WorldCAD Access

Running "AutoCAD" on Google Chrome OS

Over on Gizmos Grabowski, I describe how to install Google's Linux- and browser-based Chrome OS operating system on a computer -- an ASUS 701 netbook, in this case. Of course, the very next question is, "Does it run CAD?" It does, albeit it's cramped on the netbook's 7" screen. I went to http://butterfly.autodesk.com to run Autodesk's Flash-based, installation-free version of AutoCAD. Because it is Flash-based, it runs in pretty much any Web browser on just about any operating system. (Must drive Microsoft batty!) The figure below shows Project Butterfly version of AutoCAD running on the netbook and Google operating system: Read more →

Maybe the gap is empty.

Before Apple ceo Steve Jobs brought out the iPad, he showed a slide with a question mark in the gap between the cell phone form factor (er, iPhone) and the notebook (er, MacBook) form factor. He replaced the question-mark-filled gap with the iPad. But I've been wondering: what if the gap is empty? The need for an inbetween product does not exist. A study by Retrevo Pulse study finds that Apple has failed to convince any new buyers to consider the iPad: Not only did Apple fail to convince new buyers, it may have lost many potential buyers. You can... Read more →

Bricscad for alternate operating systems delayed 6-9 months

Just 9 months ago, I recorded Bricsys's earlier schedule for rolling out its CAD software on operating systems other than Windows: Q4 09 -- native Linux Q1 10 -- native Mac In a press release that came out earlier this week, the schedule has been adjusted by 6-9 months: Bricscad LINUX is in Alpha now; a commercial release is expected early Q2. A native Mac OSX version is planned for end of 2010. So a half year later for Linux and 3/4 year later for Mac. I think the problem is that wrenching a software program away from the insanely... Read more →

Bricsys releases another alpha of Bricscad Linux

Another release of Bricscad for Linux is available for download from www.bricsys.com/open/common/download.jsp?p=B4L&l=en_US&site=1 The software now does things I'd've thought would be possible in the initial release: DWG files can be opened, but not saved. Menus and toolbars added, though not flyout toolbars. Zooming with the scroll button now works. System variables now retain their values. A user reports: I see the new version grow quickly from the very first one. Speed is much higher than in WINE [old version of Bricscad than ran on Linux using WINdows Emmulator], and CPU load is much more affordable, main commands are efficient. Read more →

Bricscad Linux goes pre-alpha

The native Linux version of Bricscad has been greatly delayed, with the shipping date now missed by two years. On Dec 31, however, Bricsys ceo Erik De Keyser reported that he plans to post an alpha version by the end of January. Further updates will be announced in the Bricscad Linux forum. Four hours later, however, a Bricscad programmer posted a pre-alpha copy, saying... A few stubborn guys even tried to proof [Mr De Keyser] wrong with some patches in the meantime, but that did not work out. Do not expect to do anything useful yet, but feel free to... Read more →

Autodesk's Sketch Mobile Among Top Apple Store Apps

Autodesk Sketch Mobile made it to Rewind status, which is Apple's name for the collection of best-selling iPhone/iTouch applications of the year. I dunno if they are listed in any particular order, but Sketch was 8th. Autodesk sez over 1,000,000 have been downloaded from the iTunes store, of which a little more than 100,000 people paid $3 for the not-free version. Yesterday, I complained bitterly about the poor design of the iPhone/iTouch software. Here's another example. When I click See All (Rewind apps), the iTunes software complains: (Click for larger image). Read more →

Netbooks More Powerful Than Salesmen Want You To Believe

I've overheard computer store salesmen lie to potential customers of the powerlessness of netbook computers. I've read of ceos of large computer makers bemoaning the lack of profits they make from the most popular form of computer today. Doesn't matter what they say. I still run AutoCAD 2010 on my LG X110 netbook, albeit limited to Windows 7. To get out from under the burden Windows imposes on computer hardware, though, it's better to run netbooks with Linux. (I use Ubuntu-based Linux Mint.) Richard Smith of Symscape confirms this: Would you believe me when I say you can install Caedium... Read more →

Waiting, Waiting...

The Bricsys Web site tantalizes: The Linux world is desperately looking for a strong, affordable DWG-based CAD solution. Bricsys is fully committed to serve the growing Linux community. A native Linux version of the Bricscad V10 technology is in its final stage of development. Source. Read more →

Installing MEDUSA4 on Linux

MEDUSA4 Personal is the only commercial, free CAD for Linux that I know about, and so I went through the process of installing it on my netbook running Linux Mint. After all, the specs say that MEDUSA4 needs just 512MB RAM, and this netbook boasts 1GB. Before downloading, you have to fill out a registration form with an extra: your computer's network (MAC) address. The address can be determined automatically if your computer has Java v1.6, or you get it manually like this: Open a terminal window, and then run ifconfig -a After filling out the registration form, the license... Read more →

First CAD Viewer for iPhone

Now that the iPhone's operating system supports 3D, I was wondering when the first CAD applications would appear. Today Halabe & Han tells me about NaviCAD for searching and viewing the Google 3D Warehouse on the iPhone. Warehouse models are created with SketchUp. You control the view of the loaded model by moving the iPhone. Tipping the phone down rotates the model so that you see its top, for instance. More details here. Purchase from the Apple Store, which requires iTunes installed on your computer. (I don't.) Read more →

10 Reasons to Prefer 7 (or Mint)

Over on Silicon Valley Insider, Preethi Dumpala gives Ten Reasons Why People Will Upgrade To Windows 7. As I began reading the list, I realized many of these reasons already exist in Linux-based operating systems, like Mint (my current favorite). Let's go through the ten reasons, and see whether they apply to 7 and/or Mint: 10. In 7, users click an icon on the taskbar that shows available Wi-Fi networks, and then choose the one to which to connect. Linux Mint has this feature, as well. 9. System messages will appear as notifications on the taskbar.Linux Mint has this feature,... Read more →

What Potential Mac Marketshare for CAD?

Interviews over at Develop3D give a pair of data points useful for the likes of Bricscad, Graebert, and Autodesk, who will be entering the Mac market with their CAD software over the next year or two. Siemens PLM Systems (nee UGS) is the only big CAD vendor with Mac experience. They found that Mac types tend to be creative types, which is why Siemens has not ported their engineering analysis software to Mac. Autodesk makes a similar statement: But based on our data, and talking to a lot of customers over the years, we believe roughly 30% of creative professionals... Read more →

The True Windows Tax

The Windows tax usually refers to the higher price that computers cost because of the amount we unknowingly pay for the Windows license. With computers being so cheap these days, we tend to not care; the higher Windows-induced price tends to show itself in the realm of netbooks, which offer Linux as the alternative. The true Windows tax, however, is in how the bulky operating system taxes computer speed. This effect is clearly seen on dual-booting netbooks, such as my 1GB LG netbook. Presto Linux boots in 35 seconds; Windows 7RC boots in three minutes, and even then continues to... Read more →

Converting Windows CAD to OS Independence

To learn what it takes to wean a CAD program away from Windows, I visited two software companies who are nearly finished with the process. Bricsys of Belgium and Graebert of Germany will be releasing their CAD programs for Linux and Macintosh within the next 6-24 months. I found it fascinating that both followed a nearly identical deweaning process, completely independent of each other. Step 1 Rewrite all portions of the source code that depend on Microsoft APIs. Bricsys used wxWidgets, while Graebert used Qt. This rewrite takes 1.5-4 years, and affects 95-98% of the code. Step 2 Customize the... Read more →