 2010 and 2007 architectural for most of my work. of the two, i really like 2010 best. I dont' use the ribbon tho. clicked on autocad classic, then did as usual and built my own toolbars and pallets. 2010 is faster than 2007, and has some cool new features. I've used 9, 10, 11, the windows extension for 11 (which sucked big time), 12 dos and win, 13 (horrible experience, i still have nightmares), 14, 2000, mechanical desktop 5, 2002, 2006, 2007 and 2010.

Of all of those, Mechanical Desktop was by far the most fun. I couldn't wait to get to work when I was using that. If i could have just sat there and made drawings, that would have been as good as it got. Alas, company ownership changed, and with it, office politics became more than I could stand. Eventually it was leave or have a stroke. Got lucky and went to a company that made regular use of it's capabilities, so was in heaven again till 9-11 came along and brought that company (aircraft) to bankruptcy.

If I ever get enough ahead to afford it, I plan to add Inventor to the arsenal, just can't justify it right now. I hear it's almost as much fun tho.

Oh, yeah, I am attempting to teach myself Revit. It's fun to use but the learning curve is somewhat steep (at least for me).