Autodesk issued a press release proclaiming one million licenses of 3D software -- a number that's simultaneously too low and too high. Here's why:
Too Low
Autodesk counts as its 3D software the following products:
* Revit
* Inventor
* Civil 3D
That's all. No other software that's capable of 3D is included, such as the 4 million AutoCAD licenses. If AutoCAD is not 3D, then what was all that hype over the features added to 2007 -- imaginary 3D? Or, what about Release 10, the "3D" release that got over the 2-1/2D limitation 17 years ago.
It seems odd to me that a marketing department would avoid using the largest number possible, in this case 5 or 6 million -- a number that's not only large, but legitimate at that!
Too High
But then Autodesk gets into trouble for counting licenses of the three "only-3D" programs, because it sells them only as bundles named "Series."
* Over the years, Inventor Series has bundled 2D AutoCAD, 2D Mechanical, 3D Mechanical Desktop, and 3D Inventor.
* Revit Series bundles AutoCAD (a 2D program, in Autodesk-ese).
* And I don't know about Civil 3D.
Autodesk should slice off a percentage for those who license a bundle, but shelf the 3D components. In the past, Autodesk has indicated it has an idea of the numbers (each time you start their software, it sends a ping to a server), but if you're like me, then you're blocking that ping with ZoneAlarm. I've told Edelman, Autodesk's new external marketing firm, who sent the press release, about the problem, but haven't received a reply.
And don't get me started on the whole education:commercial split!
And how about Autodesk Architecture and Autodesk MEP? I really count these as 3D programs. What makes Civil 3D more 3D than ACA or AMEP?
Posted by: Jimmy Bergmark | May 21, 2007 at 05:12 PM
Autodesk is trying to compete with McDonald -- "Over XX Billion Sold" ;)
Posted by: Wendy Dannels | May 22, 2007 at 05:20 AM
When I bought Civil 3D it came bundled with Land Desktop, Map 3D and AutoCAD.
Posted by: Jennifer | May 22, 2007 at 05:55 AM
Numbers don't lie...or do they!
Three Architect friends of mine collective bought $30000.00 of software from AD.
There was a rebate due to them of $1000.00 in total but the dealer realised he could not split this so he paid them each $300.00 and kept $100.00.
After the $300.00 rebate they each paid $9700.00.
Total $29100.00
And the dealer kept $ 100.00
Total $29200.00
But they paid $30000.00.
Missing in action $800.00 from the books!
Regards Gary
Posted by: Gary D'Arcy | May 22, 2007 at 06:06 AM
Autodesk has always played games with their 3D MCAD installed base numbers.
They can't compete on a technology level, so they try to win deals by promoting themselves as the market leader.
Posted by: John | May 22, 2007 at 07:09 AM
Yes, but how much of that 1 MIL is just marketing fluff? How many seats of that were "given" to educational or other sites? How many seats are actually being used in a production sense or is it just "shelfware". Autodesk has done this same "spin marketing" tactic before with other products. For example, when Architectural Desktop (ADT) first came out they would bundle it for free with an AutoCAD purchase.
The customer "shelf'd" the ADT part and used the AutoCAD part but adesk would issue a press release proclaiming another ADT sale. It backfired on them then and it will again. I know alot of people that buy the AutoCAD/Revit bundle but they don't even install or use the 3D Revit product. They keep churning away at production with the core AutoCAD software while adesk proclaims another "user"...Not!
And don't even get me started on the stock backdating scheme they were running with their old CEO (and I am sure several others). Dishonest and greed is the word here but they will find a way to get away with it.
Obvious they are doing the same song and dance again so really nothing new here for them. Standard operating MO for that group.
Posted by: Anthony Johnston | May 22, 2007 at 12:10 PM
And how many of the AutoCAD 2007/8 people are using FULL TIME for 3D work? I would guess at least 15% so there's another .3 million 3D users.
Posted by: Robert Price | May 22, 2007 at 12:16 PM
...and what makes Autodesk unique in this department? Heck, everyone does it, not that that makes it right.
For example, a competitor trumpets "over 100" MCAD journalists attended their big World convention. I know most of the active MCAD writers, and would have trouble coming up with two dozen.
Bill Fane
Posted by: Bill Fane | May 22, 2007 at 12:31 PM
The "World" event you refer was attended by MCAD journalists from all over the globe, not just the USA.
Autodesk continues to report rounded Q1 numbers like 14,000 seats of Revit, 10,600 seats of Inventor and 7,400 seats of Civil 3D.
SolidWorks on the other hand reported 11,813 licenses sold in Q1 (10.3% more).
No riding on the coat tails of AutoCAD, just satisfying the needs of actual 3D MCAD users.
Posted by: John | May 22, 2007 at 01:11 PM
Gary D'Arcy said; "Numbers don't lie...or do they!"
I don't think they can, but people and companies can sure use numbers to do it for them: this example taken from an adesk technical/promotional publication.
"7800% productivity improvement from the use of ONE command in a MCAD product"; yeh right!
Posted by: R. Paul Waddington | May 22, 2007 at 03:29 PM