Liquidated CPU's w/ AutoDesk Inventor

[Tridraft]

Anyone heard of or actually purchased a "liquidated CPU still in the box with AutoDesk Inventor 2010 plus $$ of other software..."?

I saw such an ad and wonder if it is worth the gamble compared to the prohibitive price of buying AI 2010 outright. What and where are the best prices out there and how does it compare apples-to-apples against SolidWorks? I'm a loyal 20 year AutoDesk user but I've seen some good arguments for the "dark side".

If something sounds too good to be true...?

[MarkFlayler]

Here's the rip off. They say it comes with Inventor 2010 usually, and it does. The 30 day trial version. Then you still have to buy it. Now remember if you have AutoCAD already you get a discount through your reseller for buying Inventor that makes it cheaper than the normal price, but be VERY weary of this "special". Also, I believe Autodesk made it somewhat illegal with the EULA in the software to sell a valid license if you are not a reseller. I can't quite remember the results of the court case.

[Tridraft]

Aha! Yes, if it sounds too good to be true...

Thanks again for your late night assistance.

[shift1313]

i use both inventor and solid works. In terms of function they are pretty much the same. Inventor can do a few things that SW can't and the other way around. What it comes down to in the end is user interface for me. I enjoy the SW environment a bit more than Inventor but i still use inventor 2010 at home on a regular basis. I have been an acad user for awhile and i got comfortable with the new(09+) user interface of the autodesk products and like that. If you were using acad 09 or 2010 the user interface will be the same with inventor. if you were using 08 or 07 and older the leap is a little bigger.

[f700es]

Did this happen to be HP workstations? If so it is probably legit. AutoDesk has partnered with HP and Dell in the past for bundled workstations. Do you have a link for this?