Is Autodesk dieing

[Species8472]

We started a new company from the ashes of the old one. We transferred the Autodesk software to the new company but could not afford the whole suit of Inventor/MDT. So we got AcadLT and InventorLT. I can't believe that they are giving away InventorLT for only 210.00 per seat. IMHO Inventor sucks bad almost as bad as SW2010. I'd love to get back to MDT.

Does the whole world also think the same as me about Inventor vs. MDT and is that why they giving it away for almost nothing?

[the4thseal]

you mean Mechanical Desk Top vs Inventor? are you comparing full versions vs LT versions?

[ger21]

The full version of Inventor is $5295.

Not sure what you got for $210, as even AutoCAD LT is $1200, and Inventor should be more, but I don't see an Inventor LT on their website.

[Species8472]

Originally Posted by the4thseal you mean Mechanical Desk Top vs Inventor? are you comparing full versions vs LT versions?

I mean Mechanical Desk Top vs Inventor the full versions.

In MDT I can do almost everything I need to do with 25 or 30 single letter alias'. Without a command line it's costing me 50% in productivity. With Inventor you are constantly interrupted for confirmation for every point, line and circle you draw.

This is not a flame post. I have used acad since v.9. If they would only clip on the classic Acad command line interface into Inventor it would be a usable program. As it stands now you might as well pick up SW2010 because you are basically starting over from scratch.

Which is why I wonder if Autodesk "jumped the shark" in trying to be more like SW. By flatting the leaning curve to spite productivity.


Gerry

We bought 3 seats of AcadLT at the normal price and got InventorLT 210.00 a seat.

[SPEEDRE]

I don't know if I qualify to comment here, but, as a hobbyist, who's a certified Auto CAD Operator, I tried out Inventor, just last month, and I too, thought is was time consuming. I liked MDT also. When I was in training, the school I was at switched to SW and I lost my vibe for MDT. I for one want it back. That was an easy, quick, practically foolproof software.

[stephenr]

Mechanical Desktop is no longer being developed. Inventor took it's place within Autodesk's lineup.

Stephen R.

[BobWarfield]

That command line is addictive, from a productivity standpoint. Funny thing is, I bet a lot of people just see it as an impediment or a quaint holdover from the past when they're learning.

I tell people evaluating CAD to spend a minimum of two weeks and do multiple models/drawings to be sure they've really gotten into the groove before they decide.

The command line capable UI is one of the main things I like about Rhino3D. The lack of command line and constant mouse interaction is a reason I won't use OneCNC's CAD functions.

Cheers,

BW

[lumberjack_jeff]

The command line is the reason I'm fast with General Cadd.

Strictly 2d though.

[stephenr]

Bob, 90% of my CAD time is with Inventor. The other 10% is with AutoCAD and sure enough I find myself reverting to the command line pretty often.

By the way great website. You have a lot of useful info. on there, thanks.

Stephen R.

[BobWarfield]

Thanks for the kind words, Stephen.

I've gotten a copy of Inventor, and I mean to learn it. I'm feeling less motivated after this thread, but I'm convinced I need to find a parameteric CAD I like. I really found Alibre to be unproductive compared to Rhino. If Inventor doesn't work out, I guess I'll have to find some way to try Solidworks.

I have always wondered if an Autodesk user wouldn't find Rhino a pretty easy thing to pick up. It sure has been great for me. I spent about a month using Alibre and could never even get close to being as productive, so went back to Rhino.

Cheers,

BW

[ger21]

Rhino's interface is a lot like AutoCAD, as McNeel started out writing AutoCAD plugins. A lot of the commands are even the same.

Once you go to parametric, it's a completely different way to work. I've played with Alibre, Solidworks, Inventor, and one other that had a short term free version a few years ago. They all work very, very similarly. If you're used to Rhino or AutoCAD, then you'll find it takes quite a while to get used to the parametric way. I've tried to use parametrics, but always seem to go back to AutoCAD because it's so much faster for me.

[BobWarfield]

Originally Posted by ger21 I've tried to use parametrics, but always seem to go back to AutoCAD because it's so much faster for me.

Gerry, you're not the only one. There is a school of thinking that says parametric was only useful to a fairly small segment of the market, but it was such a great marketing gimick it got more than it deserved.

The CAD market is actually showing signs of interest in non-parametric approaches. Here is just one of many articles along those lines:

3-D Modeling Debate Spurs New Generation of CAD Tools - 2009-03-11 14:12:31 | Design News

There are many others talking about it along the same lines.

I may very well conclude I need to stick with a direct modeller, and that Rhino is it. My gut tells me it's very likely I will go that route.

But, I do like to check into as many new things as I can. CAD is such an essential tool that if I can find one that works better, I will make the investment of switching. And, I did stumble into a copy of Inventor that was a great deal, so I'm going to try it.

Cheers,

BW