Introduction To AutoCAD 2004 - Great New Book!!!

Introduction to AutoCAD 2004 by Alf Yarwood is a great book for any user updating their knowledge from earlier versions of AutoCAD. Taking the reader step by step through the features of AutoCAD, Alf Yarwood provides a practical, structured course of work. Introducing first principles and the creation of 2D technical drawings, the author goes on to demonstrate construction of 3D solid model drawings and rendering of 3D models. Worked examples and exercises are included throughout the text, to enable the reader to apply theory into real-world engineering practice, along with revision notes and exercises at the end of chapters for checking understanding of the material covered.
Accompanying website features a full colour AutoCAD gallery, where you can edit AutoCAD images on screen, work through drawing exercises featured in the book and additional 3D drawing work, and see specimen answers
For this and other great AutoCAD related books go to www.books.elsevier.com/construction
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Autodest is at ver. 2006, Alf need to write faster
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My thoughts exactly! But then - I wonder if Autodesk is on the right track with their aggressive upgrade program. The debugging on the latest version is just getting seriously started when the next version is already out!
Worse yet - they are risking one of their prime sales arguments. When asked "Why use AutoCad, when there are cheaper challengers?" the answer has always been, "Because that's what everyone is using". If you want to work with others, you have to use AutoCad. But now, with so many versions out there this argument is going by the wayside. I am currently working on a project where I have to save back to 2002, or the others cannot open my 2004DX files. I have some clients who are still on R14, which I can no longer write to. Autodesk's answer is "Tell them the cant do that any more. They need to upgrade" - Great business policy, tell your clients to go to hell.
I would hate to have to go back to R14. As much as I loved it, so much has improved since then. On the other hand I don't like telling my clients I can no longer work with them because Autodesk has phased them out, and I'm getting worried that my own one-year-old program will soon be obsolescent.
By forcing earlier AutoCad releases into obsolescence, Autodesk may be making excellent sales arguments for their competitors.
GF

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Obsolete ?
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Perhaps they have a "de facto monopoly" problem.
Years ago, when computers were called IBM machines, IBM had over 80% of the market for punch cards - the standard method of putting data and programs into computers.
They were told this large volume constituted a monopoly of the punch card market, and were ordered by the FTC to divest themselves as soon as possible of a large part of this market.
What did they do?
At the time they were selling the cards for about $1 a box (2000 cards).
They just doubled the price. This cost them about 30% of the market, bringing them well within the guidelines set by the FTC. More than half their customers just kept ordering from them anyway.
They also tripled their profit on punch cards !
Maybe Autocad has a similar problem, and are trying to lose customers.
Maybe.
Happy Trails To You