Rant about retiring of AutoCAD 2000

[Anonymous]

In regards to the retiring of AutoCAD 2000. I can't understand why Autodesk
won't announce what they will be retiring. I am hearing conflicting reports
from different resellers. I can't understand why Autodesk would tell the
resellers (who are telling the customers) then deny knowledge of it to
customers. I can't understand why I am now scrambling to re-do software
budgets on this bit of information that I can't get the maker of the
software to admit to even though the people that are selling their software
will admit to it.

[Anonymous]

I feel your pain.

In order to get this thread more in line with the "CAD Manager" part of the
group, I'll add my little rant.

Microsoft, big, bloated Microsoft, has their act together enough to have a
big chart listing when they are phasing out their programs. It is very
handy to use, and helps when forming tech budgets and to coordinate update
schedules.

Now, I understand that Autodesk doesn't quite have the resources of
Microsoft. Their website isn't quite as well designed, and they're all busy
working away at service packs and new releases of software. Why can't they
take 5-10 minutes to setup a little html chart listing when they're going to
phase out software? It won't take much time at all, and it'll stop people
like us from complaining. It will also better enable CAD managers to manage
budgets for upcoming years.

Corwin Holder
Agri-Fab, Inc.


"Confused" wrote in message
news:2EF47A8B09A212EDC5FD9E5713DC37D9@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> In regards to the retiring of AutoCAD 2000. I can't understand why
Autodesk
> won't announce what they will be retiring. I am hearing conflicting
reports
> from different resellers. I can't understand why Autodesk would tell the
> resellers (who are telling the customers) then deny knowledge of it to
> customers. I can't understand why I am now scrambling to re-do software
> budgets on this bit of information that I can't get the maker of the
> software to admit to even though the people that are selling their
software
> will admit to it.
>
>

[Anonymous]

"Corwin_H" wrote in message
news:D6FCBAA0BB2C23B21C386EA063E48F57@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
>Why can't they
> take 5-10 minutes to setup a little html chart listing when they're going
to
> phase out software? It won't take much time at all, and it'll stop people
> like us from complaining. It will also better enable CAD managers to
manage
> budgets for upcoming years.

I agree, the situation for me is this. I told my boss about the (rumored)
retirement, he asked me to find out exactly which versions and to get proof
from Autodesk so we can try to scramble a few upgrades on FY03's software
budget. I can't confirm either and this FY ends in ~2 weeks.

[Anonymous]

> I agree, the situation for me is this. I told my boss about the (rumored)
> retirement, he asked me to find out exactly which versions and to get
proof
> from Autodesk so we can try to scramble a few upgrades on FY03's software
> budget. I can't confirm either and this FY ends in ~2 weeks.

What about subscriptions? It would at least eliminate this hassle next
year.

[Anonymous]

thats one of the benefits of being a monopolic firm, they dont have to do
anything to ease up on their customers.

Microsoft acted like that until Linux and Mac got their act together, now MS
is as friendly and customer driven as ever.

Autodesk on the other hand...dont get me started, or else they'll delete
this thread...as usual

[Anonymous]

"Adam Wuellner" wrote in message
news:468E18824FD4112D3311543E26DC1C24@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> What about subscriptions? It would at least eliminate this hassle next
> year.


We are looking into that, but being a big company we tend to move rather
slow at times due to lots of red tape.

[Anonymous]

Fist to the main issue. Autodesk may not have this posted on their website
but their own sales reps, not resellers, are announcing it at the shows /
breakfasts to introduce the LDD2004 line.

Now to your comments on Microsoft.

I read a lot of posts about the new 2004 Autodesk software. How it is still
not bug free. How it should still be considered BETA release software.
Autodesk has released a Hotfix for LDD2004 that addresses some compatibility
with older OS's. Mainly NT. Over the life of the Software I'd expect to see
at most a dozen fixes or service packs. Microsoft released
updates/fixes/service packs for it's OS and software on an almost daily
basis. It is strange to find Microsoft being held up as an example for
Autodesk to follow.

It's not that hard to figure when software will be retired. Approximately 6
months after a new release the tail end release will be retired. So if you
see a new release on the horizon and you have a tail end release you should
realize that your software will soon be unsupported.

Confused. If you have any intention of staying with Autodesk I would suggest
the subscription program. They have now set up their pricing so you get no
monetary advantage by skipping a release. If you don't budget X this year
you'll have to budget 2X next year. If you are big enough that red tape may
put you in the red on software purchasing. Then your company is big enough
to put in a yearly budget line for Software Maintenance and Upgrades.

