AutoCAD Coming to Mac, First Beta Screenshots

[rockboy]

Autodesk Beta Program

Autodesk, the producer of AutoCAD, has started a beta test program for Mac users. It's in the Community area.

 

[ustahir1]

sweet, this will go down a treat

 

[mpuck972]

Why have 1990's 2D Cad when 3D Cad is what people are using now? Autocad is not full 3D no matter how much they try to say it is. Now this is something to look forward too in the near future, SolidWorks 3D Cad on Mac:

And not just Mac, how about any O/S you can dream up:

 

[wizard]

Autodesk does have a very high opinion of itself.

I doubt it. I worked at an architecture firm and there are a ton of things stopping them from upgrading to Macs...the biggest being that autocad licenses are so expensive that it stops them from purchasing new machines. I would also hope that they would be swapping over Revit as well.

AutoCad is damn expensive especially in the context of 2D drafting so I don't expect a mass shift to this product as the expense implies planning. In otherwords unless you have several thousands dollars to throw around you don't buy an AutoCad seat on a whim.

The lack of inexpensive video cards which will run autocad are also pretty big. I'm not saying no one will switch over, but there are a lot of issues in the way.

Exactly. The first to go would be those already running AutoCad on a Mac via virtualization or boot camp. It would take others longer somtimes waiting for aux packages.

While AutoCad is an awesome suite I'd prefer that they consider a lower price package like AutoCad light. Besides being cheaper it appeal better to two groups. One being people that only need 2D drafting and those that have for the most part moved to solid modeling.

In any event I hope that AutoCad is successful as it should pull a lot ofother suppliers of engineering software to the platform. Right now the Mac is the only viable Unix alternative to Windows.

 

[gmcalpin]

Although, with the new iMac's, Apple has finally returned desktop grade processors to the iMac line, which does demonstrate a possible desire to strengthen the power to compete with midtowers (remember, Apple has deemed the iMac as a midtower "killer", an all-in-one system that doesn't take up a lot of space and [should] have the same specs as a desktop Dell, etc.).

When one of the specs that matters (to some people like myself) is the number of PCI slots, though…

I don't mind paying a premium on a fantastic Mac Pro case, but I don't need a server-grade processor. Like so many others here, I'd love for Apple to make a non-"Pro" Mac Pro. They could just call it a "Mac." Crazy, I know.

 

[smorris]

Concerning graphics requirements, AutoCAD is pretty low end compared to other CAD packages. I run Solid Edge v20 in Boot Camp on a stock 2007 vintage 24" iMac, and am able to handle very complex 3D casting models with fillets, draft, surfacing, etc.

Siemens' NX is available in native Mac format, and is one of two or three top tier CAD packages used workdwide.

 

[JeffDM]

Why have 1990's 2D Cad when 3D Cad is what people are using now? Autocad is not full 3D no matter how much they try to say it is.

I'm curious, how do you define "full 3D"? What can't AutoCAD do in 3D that it would be if it really was "full 3D" according to your definition? Even back when it ran on DOS, you could use AutoCAD to make 3D objects and move them around in full six degrees of freedom, and draw those 3D objects from any position or orientation.

If you want to say that Solidworks is a better 3D program, then I have no problem with that, but saying AutoCAD isn't really full 3D seems to be quite a lie.

 

[smorris]

If you want to say that Solidworks is a better 3D program, then I have no problem with that, but saying AutoCAD isn't really full 3D seems to be quite a lie.

AutoCAD isn't a full parametric 3D package. That's whu AutoDesk makes Inventor, which is. Inventor, SolidWorks, and Solid Edge are the mid-range CAD players, along with Rhino for more free-form surfacing.

 

[kresh]

Oh no it is the CAD wars on MacRumors!

Vector Works > AutoCad...

no no no

Catia rules the world...

neener, neener, neener...

Man do people like to fight on MacRumors.

 

[wizard]

Where did this ignorance come from?

It's funny that all these companies are coming to or back to Mac just as Apple are abandoning it.

Honestly this is plain stupid. Consider the effort that went into the latest iMac revisions or the MacBook Pro revisions and you will come to a completely different conclusion. Frankly Apple is the only company still innovating beyond intel reference designs.

