Jump to content

new Autocad? Revit? what to buy


Virgil Johnson
 Share

Recommended Posts

Autodesk is luring me into upgrading Acad 2006.

I don't really make all that much use of Autocad directly but since files are coming from people who use the new stuff it is time for me to move on.

 

so

 

What is offered is an upgrade is:

 

Autocad 2009

Autocad Architecture 2009

Revit Architecture 2009

Autocad Revit Architectural Suite

and the "structure" series as well as the MEP

 

What is my best choice?

What is the difference between the regular Autocad and the Autocad Architecture?

 

At first glance my inclination is to go with the Architectural suite .

(Having Revit can't hurt.)

My work is visualizations and visual impacts.

No real design work.

But I don't want programs with too many limits.

 

virgil

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sorry but I must stick with Autodesk stuff.

 

I do visual impact studies for one thing.

And it involves hearings and attorneys and sometimes judges. The documentation is everything.

So I must be as much mainstream as can be.

 

These studies are also combed over by other experts to look for errors and I want to be as right and transparent as can be.

This is why people buy from me.

 

I must also be up to date with the latest and greatest.

 

I also do visualizations and since the architects are all using Autodesk I have to conform.

 

I have drawn in Autocad for almost 20 years but I think Revit is replacing it.

 

v

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Virgil i am going to have to go ahead and disagree with you here

 

nothing at all is non standard about the Open Design Alliance and OpenDWG

from my experience there is full support

 

get this for 50$ and see if you want

http://www.smart-dwg.com/

 

as AJ said unless you are required by client, city or other(GSA), there is no point for using any money on revit

 

 

 

oh and if you want a program with no Limits: Rhinoceros, that is their slogan and it is interpolatable with so many applications and would help in your visualization quality and quickness me thinks.

 

Rhino can create, edit, analyze, document, render, animate, and translate NURBS curves, surfaces, and solids with no limits on complexity, degree, or size.

 

autodesk trinna market to you, i'd think you almost need a layer to protect yourself

Edited by Antisthenes
Link to comment
Share on other sites

The problem is thus...

 

way back a couple of years ago when the visual impact study thread went on here for while...

 

Brian Smith (and others) took issue with the 1/10,000 of an inch accuracy that I mentioned.

And it is true there probably no such thing.

 

But what was meant was the perception of accuracy.

That is what comes about with using Autodesk products.

 

The perception is what is important.

An attorney can make a case for the use of these products without having to lay down a lot of background

 

("Industry standard")

 

The name is recognized - and it a way it is a version of my marketing Autodesk's marketing.

The medium becomes the message.

 

The price of their product is high and I think unfair. But then again Autodesk has the name brand that works.

I have to go with what works.

 

As far as the learning curve Andrew - I have a great time learning. I do pretty well with Max and AutoCad and Photoshop and Onxy Tree and some other bits and pieces.

So learning Revit looks like great fun to me.

And being conversant in Revit will draw in more business for me.

 

I just have to decide which package to choose.

The suite has the advantage of having AutoCad and Revit offered for a low price.

I just don't know the difference from AutoCad 2009 and AutoCad Architecture 2009 - and is Revit Architecture the same as "Revit"

 

Just thought I would try here before I went onto the dealer (salesperson).

 

virgil

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Okay, so here's the Autodesk marketing:

 

"Revit" can refer to any of the versions of Revit marketed to different segments - Architecture, Structural and MEP. Strictly speaking there's no product that's just called "Revit". Architecture is probably the version you want. BTW if you're psyched to learn it can be a very powerful tool for you.

 

Autocad Architecture is ADT renamed. It's a superset of Autocad - there's a command to make it look and function exactly as Autocad 2009, but it has a bunch of other stuff useful in putting together an architect's draing set, ranging from automatic tag generators to buttons to draw standard items in details (steel sections, insulation, etc., etc., etc.) to 3D wall and window stuff, which is sort of Revit like only not as powerful in the sense that Revit has a lot more workflow things.

 

There's also the Autocad Revit Suite package which is Revit Architecture plus plain Autocad.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm an architecture student and I spend more time than I'd like looking for a job in the field. "Revit experience a plus" is showing up more and more. I'm not sure it isn't a mistake yet, but it sure looks like the architecture world will turn Revit in the future. If you plan on retiring in five years I wouldn't worry about it much; if you plan on working in ten years, I'd take the opportunity to get up to speed - if you think it would impact whateveritisyoudo.

 

SketchUp too.

 

Affordability, as always, being a factor.

Edited by Peter M. Gruhn
another idea
Link to comment
Share on other sites

another vertical 'intelligent' architectural system, that is free for now and is most likely to become what you want it to be if you give input is VisuaARQ because it is currently in active development seeking people who would actually use it and give feedback/wishes

 

http://www.visualarq.com/

 

 

the way i see it the ADT stuff that open design alliance reverse engineered could eventualy become one interopperable standard if the users of this type of software have a need and ask for it to be that way.

 

IFC(universal bentley revit arhcicad systems stuff) is very much a WIP too from what i see hear and read.

 

but as you say something simple that does not get in the way of design and production, that is y i use mostly plain jane Rhino openNURBS format for the conceptual massing, design review(w/ penguin,Vray,Brazil(free currently), Maxwell, Flamingo or FryRender), and contract documents too. Then again that becomes a custom workflow at a point too... but at least there are ways to make all these programs' data tansfer and work with eachother(even w pagelayouts) if need be, especialy the 2 witch are most compatible because they come from the same code: Intellicad(s) and Autocad with it's offshoot; arch land + mech

 

and in the end the PDF's witch rhino can also open and edit ;)

Edited by Antisthenes
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share

×
×
  • Create New...