@MarcZinck wrote:
Autodesk ReCap is constantly evolving, adding new features and services, and fixing defects to make working with reality data easier for our customers. In an effort to provide the best experience and support we encourage all users to be on the latest version of the software.
Hi Mark,
thanks for the reply.
I totally understand and am on the same page as you when it comes to updating Recap. It is the first thing i tell everyone i talk to about working with point cloud data in recap; "Update your recap to the latest version, it is worth it as they are always making it better."
Unfortunately i am 100% against the forced update. I get that for a lot of users (most of the time me included) it isn't that big of a deal as they are stationed at a PC with a fixed land line connection, so updating isn't that big of a problem. Where the issues come in for semi regular users who don't have or require a subscription is that if they are part of a very large company (like a LOT of my clients) they can't upgrade their software independently, meaning they need IT to do it for them which can be a huge pain. OR if like me, i hardly ever use recap on my laptop and haven't used it in quite a while, then go to show someone some point cloud data and BAM! can't open the program. How much of an idiot does that make me look? and how much encouragement does that give to new users to start using the program?
Me: "Oh yeah, working with this point cloud stuff is easy and free, you just need this Recap program and you're away."
*try to open point cloud*
Recap: "Sorry you're not up to date" "close, close or close"
New Client: why would i want to use that program? and if it is that hard for you who does it for a living, why would i use point clouds?"
Doesn't look good for anyone involved, so why do it?
Like i said, i 100% on board with updating, but there is no point to locking me out of a program that is working fine in the first place. Make it a perptual reminder or something, but don't lock me out, i am happy to update when i have time and a decent internet connection with unlimited download.
the only reason Autodesk would take this path is to try and force people onto a subscription so it doesn't happen again. Unfortunately for me (and Autodesk) i have NO need what so ever for the pro features of Recap. And i have a scanner! i have software that does all the things that Recap pro does and does them much better, so i will (likely) never bother with pro. So why would my clients bother with it if i don't need it? God knows i will never recommend they spend money on Autodesk products while they are doing things like this.
If the bigger problem is that Autodesk need to start making some money from Recap in order to keep the development up, which is totally reasonable and to be expected, why not charge a small reasonable fee for it?
Better yet, why not allow those that have other Autodesk products to use it for free without being forced to update? Why try and force us to get the pro version that we will never use the features of for the sole purpose of not being forced to upgrade? All they are doing is giving another reason not to use their products.
@MarcZinck wrote:
With respect to the size of installations. Autodesk makes our best effort to reduce the download size of installations by delivering updates as incremental hot fixes, however due to some technical requirements, we must periodically ship full installers of our software. For example, the full installer of ReCap v3.1.0 was 1.3GB in size, however the three hot fixes for that version (v3.1.1.17, v3.1.2.1, and v3.1.3.4) were 34MB, 29MB, and 30MB in size. That being said, I do agree that a 1.3GB can be difficult to deal with, especially on a slower connection. We will take your comment regarding bundling the example data under consideration. The current example data set represents roughly 200MB of the entire installer.
I have noticed this while updating and can appreciate the fact that the major updates need the full installer verses the updates/patches. After posting, i was thinking that the sample data would likely be zipped and only a couple hundred Mb. but even that in my current situation would possibly make the difference. and god knows i don't need it. it just takes up HDD space if i don't think to go and delete it after the major updates.
Just to expand a little on my current situation, i am currently on a Mine site in the middle of Australia. we are a little over 500klm (305 mi) from the nearest town and it only has about 25,000 people. our internet connection here is patchy at best and tends to drop out altogether frequently (despite them just spending a small fortune on upgrading comms here). Our internet connection gets routed through a major city roughly 2000klm (1190 mi) away. while this is one of the more remote sites i have been to it is not an uncommon thing here in Australia to have a poor internet connection. i just did a test here and we are getting 12Mb down but this could drop to 1Mb or drop out altogether at any given moment. (As a point of reference we consistently only get 4-6Mb down at home in a Capital city. So how ripped off do i feel right now?!?) So to download a 1.3Gb file here will take a while and if the connection drops out then i have to start again due to the way Autodesk makes us download files. (atleast that is what happens to me all the time.) this might not be an issue in a city on a stable connection with unlimited data, but out here if i get 1.25Gb though the download and it drops out and i have to start again, that is potentially 2.55Gb i have chewed through to get the update. Not a huge deal until you know i am paying $15/Gb for my internet connection here. so that update could cost me just over $38. Again doesn't sound like a lot, but what happens if it takes me a few goes to get it? it could be a dam expensive update all because Autodesk have locked me out of the software for no good reason!
There are three things i can see that would fix this issue
1) Don't lock us out in the first place. Make it a reminder every time you open the software or something.
2) Change the downloader to something like a torrent system where it doesn't matter how long it takes or how many times you get disconnected, it just downloads and works.
3) make it possible to download the files through another computer and install them onto any computer, not through the updater. (maybe this is already possible?)
I do a lot of this kind of work and rely on having software that just works. If this is the path Autodesk are going to start taking with their software i know i won't be sticking around or recommending their software anyone ever. Especially once i find a good alternative.
