Is there seriously no option to buy a copy of Autocad LT outright?

[Anonymous]

Our needs are simple and we absolutely do not require a $400/year subscription.. Yet for 20 minutes clicking back and forth on the store site, I cant seem to find any option to purchase a basic copy of Autocad LT..

Have you really moved everything over to a non-option subscription service?

thanks,

Brett

[jmarenic]

In case you forgot the Autocad.DWG file is  only 100% accessible by autodesk software.  Also my point is that they are wrongfully changing accounts from perpetual licenses to subscription. So name the options genius. 

[rkmcswain]

I'm no genius, and this post will probably get removed since they don't like mentions of their competitors, so hopefully you have email notifications enabled, but BricsCAD and Draftsight are probably the top two. I think ARES still makes one also.  You could probably Google those for links and to search for others.

[rkmcswain]

@jmarenic wrote:

..... they are wrongfully changing accounts from perpetual licenses to subscription. 

"Wrongfully" by what definition? It's Autodesk's software, they get to make the rules. Don't like the rules? You'll have to somewhere else or challenge this in court. They like to think most people will do neither. 

[Anonymous]

I forsee a problem with buying a competitor's software.

If the company you are working for requires the AutoCAD format it would be risky translating back & forth through the programs. More of a chance of losing information or having your work scrambled.

[rkmcswain]

@Anonymous wrote:

I forsee a problem with buying a competitor's software.

If the company you are working for requires the AutoCAD format it would be risky translating back & forth through the programs.

There is no translation. DWG is DWG, Autodesk isn't the only vendor who can read/write DWG.

[deamag]

I have been, essentially, put out of business by AutoDesk. They now primarily support big businesses who can afford monthly fees.
No intention, on my part, in continuing work as an independent AutoCAD operator unless my employer will pay monthly fees.
Unfortunately, that is the reality. They don't have any interest in small, independent users.

[rkmcswain]

@deamag wrote:
I have been, essentially, put out of business by AutoDesk.

How? That's like saying Ford put you out of the driving business, when there is Chevrolet, Chrysler, Audi, Toyota, and dozens of other car makers.

[jmarenic]

You’re right. I just tried the others and the conversation of all the functions are not there. The other issues arose from third party software not being compatible. So I am stuck in with a monopoly that keeps focusing on screwing its customers. 

[pendean]

@jmarenic stuck? For an AutoCADLT replacement? Really?
Or are you just mad you cannot find a freeware that actually works?
Or cannot handle a slightly different look/feel perhaps?

There is nothing special about AutoCADLT, DWG is no longer exclusive, it's not 1990 anymore, try a little harder with your search, there are very good alternatives out there.

If you want to play the victim though (with AutoCADLT?), try Facebook, Autodesk's page is a good place to start.

Good luck.

[flamesfan30]

Companies like autodesk are keeping the black market booming. There’s no reason why they can’t have a version for personal use or small business use that someone small time can purchase. 

[rkmcswain]

@flamesfan30 wrote:

Companies like autodesk are keeping the black market booming. There’s no reason why they can’t have a version for personal use or small business use that someone small time can purchase. 

Should Ferrari and Rolls Royce be obligated to make a model that "someone small time" can purchase? Why should Autodesk? There are other vendors out there that read/write DWG that are more affordable. Like most other goods in the world, Autodesk prices their products by what the market will bear. If AutoCAD LT was $1,000,000.00 - they would not sell one copy. If it were free, they could give away millions but soon go out of business. They chose to make it US $55/month and say take it or leave it. 

[Lareedrdg]

it is definitely predatory, in my opinion, for AutoCad to force everyone into a subscription based version of their software that forces everyone into working off of their "cloud". So much for individual autonomy and keeping your version installed and running. I am an independent design contractor and this forced subscription service isn't cheap, has set backs and occasional slow, lagging reflexes, and seems to restrict free enterprise. Gone are the days when you could buy an older version for $400.00 and use it for several years, then buy a newer one and carry that cost over several years. It is a hardship for small independents like me. It frustrates me that students get the software for free.

[Lareedrdg]

It is bad business in my opinion and only motivates me to find a more cost effective solution in a competitor's software. I hate that AutoCad would rather do this predatory forced subscription model and totally eliminate individual purchase software.

