A decent CAD program?

[Ian Flatters]

Ok im looking to buy a new CAD program for my surveys/reports im currently using sketchup but it is hard to use and difficult to import/export from.

 

Im looking a 2 programs at the moment: Autosketch 9 and TurboCAD 16 deluxe both avaliable for under £80. Has anyone got any opinion/uses these programs? Or what do you use and how easy is it to work with?

 

Thanks.

 

[ame]http://www.amazon.co.uk/Autosketch-Release-9-Full-PC/dp/B0002TSZ06/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=software&qid=1263228566&sr=1-1[/ame]

 

[ame]http://www.amazon.co.uk/TurboCAD-16-Deluxe-2D-DVD/dp/B0022NHM3Q/ref=dp_cp_ob_sw_h__title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1263228566&sr=1-1[/ame]

Edited January 11, 2010 by Ian Flatters
forgot to add links.

[Bundle 2]

Are there any software packages that work with Linux (Mac 0SX ) Crucially, an application that can be used across both windows and AppleMac platforms...?

[Amelanchier]

Guys. Mr Bullman doesn't really need the hassle of being accused of allowing that kind o thing. Now if you did it by PM - that would be a different thing altogether...

[Ian Flatters]

:blushing:Tony, what do you use and is it any good and do you know how much it costs?

[Paul Barton]

I am in the same position Targettrees. I have just downloaded the free trial of TurboCad Deluxe 16 and so far it seems pretty good. Certainly detailed and precise enough for what most arbs would need CAD for.

[Ian Flatters]

I am in the same position Targettrees. I have just downloaded the free trial of TurboCad Deluxe 16 and so far it seems pretty good. Certainly detailed and precise enough for what most arbs would need CAD for.

 

 

Is it simple to use? as that's kind of the main thing i want. Something i can pick up and use fairly proficiently fastish.

[Paul Barton]

I am no CAD expert having just taught myself the basics recently out of necessity.

 

It seems to have some differences such as the way you zoom and pan and enter commands, but I think once these concepts have been grasped it looks ok.

 

If you have never ever used CAD before it might be a bit confusing - it has taken me weeks to grasp some of the basics. They do sell a manual as well which hopefully should point us in the right direction.

[Amelanchier]

AutoCAD LT 2007 - I haven't tried anything else unfortunately. And thankfully I didn't pay for it - works licences!

 

I'm self taught and can do most things but every now and again I pick up a little tip from the various CAD forums or from someone at work and think "aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh that's so much easier - what was I thinking!" I guess proper training saves time and effort in the long run.

[Will Hinchliffe]

Have you used mapmaker? Its completly free and you can open drw files in it. It is a pretty fantastic program and if you have the time to learn it you may be able to do what you need with it.

 

Powerpoint has built in vector based drawing tools and these can be used to produce some quite good looking drawings.

[clueless]

if you dont need to have 'proper' CAD features a good program is openoffice draw. i use it for all my site layouts, sketches, tender drawings, the lot. and its free. openoffice.org