If this is in reference to the Mac Pro I have to then chalk this comment up to immaturity. The Mac Pro is a low volume high performance computer that Apple simply can't update every three months. Besides real users of the device and the corresponding app developers wouldn't want a new rev coming out every other day.

In essence your posting is baseless crap.

 

[mpuck972]

I'm curious, how do you define "full 3D"? What can't AutoCAD do in 3D that it would be if it really was "full 3D" according to your definition? Even back when it ran on DOS, you could use AutoCAD to make 3D objects and move them around in full six degrees of freedom, and draw those 3D objects from any position or orientation.

If you want to say that Solidworks is a better 3D program, then I have no problem with that, but saying AutoCAD isn't really full 3D seems to be quite a lie.

Read this:

AutoCAD isn't a full parametric 3D package. That's whu AutoDesk makes Inventor, which is. Inventor, SolidWorks, and Solid Edge are the mid-range CAD players, along with Rhino for more free-form surfacing.

Parametric associations are the key. Create a '3D' assembly in autocad with features that have multiple associations, say like a bolt going through multiple plate, then move the bolt. In autocad the resulting hole will also have to be moved separately, in a fully parametric 3 program lie SolidWorks, the holes will move right along with the bolt. Hence the act that autocad has never been, and will never be a true 3D cad program, they wouldn't have created inventor if it was. Although there are rumors floating around that because inventor is falling so far behind SolidWorks and pro-e, they are thinking about combining inventor into autocad, and rebranding it autocad 3d to try to capitalize on the autocad name.

 

[Jayomat]

Mac's the platform of the future, it seems.

you're kidding right?

 

[Cloudane]

Only 4 negs to 221 positive! Best I've seen - must be really anticipated.

Still no steps closer to using Macs at work unfortunately. Solidworks house.

 

[kyleh613]

Been using AutoCAD since DOS when you couldn't use a mouse with it, you had to input all of your commands by keyboard. I am personally a Solidworks person myself though, that is what my company uses, but AutoCAD is really great too. As a mechanical engineer though, Solidworks is superior, and I hope that comes to Mac as well.

 

[hakuryuu]

Here's hoping ESRI gets religion and ports ArcGIS. ArcGIS and AutoCAD have a symbiotic relationship.

That would be nice. Maybe we could get some off the shelf LiDAR processing software as well. I doubt Bentley and Terrasolid are going to go mac, but maybe LP360... I can always dream.

 

[wizard]

Many good points here but a few bad ones too.

OMG. NICE!!!!

It was one of my engineering applications that I wanted on the Mac.

Next, I need CATIA, but that’s way too big, I know it ain’t going to happen soon

I would hope that this means that many engineering software companies would feel compelled to move to the Mac. Even if one doesn't use AutoCad this is a good thing.

Now, if only Numbers could get a little better, and if only Apple made a bigger iWork with more apps.

I actually think that Numbers needs to get a lot better. Numbers is the weakest iWorks package going and needs to be beefed up considerably.

We need a Project Equivalent, Access Equivalent and Visio Equivalent, either by Microsoft or by Apple.

Of all the MS office apps out there I see Access as the most troublesome and I have to wonder why you just don't use any of the Mac native databases?

Until now, engineers are not going to look forward to Macs because I know there ARE solutions out there, but they’re not publicized enough. Office, on the other hand, is known by everybody.

Yes and for the most part what do engineers use out of the Office suite? Excel! Which is why I think they truely need to beef up Numbers. The other iWorks packages are as good or better than the MS equals. As to database management I have enough experience with Access that I wouldn't reccomend it to anyone. So in this context ignoring other solutions makes no sense, especially if the only reason is the lack of being publicized.

Maybe it is not your intent but your message comes off as one that says: the Mac is no good for engineering because I'm to lazy to look for solutions outside of MS office. Hopefully that isn't your intent but it sure sounds like it.

Dave

 

[TheWatchfulOne]

Why have 1990's 2D Cad when 3D Cad is what people are using now? Autocad is not full 3D no matter how much they try to say it is.

How do you define "fully" 3D? I've used AutoCAD for nearly 15 years now and I've always considered it very useful for 3D modeling. Unless you are are referring to AutoCAD Lite which does not include 3D modeling.