[rkmcswain]

@Lareedrdg wrote:
it is definitely predatory, in my opinion, for AutoCad to force everyone into a subscription based version of their software that forces everyone into working off of their "cloud". So much for individual autonomy and keeping your version installed and running. I am an independent design contractor and this forced subscription service isn't cheap, has set backs and occasional slow, lagging reflexes, and seems to restrict free enterprise. Gone are the days when you could buy an older version for $400.00 and use it for several years, then buy a newer one and carry that cost over several years. It is a hardship for small independents like me. It frustrates me that students get the software for free.

Agree with everything you say, from a consumer POV. But it's a free market and you, me, everyone are free to tell Autodesk BYE and find another vendor. Autodesk is essentially daring us to do that. They pay a lot of smart people, a lot of $$$, to figure out what the market will bear for their products, and monthly, annual, or 3 year rentals are the answer(s).

Just as a correction, just because you rent Autodesk software does not force you to "work off their cloud". The only thing cloud based is the authorization, and you do not have to be online all the time. It works find offline as long as you periodically let it phone home. You can still store your files on your own local servers.

[pendean]

---

@Lareedrdg wrote:
It is bad business in my opinion and only motivates me to find a more cost effective solution in a competitor's software. I hate that AutoCad would rather do this predatory forced subscription model and totally eliminate individual purchase software.

---

Here are current "cost effective" offerings if you go there

https://all3dp.com/2/best-autocad-alternatives/
https://www.google.com/search?q=alternates+to+autocad

Best wishes.

[AllenJessup]

It amazes me what kind of hole people dig themselves into by trying to avoid upgrades and special offers.

This year we're paying $616.28 per seat for the full AEC Collection. Between installable and online there are probably over two dozen pieces of software.

I had a very smart reseller at one time. He taught me that Autodesk operates on the Carrot or the Stick method. By alway going for the carrot we've made out well over the years.

This doesn't help anyone who hasn't kept up. But it was always available.

[jrkeiffer]

This is why I keep a 16 bit machine running. I have a 16 bit version of AutoCad Lt I thought I should update. After downloading the newest version I found I was going to be using the cloud and spending around $500 a year subscription. Nope. Not going to happen for my one, maybe two, drawings a year. Good luck getting my bucks Autodesk. Paid $139 for that earlier version and it does everything I need, except run on a 64 bit machine. 

[rkmcswain]

@jrkeiffer wrote:

This is why I keep a 16 bit machine running. I have a 16 bit version of AutoCad Lt I thought I should update. After downloading the newest version I found I was going to be using the cloud and spending around $500 a year subscription. Nope. Not going to happen for my one, maybe two, drawings a year. Good luck getting my bucks Autodesk. Paid $139 for that earlier version and it does everything I need, except run on a 64 bit machine. 

"going to be using the cloud" <----- what do you think that means. The only "cloud" part you must use is the licensing.

What are you going to do when your 16-bit O/S (or the hardware it's on) dies? You won't get an activation code to run your old AutoCAD LT.

[jrkeiffer]

I've been a service technician since before the internet began. I've serviced computers using tubes, core memories and switches for loading basic boot systems. That 16 bit machine has been pried open more times than you can imagine. I can keep it operating until I'm being serviced in my final days. 
As far as the cloud is concerned I've worked with that from the days AT&T introduced cloud services. To me, the way Autodesk licensing works for the "hobby user" is a shame compared to what used to be done. 
The small time user isn't of any value even though those people give free advertising through their community that is being overlooked by software corporations. Only the power users are important.
Anyway, no matter how you cut it, to keep my copy running, I must have cloud services running to get my annual license and spend $500+ bucks as well. There's no indication I can make a one time purchase and ignore the annual licensing of this CAD system.

To me AutoCad has always been the benchmark for CAD; something other CAD companies aspire to be. I wouldn't care to see it disappear for those who can afford it. It's just not fiscally viable for users like me anymore. I only need to squeeze out about 5 more 16 bit years, but thanks for your thoughtful reply to my comments. I wish AutoCad well and may they follow in the footsteps of the great software companies like AshtonTate, Borland and the other pioneers.

[Simon_Weel]

To me, the way Autodesk licensing works for the "hobby user" is a shame compared to what used to be done. 

Don't know what used to be done. One thing stuck in my mind after reading John Walkers history about the birth of Autodesk: a bunch of guys wanting to make money. And that's what Autodesk did an still does. Esoteric things like goodwill don't make money, so nah, we don't do that. Everything to make the stakeholder happy....