AutoCAD for Mac 2011 now available for purchase

... or should I move to SketchUp now?

Been using Vector works, 2D and 3D with rendering and the whole works on the Mac for years now. Haven't tried the new version of AutoCad, but the last look was awfully user unfriendly.

I'm skeptical of the programming quality for a initial release - could be buggy and incompatible with various drawings.

But incredible it's out! Engineering seems to be one of the last industries that's still heavily PC-based, and this is a way in. The next step will be third-party plugin support, as many companies require the use of specific plugins with AutoCAD, specializing it's use for their specific industry. Many companies still cannot use AutoCAD for Mac until these plugins are also converted.

Yes, Revit is definitely the future (and present for many of us). Unfortunately I think most mac-savvy designers won't be in the market for standard CAD and there probably won't be enough demand to encourage them to port Revit. Even with the high price tag, I think many of us would jump on Revit-for-Mac to ditch the windows in our lives. I've seriously been considering switching to ArchiCAD or Vectorworks for this reason.

YESSS!! I was using the beta but that was limited. I have been waiting to get home all day!!! Then I remembered that Revit is the new standard and why am I getting so excited. Either way it is one step in the right direction. And now I can mock up the Controller or bust without resorting to windows again! Killa

Students can download a free version of the software here:

http://students.autodesk.com/?nd=mac4students

and Autodesk is currently offering the full version for students and educators for $395 (a link to purchase is available on the page above)

You may want to try out the FREE AutoCAD clone that works on both the Mac and the PC. It's called DraftSight and it's from Autodesk's biggest competitor in the CAD space SolidWorks/Dassault. It should "look and feel" very similar to AutoCAD.

http://www.3ds.com/products/draftsight/download-draftsight/

It's great that Autodesk is embracing the Mac, however, architects have moved on. The current software of choice from Autodesk is Revit Architecture. BIM (Building Information Model) is where it's at.

This will most likely be helpful for product design/engineering shops that only had a windows box around for converting CAD files.

Holding out hope that Revit for Mac will be next. It's the only and last reason to keep windows installed (even Outlook will be Mac native!).

Hell yes!!!!!