I used to go through the same heart ache. Now I've had us on subscription
for 5 years and it's painless. Budget and Finance see the same line every
year. They read the same justifications each year, all I do is change the
year and print it again, and that's the way they like it. No surprises
Good luck.
Allen

"Corwin_H" wrote in message
news:D6FCBAA0BB2C23B21C386EA063E48F57@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> I feel your pain.
>
> In order to get this thread more in line with the "CAD Manager" part of
the
> group, I'll add my little rant.
>
> Microsoft, big, bloated Microsoft, has their act together enough to have a
> big chart listing when they are phasing out their programs. It is very
> handy to use, and helps when forming tech budgets and to coordinate update
> schedules.
>
> Now, I understand that Autodesk doesn't quite have the resources of
> Microsoft. Their website isn't quite as well designed, and they're all
busy
> working away at service packs and new releases of software. Why can't
they
> take 5-10 minutes to setup a little html chart listing when they're going
to
> phase out software? It won't take much time at all, and it'll stop people
> like us from complaining. It will also better enable CAD managers to
manage
> budgets for upcoming years.
>
> Corwin Holder
> Agri-Fab, Inc.

[Anonymous]

I have always wondered why AutoDesk seems to keep it quiet until the last
minute. I wonder if this is a tactic used by their marketing department to
pressure the powers that be to make a quick decision instead of taking the
time to contemplate other software. In any case I find it to be a nuisance
and is just one more bad decision made by AutoDesk. I love their software,
but man the executives over there seem to make a lot of ill choices with
their product. Lets just hope they start gearing more for the customer then
anyone else...

--
Delete Me


"Hector" wrote in message
news:586B3FAAD85087BE3FA57A9F54A62794@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
| thats one of the benefits of being a monopolic firm, they dont have to do
| anything to ease up on their customers.
|
| Microsoft acted like that until Linux and Mac got their act together, now
MS
| is as friendly and customer driven as ever.
|
| Autodesk on the other hand...dont get me started, or else they'll delete
| this thread...as usual
|
|

[Anonymous]

*checks to see if I can still post*

I'm really not too concerned about when things will pass out of Autodesk's
support window, but I still wonder why they choose not to keep their
customers better informed. If Microsoft, a company notorious for poor
customer support, can keep people informed, why can't Autodesk? Why do the
users and CAD managers have to work through the resellers, when often the
resellers don't even know?

Corwin Holder
Agri-Fab, Inc.


"Allen Jessup" wrote in message
news:84B281BC579330A13C39BED288D9234B@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> Fist to the main issue. Autodesk may not have this posted on their website
> but their own sales reps, not resellers, are announcing it at the shows /
> breakfasts to introduce the LDD2004 line.
>
> Now to your comments on Microsoft.
>
> I read a lot of posts about the new 2004 Autodesk software. How it is
still
> not bug free. How it should still be considered BETA release software.
> Autodesk has released a Hotfix for LDD2004 that addresses some
compatibility
> with older OS's. Mainly NT. Over the life of the Software I'd expect to
see
> at most a dozen fixes or service packs. Microsoft released
> updates/fixes/service packs for it's OS and software on an almost daily
> basis. It is strange to find Microsoft being held up as an example for
> Autodesk to follow.
>
> It's not that hard to figure when software will be retired. Approximately
6
> months after a new release the tail end release will be retired. So if you
> see a new release on the horizon and you have a tail end release you
should
> realize that your software will soon be unsupported.
>
> Confused. If you have any intention of staying with Autodesk I would
suggest
> the subscription program. They have now set up their pricing so you get no
> monetary advantage by skipping a release. If you don't budget X this year
> you'll have to budget 2X next year. If you are big enough that red tape
may
> put you in the red on software purchasing. Then your company is big enough
> to put in a yearly budget line for Software Maintenance and Upgrades.
>
> I used to go through the same heart ache. Now I've had us on subscription
> for 5 years and it's painless. Budget and Finance see the same line every
> year. They read the same justifications each year, all I do is change the
> year and print it again, and that's the way they like it. No surprises
> Good luck.
> Allen

[Anonymous]

That is what I hope for from AutoDesk as well... I am glad they have
listened to the consumers on upgrades, though.

--
Humpty Dumpty


"Delete Me" wrote in message
news:8175AD5D9CB0F2F9446BADD2D2384E80@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
| I have always wondered why AutoDesk seems to keep it quiet until the last
| minute. I wonder if this is a tactic used by their marketing department
to
| pressure the powers that be to make a quick decision instead of taking the
| time to contemplate other software. In any case I find it to be a
nuisance
| and is just one more bad decision made by AutoDesk. I love their
software,
| but man the executives over there seem to make a lot of ill choices with
| their product. Lets just hope they start gearing more for the customer
then
| anyone else...
|
| --
| Delete Me
|
|
| "Hector" wrote in message
| news:586B3FAAD85087BE3FA57A9F54A62794@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
| | thats one of the benefits of being a monopolic firm, they dont have to
do
| | anything to ease up on their customers.
| |
| | Microsoft acted like that until Linux and Mac got their act together,
now
| MS
| | is as friendly and customer driven as ever.
| |
| | Autodesk on the other hand...dont get me started, or else they'll delete
| | this thread...as usual
| |
| |
|
|

[Anonymous]

would that include autocad2000i ?

