Posted on 09/06/2010 9:04:11 AM PDT by null and void
Autodesk, Inc. has announced AutoCAD for Mac software. This version of AutoCAD, one of the most widely used software for professional design and engineering, runs natively on Mac OS X and will increase choice of hardware for millions of users around the world. Autodesk also announced the AutoCAD WS mobile application, a new app for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch that will allow users to edit and share their AutoCAD designs in the field.
The news follows recent announcements from Graebert that its ARES Commander software is available for Mac, and Dassault Systemes' free Draftsight software, which is powered by ARES, will soon be available for Mac. For more, visit Kenneth Wong's Virtual Desktop post and the Graebert announcement on deskeng.com.
"The release of AutoCAD for Mac marks the return of professional design and engineering software to the Mac platform and an important convergence of power and design. Over 5000 customers have helped develop this product through our beta program and they are delighted to have the choice of a native Mac version of AutoCAD," says Amar Hanspal, senior vice president, Autodesk Platform Solutions and Emerging Business. "The combination of this new version of AutoCAD and the extension of AutoCAD to iPad, iPhone and iPod touch is a big step in Autodesk's efforts to accelerate design and make design more accessible for an ever-greater number of people so they can shape the world around them.
"Apple is thrilled that Autodesk is bringing AutoCAD back to the Mac and we think it's the perfect combination for millions of design and engineering professionals," says Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. "The AutoCAD WS app is a bold new idea, a mobile version of industry-leading design software for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, the world's most innovative mobile devices."
Autodesk says the AutoCAD for Mac interface will be familiar to Mac users and makes available many of the AutoCAD features and functionality to customers who choose to work natively on the Mac. AutoCAD for Mac takes advantage of Mac OS X with graphical browsing of design files with Cover Flow and use of Multi-Touch gestures on Mac notebooks, Magic Mouse and Magic Trackpad for pan and zoom features. User experience design patterns, such as the visual approach to drawing and layout management, have also been incorporated into AutoCAD for Mac.
For a peak at the interface, check out Autodesk's AutoCAD for Mac launch video:
With support for native creation and editing files in the DWG file format, AutoCAD for Mac also offers collaboration with suppliers, customers, clients and partners regardless of platform. Files created in previous versions of AutoCAD will open seamlessly in AutoCAD for Mac, according to Autodesk. AutoCAD for Mac can be further extended with API (application programming interface) and customization options that allow for tailor-built workflows, application development and adaption, custom configurations for settings and screen real estate options to suit individual workflows and project demands.
There's an App for that
Autodesk also announced the AutoCAD WS mobile application, a new free app soon to be available through Apple's App Store that will extend AutoCAD to Apple's iOS. The AutoCAD WS mobile application will enable AutoCAD users to edit and share AutoCAD files on iPad, iPhone and iPod touch so they can have real-time collaboration even while on the go.
AutoCAD for Mac will also be offered free to students and educators through the Autodesk Education Community, where more than 25 Autodesk software products are available for download.
Autodesk says AutoCAD for Mac and the AutoCAD WS mobile application will be available in North America and Europe beginning this fall.
For more information, visit Autodesk.
I have NEVER met anyone who runs ACAD on a mac, and I’ve been drafting with this program since 1987. I don’t know any professional engineering firm that runs mac either. The only people I see running mac are the medical fields, or schools because they were given truck loads of the stuff for free.
I’m not “anti-” mac, I just never see it in my field of work.
We are making the jump to ACAD 2011 w/ civil 3D soon, makes the old pen and digitizer pad seem like the stone age.
What about Android?
Autocad also costs less that SW or ProE.
Its fine if you need a drafting tool. The others
are for design, interference test, yada yada.
I mostly use CADKey/KeyCreator, m’self. AutoCad in a pinch.
I’ve been using Civil 3d for a few years now...my opinion, its a terrible program. Its overly complex, and it takes much longer to get things done with it.
Autocad has abused its customers, pulling support from LDD, and preventing backwards compatibility with its almost annual ‘upgrades’. We’re stuck, because governmental entities we deal with happily ‘subscribe’. This means in a few weeks, the city we deal with will have 2011...probably with no backwards compatibility...so we’ll have to purchase and load it.
I feel like a battered wife, as far as Autocad goes.
It’s nice to see more CAD options coming to the Mac, as the choice limitations in the past have been somewhat severe. It also makes perfect sense that the people who make Maya should make all their products available on the platform.
That being said, I hate the the way AutoDesk treats their customers. I wouldn’t want to sign up for that abuse if I could avoid it.
3d is a b***h for sure. Overly complex way of dealing with formerly simple routines. You have to get a solid dwg template with all the styles and labels set the way you want otherwise it is a disaster. 2011 3d is much better, still not as friendly as LDD though. I am a surveyor and the point handling routines are painful at best right now.
What kind of work do you do?
I’m civil/survey, and ACAD is the standard out here, other than ODOT that uses mircostation.
Alibre is even cheaper, and does full 3D parametric modeling like SW or ProE. FEA engine isn't quite a powerful as that in ProE, but it's there for a pittance ($1200).
Wow. I started on CADKEY, went to AutoCAD, PRO-E, Solidworks...
Got my own copies of Autocad light and Solidworks 2010
and I NEVER saw any of these on a MAC!
how do you like Keycreator compared to solidworks? I did a LOT of cadkey, 10,000 hours or so, got my old copy of CADKEY 99 still running but just purchased Solidworks 2010
I don’t have enough time on Solidworks to make a valid comparison.
It is a good tool if used properly. That means 2D drawings that are not firmly related to 3D objects. SW, ProE and Inventor give you more consistency, but then you have to model *everything* that is in your drawing.
In some cases 3D modelers not only give you no advantage but hurt you. For example you need an overhead view of a landscape with underground cables shown. In AutoCAD you just make a layer and draw your cables there. In SW ... the cables will be under the ground, and you'll need sections and other views that don't help anyone. Besides, an electrician will not care about your accurate depiction of a junction box, he knows pretty well what they are :-)
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