AutoCAD Returning to Mac?

[MacRumors]

Autodesk, creator of the industry standard design and drafting software AutoCAD, is apparently contemplating the return of a version of AutoCAD running natively on Macs. In a recent blog article, Autodesk "Platform Technology Evangelist" Shaan Hurley points readers to a survey allowing them to "help shape the future of the next generation of AutoCAD products for the Apple Mac OS X Operating System and hardware."

The survey asks users a series of questions related to their use of Autodesk software, their use of Macs in the workplace, and their level of interest in an OS X version of AutoCAD. The survey also asks several questions about whether such features as command line interface and 3D modeling/editing are considered critical to a "first" version of AutoCAD for OS X, and specifically whether a product along the lines of Autodesk's more limited AutoCAD LT rather than a full version of AutoCAD would be sufficient for Mac users.

Autodesk's last Mac version of AutoCAD was released in 1992, although current Intel Mac users can run the latest Windows version of AutoCAD unsupported using Boot Camp or virtualization software such as Parallels Desktop or VMWare Fusion.

Article Link: AutoCAD Returning to Mac?

 

[rhett7660]

Hope they are serious and bring it to the Mac OS!

 

[fleshman03]

It would make sense since more and more college students/business are buying Macs. Not to mention I bet it would run smoother.

 

[KingYaba]

I bet it would run smoother.

How so?

 

[adrianblaine]

As an architect I'm very excited about this, but this has been a rumor for a very, very long time now. Though now that Macs have made more inroads into architecture offices, I can see how they'd want to sell a native version.

I've tried using other programs like ArchiCAD for Mac, but nothing seems quite as good as AutoCAD.

 

[Enigmafan420]

I am a semi-old fart and remember when Autocad first came to the PC. I believe it was available on the Mac before the PC.

Anyway, when it was released people were like "NOW the IBM PC is a 'real' business/design tool. It has arrived".

Anyone using a Mac knows it is a real business/design tool without Autocad. That being said, it would, I think, bring some additional credibility to the Mac-especially to those sitting on the fence and considering switching to OS-X.

 

[twoodcc]

i wonder if they will bring AutoCAD Land Development to the Mac?

 

[azdude]

Solidworks please.

 

[nagromme]

Unsupported if using Boot Camp? How odd.

 

[adrianblaine]

Unsupported if using Boot Camp? How odd.

I'm pretty sure they were referring to the fact that Boot Camp is unsupported by Apple.

 

[fleshman03]

How so?

GPU Acceleration + Grand Central?

I'm just taking stabs, since I don't know for sure. There are a lot of really great under the hood stuff in 10.6 that might enable a much better AutoCAD experience.

 

[NewSc2]

Not to mention I bet it would run smoother.

Doubt it. A lot of ported PC programs end up being a joke on OSX.

 

[Genghis Khan]

As an architecture student, this would be awesome.

All I need now is Rhino (in development) 3ds max, and 64-bit photoshop for mac

 

[X38]

Good. But what about Unigraphics, Pro Engineer, Catia, and Solidworks? Macs won't be able to make a serious move back into engineering offices until at least most of those are available.
In fact, last I read about it, Apple uses Unigraphics to do their mechanical design work, which means that all Apples are probably designed using Windows. Sad that Apple hasn't done more to lure the CAD industry.

 

[rIver89]

I am so happy that they are returning to the mac. For us civil engineering students with macs, this is just so exciting.

 

[LeoFio]

This would be awesome, as long as they don't cripple the mac version or make it a completely different interface than the windows version. If this turns out to be true, all I need is a 3D structural analysis/design program like Risa-3D for the mac, and I would never need windows again!

 

[Scarlet Fever]

Solidworks please.

+1, but it's more likely we'll see Inventor before SW. Either way, I'll be happy.

This would be awesome, as long as they don't cripple the mac version or make it a completely different interface than the windows version.

I hope they *do* give it a new interface. Have you used AutoCad 2009? It's horrible!

 

[klaxamazoo]

I wish they would port CoCreate's Modeling. That program is so much easier to use than Solidworks.

 

[LeoFio]

I hope they *do* give it a new interface. Have you used AutoCad 2009? It's horrible!

True, I have not upgraded to '09 for that very reason, so I will specify that I want the interface of AutoCAD 2008!

 

[McShizzel]

Hopefully this sees the light of day, I wish Autodesk would bring more of its software over to Mac OS.

I'm still hoping Autodesk Softimage (previously XSI) comes to Mac OS even though it probably won't happen anytime soon if ever.

One can always dream.

 

[Cabbit]

As an architecture student, this would be awesome.

All I need now is Rhino (in development) 3ds max, and 64-bit photoshop for mac

Oh yes please give 3ds max

 

[fleshman03]

Doubt it. A lot of ported PC programs end up being a joke on OSX.

Very true. But with the prominence of this program and the rate of Macs now, I don't think they just port it. Maybe actually rewrite it..

 

[sadarryl]

autoCAD=dead technology

The only real innovation would be Revit for Mac...autoCAD, despite its so-called 3D features, is quickly becoming obsolete.

 

[adrianblaine]

The only real innovation would be Revit for Mac...autoCAD, despite its so-called 3D features, is quickly becoming obsolete.

There isn't always a need for 3D. I would like to see Revit become more advanced and AutoCAD get a little cheaper.

 

[dongmin]

Wouldn't get your hopes up. I believe they ran a similar survey a few years back, to no results.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/37895/

Plus, AutoCAD is becoming a legacy CAD app. By the time AutoCAD actually becomes a shipping product for OS X (which will take a few years), Revit will have become the standard CAD app in most studios.

It'd be better if they bring Revit and 3ds Max to OS X. But I'm not getting my hopes on that either. These apps are just too massive and complex to make it worth the effort and $$$. Especially now with BootCamp and Fusion/Parallels, there's not a huge reason to port them.

On Revit on OS X possibilities...

http://cadinsider.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/12/aec-round-table-w-jay-bhatt-and-jim-lynch.html


Edit: sadarryl beat me to it