"Allen Jessup" wrote in message
news:84B281BC579330A13C39BED288D9234B@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> Fist to the main issue. Autodesk may not have this posted on their website
> but their own sales reps, not resellers, are announcing it at the shows /
> breakfasts to introduce the LDD2004 line.
>
> Now to your comments on Microsoft.
>
> I read a lot of posts about the new 2004 Autodesk software. How it is
still
> not bug free. How it should still be considered BETA release software.
> Autodesk has released a Hotfix for LDD2004 that addresses some
compatibility
> with older OS's. Mainly NT. Over the life of the Software I'd expect to
see
> at most a dozen fixes or service packs. Microsoft released
> updates/fixes/service packs for it's OS and software on an almost daily
> basis. It is strange to find Microsoft being held up as an example for
> Autodesk to follow.
>
> It's not that hard to figure when software will be retired. Approximately
6
> months after a new release the tail end release will be retired. So if you
> see a new release on the horizon and you have a tail end release you
should
> realize that your software will soon be unsupported.
>
> Confused. If you have any intention of staying with Autodesk I would
suggest
> the subscription program. They have now set up their pricing so you get no
> monetary advantage by skipping a release. If you don't budget X this year
> you'll have to budget 2X next year. If you are big enough that red tape
may
> put you in the red on software purchasing. Then your company is big enough
> to put in a yearly budget line for Software Maintenance and Upgrades.
>
> I used to go through the same heart ache. Now I've had us on subscription
> for 5 years and it's painless. Budget and Finance see the same line every
> year. They read the same justifications each year, all I do is change the
> year and print it again, and that's the way they like it. No surprises
> Good luck.
> Allen
>
> "Corwin_H" wrote in message
> news:D6FCBAA0BB2C23B21C386EA063E48F57@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> > I feel your pain.
> >
> > In order to get this thread more in line with the "CAD Manager" part of
> the
> > group, I'll add my little rant.
> >
> > Microsoft, big, bloated Microsoft, has their act together enough to have
a
> > big chart listing when they are phasing out their programs. It is very
> > handy to use, and helps when forming tech budgets and to coordinate
update
> > schedules.
> >
> > Now, I understand that Autodesk doesn't quite have the resources of
> > Microsoft. Their website isn't quite as well designed, and they're all
> busy
> > working away at service packs and new releases of software. Why can't
> they
> > take 5-10 minutes to setup a little html chart listing when they're
going
> to
> > phase out software? It won't take much time at all, and it'll stop
people
> > like us from complaining. It will also better enable CAD managers to
> manage
> > budgets for upcoming years.
> >
> > Corwin Holder
> > Agri-Fab, Inc.
>
>

[Anonymous]

"cadtank" wrote in message
news:3C89672F8518B29351101BBD692474AF@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> would that include autocad2000i ?


That is part of the confusion. Call 1-800-225-1191 (Autodesk) and they say
yes. My local reseller says no.

[Anonymous]

thanks.
i will see what the reseller says.

"Greg Alford" wrote in message
news:488AD666C084194218ACE93D2894FDC6@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> "cadtank" wrote in message
> news:3C89672F8518B29351101BBD692474AF@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> > would that include autocad2000i ?
>
>
> That is part of the confusion. Call 1-800-225-1191 (Autodesk) and they
say
> yes. My local reseller says no.
>
>

[Anonymous]

I believe the NE rep at the show said Yes. However since I'm well passed
that release I may not have been paying strict attention.

Allen

"Greg Alford" wrote in message
news:488AD666C084194218ACE93D2894FDC6@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> "cadtank" wrote in message
> news:3C89672F8518B29351101BBD692474AF@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> > would that include autocad2000i ?
>
>
> That is part of the confusion. Call 1-800-225-1191 (Autodesk) and they
say
> yes. My local reseller says no.
>
>

[Anonymous]

It may be fear. I remember hearing that there was at one time a "problem"
when they had announce that one of the earlier releases (or versions) would
be release by a certain date. There were problems and they didn't make that
date by quite a bit. Someone may have maid a big thing about it. I don't
remember the details. Once burnt, twice shy.

