AutoCAD appears headed back to the Mac

#1

Post by evo_9 » Sun, May 23, 2010, 4:52 PM UTC

AutoCAD appears headed back to the Mac
appleinsider.com

Re: AutoCAD appears headed back to the Mac

#2

Post by ComputerGuru » Sun, May 23, 2010, 5:14 PM UTC

For me, this is the last product for Mac that I need in order to convince a lot of people to make the switch.

As an engineer (well, computer engineer), CAD programs are an absolute must for a lot of the people I know, and for better or for worse, AutoCAD is the golden standard. Most engineers I know just need web browsing + office + AutoCAD... and now they (hopefully!) have it.

Re: AutoCAD appears headed back to the Mac

#3

Post by aw3c2 » Sun, May 23, 2010, 5:17 PM UTC

I do not care about Apple but this might make a Linux port possible which would make my life a magnitude easier.

Re: AutoCAD appears headed back to the Mac

#4

Post by weaksauce » Sun, May 23, 2010, 5:22 PM UTC

ComputerGuru wrote: post #2

For me, this is the last product for Mac that I need in order to convince a lot of people to make the switch. As an engineer (well, computer engineer), CAD programs are an absolute must for a lot of the people I know, and for better or for worse, AutoCAD is the golden standard. Most engineers I know just need web browsing + office + AutoCAD... and now they (hopefully!) have it.

What do you use autocad for? Electrical drawings or something else? I am very happy about this coming to the Mac as it might make the other engineering packages come to the Mac as well if it is a success. At my work we use solidworks for models and autocad for electrical drawings.

Re: AutoCAD appears headed back to the Mac

#5

Post by motters » Sun, May 23, 2010, 5:22 PM UTC

I remember probably a decade ago being told by CAD people how much companies pay to run AutoCAD, and being completely shocked. I never realised there was any software so expensive. Based upon my observations in several engineering companies I'd say that Autodesk is one of the worst organisations when it comes to selling of software, very aggressively locking users in using strong-arm tactics.

Re: AutoCAD appears headed back to the Mac

#6

Post by wwortiz » Sun, May 23, 2010, 5:30 PM UTC

motters wrote: post #5

I remember probably a decade ago being told by CAD people how much companies pay to run AutoCAD, and being completely shocked. I never realised there was any software so expensive. Based upon my observations in several engineering companies I'd say that Autodesk is one of the worst organisations when it comes to selling of software, very aggressively locking users in using strong-arm tactics.

Pretty much all engineering software tends to come out to about $2k-$6k a seat which may seem quite expensive but when you get to modeling systems with a huge number of parts and such this software is invaluable and these engineering companies know this and therefore can charge this price.

These companies are more than just autodesk, there is PTC and solidworks and MSCsoftware, I've heard from my professors that MSC's Adams software is something like $20k a seat and getting an educational discount or deal is extremely hard to come by.

Re: AutoCAD appears headed back to the Mac

#7

Post by motters » Sun, May 23, 2010, 5:40 PM UTC

wwortiz wrote: post #6

motters wrote: post #5

I remember probably a decade ago being told by CAD people how much companies pay to run AutoCAD, and being completely shocked. I never realised there was any software so expensive. Based upon my observations in several engineering companies I'd say that Autodesk is one of the worst organisations when it comes to selling of software, very aggressively locking users in using strong-arm tactics.

Pretty much all engineering software tends to come out to about $2k-$6k a seat which may seem quite expensive but when you get to modeling systems with a huge number of parts and such this software is invaluable and these engineering companies know this and therefore can charge this price. These companies are more than just autodesk, there is PTC and solidworks and MSCsoftware, I've heard from my professors that MSC'…

It was a long time ago, but I remember having a conversation with the chief draughtsman at one company and him explaining with a tone of weary resignation how he needed to spend a large amount of money buying upgrades for AutoCAD even though his department didn't require any of the features it contained. The way that the software was being marketed was basically forcing him into paying Autodesk whether he wanted to or not - almost like the medieval practice of paying tribute to the local baron.

Re: AutoCAD appears headed back to the Mac

#8

Post by gibsonf1 » Sun, May 23, 2010, 5:55 PM UTC

This is ironic as AutoCad is now a completely obsolete program based on decades old technology. The industry is moving to Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Autodesk was smart enough to see the writing on the wall, and bought Revit. What I would love is Revit on linux.

Re: AutoCAD appears headed back to the Mac

#9

Post by brudgers » Sun, May 23, 2010, 5:56 PM UTC

It's a nice thought, but it's hard to see the business case for Autodesk...support for two platfroms in order to cannibalize their own sales doesn't make a lot of sense.

Re: AutoCAD appears headed back to the Mac

#10

Post by seshagiric » Sun, May 23, 2010, 5:59 PM UTC

motters wrote: post #5

I remember probably a decade ago being told by CAD people how much companies pay to run AutoCAD, and being completely shocked. I never realised there was any software so expensive. Based upon my observations in several engineering companies I'd say that Autodesk is one of the worst organisations when it comes to selling of software, very aggressively locking users in using strong-arm tactics.

CATIA (from Dassault Systems) sells for more than $50K per seat. How about that?