[David Bertrand]

(I also posted this request on the art and graphics forum)

I'm a retired AutoCAD user and would like to buy a CAD program for my G4 Powerbook. I'm thinking that Vectorworks would be a good choice because it is powerful and reasonably priced. But I don't know how it compares with the other stuff available. I would like something that works like AutoCAD, with a command line interface, but that's not likely.

Also, I'm interested in a tabloid sized inkjet printer. Any advice there? The Canon i9900 looks like it would do the job for both cad and photos.

Thanks.
Dave

[Stuncle Eve]

Try PowerCADD. We used to run AutoCAD back in the windoze days, but we switched to Mac and find ourselves using PowerCADD with great ease. I think it's a little cheaper than Vectorworks, which is the other big Mac CAD app.

[Halfloaf]

Originally posted by David Bertrand:
(I also posted this request on the art and graphics forum)

I'm a retired AutoCAD user and would like to buy a CAD program for my G4 Powerbook. I'm thinking that Vectorworks would be a good choice because it is powerful and reasonably priced. But I don't know how it compares with the other stuff available. I would like something that works like AutoCAD, with a command line interface, but that's not likely.

Also, I'm interested in a tabloid sized inkjet printer. Any advice there? The Canon i9900 looks like it would do the job for both cad and photos.

Thanks.
Dave

Well. the closest thing to AutoCAD for the Mac...Well, I'm sorry to say it doesn't exist. I still use and Architectural Desktop at work, and having to learn anything on the mac (As I've tried) is VERY difficult. I've resigned myself to the fact that I'll end up buying myself a PC x86 based laptop for work at home.

Your best bet is Vectorworks 11 from Nemetschek. They have recently introduced viewports, but its seems the tech board is always full of complaints of speed issues on the mac and also the program seems to be a bit bug ridden. But give it a bash by all means.

You could, as Stuncle Eve pointed out, also try PoweCADD. I've never used it, but a company next to us just dropped 10 seats of PowerCADD due to speed issues.

I'm not painting a bright picture here...am I???

There is BOA, but that is more Virtual Biulding orientated, and ArchiCAD...With it's huge pricetag.

You can also try the Ashlar-Velum (sp?) products, and the offerings from Microspot.

Good luck, and let us know what you settled on.

-JT

edit: Speed issues mentioned were on systems with 876Mhz G4 or higher...I've got a 1Ghz TiBook and I found the redraws and interface of vectorworks slow.

[David Bertrand]

Originally posted by Halfloaf:
Well. the closest thing to AutoCAD for the Mac...Well, I'm sorry to say it doesn't exist. I still use and Architectural Desktop at work, and having to learn anything on the mac (As I've tried) is VERY difficult. I've resigned myself to the fact that I'll end up buying myself a PC x86 based laptop for work at home.

Your best bet is Vectorworks 11 from Nemetschek. They have recently introduced viewports, but its seems the tech board is always full of complaints of speed issues on the mac and also the program seems to be a bit bug ridden. But give it a bash by all means.

You could, as Stuncle Eve pointed out, also try PoweCADD. I've never used it, but a company next to us just dropped 10 seats of PowerCADD due to speed issues.

I'm not painting a bright picture here...am I???

There is BOA, but that is more Virtual Biulding orientated, and ArchiCAD...With it's huge pricetag.

You can also try the Ashlar-Velum (sp?) products, and the offerings from Microspot.

Good luck, and let us know what you settled on.

-JT

edit: Speed issues mentioned were on systems with 876Mhz G4 or higher...I've got a 1Ghz TiBook and I found the redraws and interface of vectorworks slow.

Thank you Halfloaf,
I checked out the Nemetschek site, as you suggested, and there's discussion about speed problems with Vectorworks. I got the impression that it's mainly a problem with OS-10, but it may be a Mac problem generally. So I may have to consider another program unless they solve it. This'll require more research.

Since I'm doing this as a hobby, I don't want to invest a lot of money. I believe AutoCAD sells for around $3500. That plus a PC would add up to quite a lot. If I went that way, my Mac Powerbook would be relegated to the closet.

I think AutoCAD is fast because it is still basically a CLI program. All the GUI icons are really just short commands, or autolisp routines, sent to the CLI (I may be all wet on this). Some guys spent hours creating special icons for certain tasks. I just made up hot keys which I then typed into the CLI.

Speaking of Architectural Desktop, we used to cringe whenever an architectural firm sent us a drawing from AD. It usually had 3D blocks in it such as doors and windows. The openings would disappear when we exploded the blocks. We only wanted 2D stuff, and would sometimes just trace over the architect's drawings and then throw them out. I preferred to keep AutoCAD lean and mean with no overlays. It was easier to control that way.

Dave