AutoCAD for Mac. What are the differences?

[bass_mark00]

I have a client who wants training on AutoCAD for Mac. From all the videos I've watched of it, it seems as if they've built it up from scratch with the screen layout being substantially different to either the Ribbon layout or the Classic layout for use with Windows (although all the functionality is probably there). It also seems that they've dealt with right-click contextual menus completely differently and have 'visors' to deal with it. The problem is that they've departed so far from normal AutoCAD in order to 'MAC' the whole experience that people will now need completely separate training and would probably even battle to cross over quickly to the Windows version. We are suddenly in the odd situation where Microstation is probably more similar to AutoCAD than AutoCAD for MAC.

 

Has anyone had a chance to use the software and can give some opinions and a concise overview of the differences?

 

Thanks

Mark

[nestly]

AutoCAD2011 for Mac was like AutoCAD LT with two broken legs. I guess it did some things, but for the life of me I can't believe they charged the same price as Regular AutoCAD.

 

Here's some of what was missing in "AppleCAD2011" What you don't get in ACAD for Mac

 

Having said that, I think they've improved the Mac version considerably for 2012, but you'll have to go through yourself and see what you can cross off the list as not still missing. Personally, you couldn't make me use that thing if you gave it to me free on brand new macbook... Some of the big features I could not live without are profiles, workspaces, PDF underlays, and Express Tools. NO EXPRESS TOOLS! are you kidding me, I'd rather have my arm off. And since there's no workspaces, I think it's save to say there's nothing resembling CLASSIC, and likely no toolbars either. Yeah, I'd teach that Macbook to fly...

 

How is AutoCAD for Mac different from AutoCAD

[bass_mark00]

Nestly, I think that AutoDESK have really shot themselves in the foot with this one and the problem for users likely to get worse. There's a lot of confusion amongst apple users who are looking at buying software. Do they install Windows or go with the Mac version? The problem is that the experienced AutoCAD users are unlikely to have any first-hand experience of the Mac version and are unable to give sensible, impartial advice.

 

My current take on it is that people own Macs primarily for entertainment and home use, and excluding industries such as graphic design and music recording, everyone else (who counts) is running Windows and the most sensible solution for anyone with a Mac is to get the hard drive partitioned and install Windows for AutoCAD use.

 

I really can't undertand why they've designed a completely seperate product, even an idiot would develop a product in tandem for two different platforms.

[ReMark]

No one understands the mindset of AutoDesk that actually has to work with one of their programs. It's a mystery, wrapped in an enigma, then wrapped in an alien version of the New York Times Sunday crossword puzzle.

 

You're right though. For the most part PC users of AutoCAD can't figure out what the hell AutoDesk was thinking when they ported AutoCAD over to the Mac. Any useful advice is likely to fall well short of the target and that is truly unfortunate for everyone.