Microsoft reports that the following features will be found in AutoCAD 2008:
* Completely developed using VS.NET.
* Uses the Search, Thumbnail, and properties features of Vista.
* Integrates completely with Office 2007.
* Embraces the new Direct3D *koff* standard.
Only some basic Vista features are supported by AutoCAD 2008: The new AutoCAD 2008 was built to benefit from some basic but important features of Windows Vista. A footnote further limits functionality: Some product features are only available in certain editions of Windows Vista and may require advanced or additional hardware.
(Why "leaked"? These features were described at Autodesk University last December, but journalists were restricted to reporting these features as being in some "future" release of AutoCAD. I s'pose Microsoft is big enough to withstand an NDA lawsuit from Autodesk.)
I'd be interested in seeing a speed comparision. .NET is MS's best development system ever (OK, that's not saying much), but it's basically a slightly improved version of Java, and neither one is known for blazing speed.
Or maybe it's fast - but developed in unmanaged C++ code - which basically isn't .NET anymore.
--Tony
Posted by: Tony in SV | Jan 31, 2007 at 11:18 AM
"VS.NET" = "Visual Studio .NET" (a development envrionment) != .NET Framework (the thing I believe you are talking about)
Posted by: Anonymous Coward | Jan 31, 2007 at 07:50 PM
No, I'm referring to the framework - how well it is designed. I have mixed feelings about the .NET approach, but it's much nicer to program for (using whatever tools - all you really need is a text editor and the command line tools, which IIRC are a free download), than anything MS has done in the past, including straight Windows API, MFC, or VB's libraries.
--Tony
Posted by: Tony in SV | Feb 01, 2007 at 08:19 AM
OK, I'll bite, what is the Direct 3D *koff* standard?? I googled it and got -0- hits.....
Posted by: Patrick | Feb 01, 2007 at 02:17 PM
Direct3D is part of Microsoft's DirectX API. It contains many commands for 3D rendering. Direct3D's main competitor is OpenGL, the open standard.
Type in Direct3D into google, and I guarantee you'll get millions of hits.
Ralph "coughed" at the fact that it was mentioned as the "standard."
Posted by: Don Bianco | Feb 01, 2007 at 02:43 PM
Ok, so I feel better stick on to WIN XP than VISTA
We CAD prfessionals need speed than anything else . . .
I hope you got it . . .
Posted by: Sunith Babu | Feb 01, 2007 at 04:43 PM
OH! -cough-
hahahaha, obviously I spend ""way"" too much time in a "no fun" Microsoft infested literal world. well done!
Posted by: patrick | Feb 03, 2007 at 08:40 AM