Why is there a new version of Autocad each year?

[prime333]

For example every year they release a new version of autocad. AutoCAD 2010, Autocad 2011, Autocad 2012 etc. Why is this?

[Cad64]

Short answer = $$$

[Dana W]

Because they can't write code fast enough do do it every six months.

[nestly]

Short answer = $$$

 

Yep... they make more money selling "new" versions, so that's where they put the majority of their resources instead of "fixing" the existing problems.

[ReMark]

A bone thrown to those on Subscription to make them think they are getting something worth the price.

[nestly]

Funny how that works... they introduce more new bugs than they fix, and we somehow think we're getting ahead.

Edited June 21, 2014 by nestly

[Dadgad]

Because they can't write code fast enough do do it every six months.

 

Actually, they could, if they would just own up to the fact that whatever they release will be full of bugs and glitches, so they

should go even faster. They should just accept that there will always be problems, and stop trying to head them off at the pass,

before they inconvenience the users.

 

Firefox was a much better browser before they started releasing beta versions at an alarming rate.

Edited June 22, 2014 by Dadgad

[Organic]

There are always new updates/features in each version, albeit often small.

 

A yearly release probably helps get the software out the door. If the release was only every 4 years etc then imagine the testing and enormity of the task that would be; they are probably more likely to fall behind on a 4 year release schedule than on a 12 month release schedule.

 

AutoCad has nothing on Civil 3D in terms of failure to fix bugs and the introduction of new bugs and minimal useful features each release [there are major bugs in the software still dating back to 2008 and earlier that remain unresolved]. Compared to Civil 3D, AutoCad is the wonder child/parent.

[Cad64]

Civil 3D discussion has been moved to it's own thread here: http://www.cadtutor.net/forum/showthread.php?87389-Civil-3D-Nightmares. Please stay on topic.