Desktop 3.3 worthless or not?

[sburns]

After having recently gone through an expensive training session for AutoCad 2002 (Desktop 3.3) our company has decided to stay with R14 for now. The program as described would be a great benefit - i.e. generating sections, elevations, schedules. It is very useful in generating 3D renderings. However its usefulness in making construction documents that can be used by a contractor is nil. Autodesk has taken the wrong track here. Pretty pictures are nice but not useful for construction. To generate working construction drawings is more time consuming and more complicated than R14. Does anyone else out there have similar experiences? I can't believe we are all alone in this thinking.

 

[CDH]

One thing, you may already be aware of this, but if you do not upgrade from 14 now, you will have no option to upgrade later. You will have to purchase newer versions at full price later. Also there will be no support any longer for R14.

As far as you thoughts, I sort of agree, but I haven't fully started using it yet, but from what I have done, it is very simple to generate your model. It also really helps in visuallizing how things go together.

I am dissapointed in the lack of structural ability. Sure there are structural members but we also need plates, bolts, rebar, etc. I am hoping they will have a structural package sometime in the future.

 

[sburns]

I have heard ir over and over again. "if you don't upgrade now you won't be able to later" This is their way of blackmailing everyone into accepting a non workable product. Rather than designing their product to fulfill industry needs they are trying to get everyone to change the design process. The arrogance!

 

[Striker]

Well, I was a bit disillusioned about 3.3, but after exploring the capabilities of the structural components, the expandability and customization of structural components, I have quickly become a fan. The ability to do construction documents has not been hindered or changed since R14, in fact it has become increasingly easy, when you can simply model a single element, then generate all of the necessary cross sections, cutaways and documentation you need. The addition of the layout tabs were initially an inconvienience, however, with careful planning, they can be an invaluable tool. Personally, I am glad I upgraded to 3.3. I will admit however, that after 3 months, on 3.3, I still have a lot to learn.

 

[CDH]

The problem I find with cutting cross sections is that we can't get all the information that we need. For example, if you have a steel beam bearing on a cmu wall and then cut a section, you don't get the courses of cmu, only an outline of the wall. Structurally we need to show the courses with a bond beam and the reinforcing of the wall, as well as the bearing plate, grout, and anchor bolts for the beam bearing.
Granted, I haven't starting using 3.3 yet on a day to day basis (we haven't offically converted yet) so there probably a lot I still have to learn.