Where did I say that they don't listen to users? I said
"I still think they are only partially listening to their users."
They may listen but something gets lost in the implementation. Who
knows why the issues are not being fixed, but there are tons. I always
love how if you actually can get a personal contact within a company they always
say sure no problem we will look at that issue and get back to you with some sort
of fix or whatever. Autodesk is just like other companies in that regard. But that's if
you know someone within autodesk or somehow can get into contact with someone.
I noticed that once you join ADN or if your company purchases huge amounts of
autodesk software then its no problem. I have mostly worked for small little companies
that just didn't have that kind of spending so of course the little guys are not going
to get the same type of attention. That's great that you goto those autodesk university
and gunslinger events. Great you are in the "in crowd". Maybe I guess I should go
and brown nose some too.
My history of ranting is due to frustration with dealing with the company and its product.
You may have noticed but over the last 3 years or so I have done less ranting because
the product has gotten better and I got tired of typing and not seeing a lot of results. I
still think the product has a way to go as far as stability goes. I have offered input as to
a solution as best as I can see. But I am not a programmer, just a end user who supports
other frustrated users. I've said make the product more stable and less susceptible to
crashing. What kind of input as to a solution can I offer here in that case?
Now as far as features go with autodesk I have said for years why doesn't autocad do
this or that. Other 3rd party developers such as Terry or Owen have made money making
products for autocad that fill the voids. Then again I do see some solutions eventually
do make it in autocad, but at what cost and how long does it take. Lets say for example
the xref pathing issue. The was a solution in R12 for modifying xref paths. Then autodesk
broke that solution and we had R13, R14, 2000, 2000i, 2002 then finally on 2004 we get
the reference manager. So yes autodesk does listen, it only took 5 versions of autocad
to come up with a solution. But then again I guess it didn't make headlines in the press
release so it gets a low priority.
I could go on and on about ideas on how to improve the product. Maybe this is not the
correct place but its the only one I have seen in the past. Now that a friend of mine is
on the ADN and has some contacts within autodesk I just feed him all my ideas and it
gets attention.
So yes I guess they do listen in a round about way. I guess I'm just impatient.
"James Wedding"
|>Dave, they do listen to users, and you know it. Jon Rizzo, myself, Karl
|>Fuls, and many others make their livings with LD and Autocad software. I've
|>seen all of these people personally in Manchester during validation,
|>testing, and gunslinger sessions.
|>
|>Your (or at least some other Dave Lewis',) history of ranting without any
|>real input as to a solution has just pushed you off the list of invitees.
|>Jon and I have both had very strong rants in these groups (go look it up,)
|>but we also have offered solutions, so we continue to be involved. Is that
|>the best way it should have been handled? I don't know, but to accuse the
|>team in Manchester of not talking to customers is disingenuous at best, and
|>a flat lie at worst.
--------------------------
Dave Lewis
CAD Manager
http://www.cadthinking.com
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