Between that and their opinion that having their competition not know what
the target date for the next release gives them some kind of edge they have
decided to keep the upgrade schedules secret. Although it's not all that
secret. Most resellers can give you a 3 month window about half a year
before the fact.

Allen

"Corwin_H" wrote in message
news:4AE8BA311C4A430807258DBA91BBE938@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> *checks to see if I can still post*
>
> I'm really not too concerned about when things will pass out of Autodesk's
> support window, but I still wonder why they choose not to keep their
> customers better informed. If Microsoft, a company notorious for poor
> customer support, can keep people informed, why can't Autodesk? Why do
the
> users and CAD managers have to work through the resellers, when often the
> resellers don't even know?
>
> Corwin Holder
> Agri-Fab, Inc.

[Anonymous]

Can you get a letter from your reseller stating this is a fact. They are
your official conduit to Autodesk so their letter should be enough.

"Confused" wrote in message
news:E33C2A95392B3BA365EBC072C372751E@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> "Corwin_H" wrote in message
> news:D6FCBAA0BB2C23B21C386EA063E48F57@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> >Why can't they
> > take 5-10 minutes to setup a little html chart listing when they're
going
> to
> > phase out software? It won't take much time at all, and it'll stop
people
> > like us from complaining. It will also better enable CAD managers to
> manage
> > budgets for upcoming years.
>
> I agree, the situation for me is this. I told my boss about the (rumored)
> retirement, he asked me to find out exactly which versions and to get
proof
> from Autodesk so we can try to scramble a few upgrades on FY03's software
> budget. I can't confirm either and this FY ends in ~2 weeks.
>
>

[Anonymous]

here is the part that really stinks:

the firm i work for now got dinged by the bsa/disgruntled employee back in
'97 for r12 & softdesk, so they had to upgrade to r14. do then r14 support
was going away, so convinced them to upgrade to 2000i, by the time they did
that, 2002 came out. they wouldn't go for the vip/subscription. so here i
am again, the most knowledgeable cad geek they have ever had or will have,
looking to stay ahead or move on. anyway, i have come to the conclusion
that i will be long dead & gone before the AEC industry comes out of this
dysfunctional fog that all these old white men like so much. i give up.


"Allen Jessup" wrote in message
news:120117767E6160D05B5FB10317434F19@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> I believe the NE rep at the show said Yes. However since I'm well passed
> that release I may not have been paying strict attention.
>
> Allen
>
> "Greg Alford" wrote in message
> news:488AD666C084194218ACE93D2894FDC6@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> > "cadtank" wrote in message
> > news:3C89672F8518B29351101BBD692474AF@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> > > would that include autocad2000i ?
> >
> >
> > That is part of the confusion. Call 1-800-225-1191 (Autodesk) and they
> say
> > yes. My local reseller says no.
> >
> >
>
>

[Anonymous]

If they include 2000i why not 2002?

They are all release 15.xx versions!



"Greg Alford" wrote in message
news:488AD666C084194218ACE93D2894FDC6@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> "cadtank" wrote in message
> news:3C89672F8518B29351101BBD692474AF@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> > would that include autocad2000i ?
>
>
> That is part of the confusion. Call 1-800-225-1191 (Autodesk) and they
say
> yes. My local reseller says no.
>
>

[Anonymous]

Autodesk seems to succeed in spite of upper management.

Obviously they must have some really good people in the trenches who do care
about their customers. I could name a few but I know I would leave someone
out.


"Delete Me" wrote in message
news:8175AD5D9CB0F2F9446BADD2D2384E80@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> I have always wondered why AutoDesk seems to keep it quiet until the last
> minute. I wonder if this is a tactic used by their marketing department
to
> pressure the powers that be to make a quick decision instead of taking the
> time to contemplate other software. In any case I find it to be a
nuisance
> and is just one more bad decision made by AutoDesk. I love their
software,
> but man the executives over there seem to make a lot of ill choices with
> their product. Lets just hope they start gearing more for the customer
then
> anyone else...
>
> --
> Delete Me
>
>
> "Hector" wrote in message
> news:586B3FAAD85087BE3FA57A9F54A62794@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> | thats one of the benefits of being a monopolic firm, they dont have to
do
> | anything to ease up on their customers.
> |
> | Microsoft acted like that until Linux and Mac got their act together,
now
> MS
> | is as friendly and customer driven as ever.
> |
> | Autodesk on the other hand...dont get me started, or else they'll delete
> | this thread...as usual
> |
> |
>
>

[Anonymous]

"Marshall Caudle" wrote in message
news:71FA4698201ABA53A48D10284DEF588A@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> If they include 2000i why not 2002?
>
> They are all release 15.xx versions!


Yep, although when I called the number they said no to 2002. I guess logic
prevails that '02 is new enough.