ScuzzBlog: Diaries March 2020
Entry 21st March 2020: Post 02: AutoCAD - The big guns.
AutoCAD - The big guns.
Yet another feature that should have been a follow on from an
earlier and this time it is the full versions of AutoCAD. In a
blog some weeks back I featured the LT versions of the CAD software
and today we have the full versions.
I think you would be amazed at the cost of what I show today. In
the day the software of a specific year could set you back a years
salary of a specific member of staff and more for a design
architect of the day. And we didn't come cheap. When working with
AutoCAD there were basically the two versions on sale. The first
being the full versions and the second the LT versions. For the
most part your CAD technicians would use the lite version and for
the more design orientated needing 3D modelling, walk throughs
and rendering there would be the full versions.
Whilst a design architect may justify the purchase of a full
version very often unless that individual was actively creating
full model builds of the projects the LT would be more suitable.
AutoCAD by AutoDesk was/is the industry standard for architectural
drawing packages and when you put a team together to undertake a
building project it is essential that not only do the full team..
mechanical and electrical, structural, acoustic, landscape etc use
the same software, but also have the latest versions to access the
drawing types. Earlier versions soon become redundant.
Consequently the costs of drawing software would be factored into
your fee and the bigger the office the more licenses that were
needed along with the kit capable of supporting the package. So
software like this came at a price. It was possible to equate the
cost of a single drawing set against time produced and gearing
factors, and truly a single drawing could be worth thousands and
thousands. If those drawing did not require the extra features of
the AutoCAD full version then it was pretty pointless buying the
license. And so in any office there would be a spread of full and
lite versions. Both were still very expensive.
The problem also was the redundancy rate of the software. And with
a new release nearly every year you could be on a four year turn
around when software finally kicked the bucket. Hence the boxes
and software you see here today. This little lot was rescued from
the skip by me and saved for future reference. None is of any use
due to the online registration that AutoDesk use to protect their
software. Time was you even needed a dongle to use the software.
And here are some very colourful boxes for you to ponder over. As
you reflect on the packages be aware that this little lot featured
here had a value many many times more than my entire collection of
computers plus all the software, games and peripherals. In truth
the value of this lot could have possibly bought what I have several
times over.
Anyway it is all pretty much junk now and unusable without the
online functionality. Such a shame but hey that's the kick with
commercial software. Not that I'm in any mood these days to start
drawing buildings again. Interestingly I still am a registered
architect, so you never know. Maybe one day. Or not.
AutoCAD - The big guns.
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