I know the Browser F360 is still in early stages of development and this is a preview. I want to give my overall impression.
I think it works great so far and it's amazing I can do all of this in my browser. However, the experience needs to be as consistent as possible with Fusion 360 if you're looking at workflows where users of the desktop version use the browser version too.
There are small inconsistencies that are just enough to be annoying when you're trying to use it. If you're not careful it may become like jumping back and forth between two different programs. For example, if you've ever had to jump back and forth between Inventor and 3DS Max during a visualization project, the differences in the two programs are just enough to drive you crazy, constantly clicking on the wrong things, destroying selections, and having to backtrack.
A few examples:
- In Desktop Fusion there is a horizontal/vertical constraint. I'm in love with this thing and wondering why Inventor never did this. However, in Browser Fusion, we have the individual horizontal and vertical constraints, like everyone else.
- In Browser Fusion when you start a new sketch the line tool is automatically active. In Desktop Fusion no tools are active, which I think makes more sense. Why would Fusion assume my first action will be to draw a line? It rarely is, for me anyway.
- When creating a 3D feature like Extrusion, after you drag the arrow you have to click in the numeric input box again to type a value. In Desktop Fusion after dragging, the input box regains priority so you can immediately type the accurate value. Too many clicks on Browser Fusion.
- In Browser Fusion if you start Extrude with no profile selected it's defaulting to angle, if you start with a profile it defaults to distance. This is inconsistent. Extrude should probably always default to distance no matter your selection order, like Desktop Fusion.
Those are just a couple of the things that have aggravated me so far during my testing. On the other hand there are a lot of things that are definitely consistent:
- I appreciate the keyboard shortcuts being consistent. I find myself trying to use shortcuts for tools that aren't even in Browser Fusion yet sometimes 🙂 but the shortcuts are a welcome consistency. I hope the toolbox (s) is eventually added because I use that thing all the time in Desktop Fusion.
- Navigation in a model with the mouse is consistent with Fusion shortcuts, which is also nice.
- Having a consistent Browser and Timeline to work with is spot on. Graphically they are different, but most of the stuff is right where you expect it to be.
The feature names which show up on mouse-over in the Timeline actually work better in Browser Fusion. If you're moving the mouse horizontally over many features (as if scrolling through feature names) Browser Fusion shows you all names as you move along. Desktop Fusion will only show the name again as you stop the mouse over a feature.
Desktop Fusion:
Browser Fusion:
I will continue using the Browser Preview and I can't wait to see where it goes! Great Job so far Fusion Team!! Hopefully, though, it stays consistent with the Desktop Fusion experience and doesn't deviate too far for users that will be working in both.