And yes Solid Works is a great 3D modeling program which should go very well on the Mac. But, it's a different program from AutoCAD. Not better or worse. Just different.

 

[coolfactor]

I doubt it. I worked at an architecture firm and there are a ton of things stopping them from upgrading to Macs...the biggest being that autocad licenses are so expensive that it stops them from purchasing new machines. I would also hope that they would be swapping over Revit as well.

The lack of inexpensive video cards which will run autocad are also pretty big. I'm not saying no one will switch over, but there are a lot of issues in the way.

You claim there's lots of issues, but you only mention one: price.

 

[kyleh613]

Vector Works > AutoCad...

no no no

Catia rules the world...

neener, neener, neener...

Man do people like to fight on MacRumors.

It comes down to personal preference. I use to prefer Catia over Solidworks and simply refused to use Solidworks if I could avoid it. Then one day I decided to really sit down and learn the program, now I can't go back to Catia.

 

[kyleh613]

Why have 1990's 2D Cad when 3D Cad is what people are using now? Autocad is not full 3D no matter how much they try to say it is. Now this is something to look forward too in the near future, SolidWorks 3D Cad on Mac:

People aren't using 3D unless they need to. People are also not using 2D unless they need to. You pick the right tool for the job. AutoCAD is used almost exclusively used these days for architecture and civil drafting/engineering. You can't do that sort of work in 3D, and even if you could, you wouldn't want to.

For mechanical engineering, 3D CAD is a lot easier.

 

[pbacot]

I think that most of the comments here are very hopeful and a little naive.

1. AutoCAD will likely take a very long time to become usable on the Mac, and longer to be as good at it is on the PC (unless there is just some totally cool genius team working on this at AutoDesk).

2. There is not likely to be a significant conversion to Mac by architects. Those who have gone Mac have done it despite AutoCAD for their own reasons, often being antipathy to AutoCAD. See #1.

3. There are plenty of good CAD's on the Mac, but any compatibility with AutoCAD is variable. Again will this Mac AutoCAD itself be FULLY compatible? E.G. It's taken years for Word Mac and PC to be really usable cross-platform.

4. It will still be AutoCAD. Probably the most un-Mac like program still in use. OK, let's not start...

5. It would still be overpriced and overly complex.

6. Now if Revit could make it to the Mac that would be something!

Still this is interesting (it follows years of feelers and background work by AutoDesk--some of you,like me, were contacted by them?) and you gotta hand it to AutoDesk mixing it up in these difficult times (for the AEC industry). Note that they've beat many Mac firms in providing decent software for the iPhone.

Peter

 

[Compile 'em all]

Well from your signature, it seems your nothing more than an iFan. When people refer to Apple abandoning the Mac, they mean the proper machines, the Mac Pro and MacBook Pro, not the consumer crap that Steve Jobs dreams about.

Do you think that MacBook is a proper machine and an iPad is not? What is a "proper machine"? Do you think iPhone OS is a crap OS while Desktop OS X is "proper OS"?

Why do you think having to manage files and seeing an exposed file system "proper"? Is the lack of a centralized App Store for your application needs "proper"?

Make no mistake, most of these "proper" machines aren't actually proper nor is the way you do computing on them. Macs are here to stay, but in the not-so-distant future they will be a niche product in Apple's lineup. Developers that write apps for said "non proper consumer crap" as you call them will still need Macs for their development needs. Rest assured though that in a couple of years, the MacBook Air and MacBook will be gone.

 

[mactastic]

This is fantastic news, although I won't be truly happy until Revit makes an appearance on OS X. Most architecture offices are moving away from AutoCad these days.

 

[gmcalpin]

You claim there's lots of issues, but you only mention one: price.

He mentioned two: Cost and graphics cards.

 

[mactastic]

2. There is not likely to be a significant conversion to Mac by architects. Those who have gone Mac have done it despite AutoCAD for their own reasons, often being antipathy to AutoCAD. See #1.

Actually, I think there are plenty of architects who would love to ditch their PCs, if for no other reason than that they can lower their IT troubleshooting budget. Most of the companies I know who have made the transition cite that as one of their top two reasons, the other being the lower cost of entry for alternate CAD programs.