Even the cheap AutoCAD clones now have 3D features also so if you don't like
it you are free to switch but your investment in their software is also
going to fund 3D developement.
Everyone would like LT with LiSP (thousands of ADN developers for sure) but
the truth of the matter is that it's likely never going to happen. They've
ran the numbers and they would lose X dollars in lost AutoCAD sales and gain
Y dollars in LT sales and X is far greater than Y so it doesn't make
business sense. They could not include 3D in the base AutoCAD and charge
extra for 3D but it wouldn't make it any cheaper and in this release you
probably still would have the exact same 2D enhancements. They include 3D
in the base AutoCAD so people who want to move to 3D can start getting a
feel for it instead of loosing customers to Solidworks or other products.
If you buy a car you are partially paying for all the fancy upgrades even if
you don't get them. Cars are made today with extra wires in them regarless
of if the options are installed because in the long run it's cheaper for the
majority. The guy buying the base model pays more but the guy buying all
the options pays slightly less than he would have if they do it the other
way. Can they make a car that will last 20 years, not rust, and run a
million miles? Sure they can. But it's not profitable.
Like it or not Autodesk needs to be profitable also. If they didn't inlcude
the 3D into the base AutoCAD the programming would have to be done anyways
for the vertical products. Most of the 3D work is likely funded by ADT,
LDT, MDT, Inventor and the rest of the vertical products. So you really
haven't been paying for the 3D features but more likely getting them for
free.
If you remember the old days (10-2000i) everyone always joked that you never
wanted to upgrade to an odd number release. It was always speculated that
there were 2 different teams working on releases. While Team1 is wrapping
up AutoCAD 10 Team 2 is already developing the features for Release 11. I'm
guessing it's likely no different now. Consider that AutoCAD 2007 is just
nearing release. In 8 months they will probably debut AutoCAD 2008 at AU.
In 10 months it will be in full Beta. So it would make logical sense to
have one team dedicated to 3D features and one to 2D.
As a developer I can tell you we all hate that we can't program around LT.
But it's their company and their decision and it's been well thought out by
people far smarter in business than we are. They've ran more numbers than
we could ever imagine. They didn't get to where they are at by not being
smart, that's for sure.
--
Rodney McManamy
President
CADzation
-------------------------
rmcmanamy@cadzation.com
-------------------------
518 South Route 31 Suite 200
McHenry, IL 60050
http://www.cadzation.com
Providing Industrial Strength
PDF & DWF Solutions to the
Global CAD Marketplace.
"David Allen" wrote in message
news:5111157@discussion.autodesk.com...
you have your point but my point is that I have been paying for years for 3D
features that I do not use.
With Autodesk pushing BIN and we are buying it, why should I pay for 3D
features when I already
paying for 3D in another autodesk product? Like I said, take out the 3D and
charge less.
Autodesk has already done this with LT. Look at the DWG viewer, you can
tell its using the
autocad engine and they are giving it away for free. I'm sure it would not
be that difficult to ship
an AutoCAD version sans the 3D, or LT with LiSP
--
Dave
"Rodney McManamy - CADzation" wrote in message
news:5110535@discussion.autodesk.com...
David,
Actually it would cost more to do a pure 2D. AutoCAD is the core of which
everything else is built around. 3D, ADT, LDT, even LT are different
flavors of the base AutoCAD. In the case of LT it's AutoCAD with a bunch of
features disabled. In the case of 3D it's AutoCAD with additional modeling
functionality.
So to create an AutoCAD 2D along with LT would be mean a whole new set of
documentation, licensing and support. Not to mention another team to
program it and test it.
Yes it does seam like 2D users are getting very little for their money out
of 2007 but 3D users got very little out of their money for 2006. It's a
delicate balance but I'm guessing most of the 3D editing they now have is
because of work done for the dynamic blocks in the old versions. And the
new file format in 2007 which they say is needed for the new 3D stuff will
probably bring 2D enhancements in 2008 that couldn't be done in the old
format.
The other (3D) users have complained for years that AutoCAD didn't do enough
for 3D users who didn't want to move up to Inventor. So now it's fair to
them.
If they continue on with 2008 being mainly 2D features and 2009 being mainly
3D features it's probably not a bad way to do it. An upgrade every 12
months is too much for most companies to handle anyways.
--
Rodney McManamy
President
CADzation
-------------------------
rmcmanamy@cadzation.com
-------------------------
518 South Route 31 Suite 200
McHenry, IL 60050
http://www.cadzation.com
Providing Industrial Strength
PDF & DWF Solutions to the
Global CAD Marketplace.
"David Allen" wrote in message
news:5109573@discussion.autodesk.com...
I guess I should have been more explentative
But as the subject says "2D AutoCAD"
To me AutoCAD with no 3D features would be
smaller, cost less and run faster with the 3D code
taken out. I don't need it but I'm paying for it
as shown in AutoCAD 2007.
I (my company) paid alot of money for 2007 and
I think we are getting a horrible return on our money.
We want 2D features, not 3D features for our money.
If I want 3D features then we buy Revit.
Simple as that.
--
Dave
"Jason Hickey" wrote in message
news:5109513@discussion.autodesk.com...
hector@work wrote:
> he has, what LT doesn't have is lisp
Well, yeah, but he didn't mention the need of LISP. I put that under
some of the "bloatware" that he was wanting to get rid of. It's also
missing Sheet Set Manager, but he didn't mention needing that. If he
wants everything BUT 3D, then he should just purchase AutoCAD and not
use 3D...
--
Jason Hickey
http://beneaththelines.blogspot.com