On Friday 22 March 2019 18:46:41 Bruce Layne wrote: > Being an unrepentant capitalist, I must admit that commercial software > has much to recommend it. There is money to pay programmers to > develop stable and feature rich software, and market forces keep the > product customer focused so the market gets the features that > customers want. When Fusion 360 launched, I signed up on the AutoDesk > forum to ask for a native Linux version. The AutoDesk administrator > told me that despite not being too much effort given the cross > platform development tools they use to make the Windows and Mac > version, there would never be a Linux version because Linux users > won't pay for software. That was an odd thing to tell me, given that > I had long ago paid $1250 for Eagle electronic CAD software, > specifically because they offered a very good native Linux version, > and I paid annual maintenance fees for years after the initial > "purchase." Do we ever really own software? > > I wasn't impressed with the AutoDesk attitude, which was slightly less > offensive than Microsoft's "Linux is cancer" public statement on open > source software. > > Part of me was relieved. Even though I wouldn't have the advantage of > the rich features and rising industry standard that Fusion 360 > represented, I wouldn't be setting myself up for another proprietary > software ambush. AutoDesk had done that to me before. They sold me > on AutoSketch which, as an electrical engineer was all of the > mechanical CAD software I'd need. Then they discontinued AutoSketch > at the moment that I learned enough to be productive and unilaterally > converted my license to an AutoCAD Lite license. AutoCAD Lite > required a completely new learning curve, so I was forced to start > over. They charged me the higher AutoCAD Lite maintenance fees while > constantly nagging me to upgrade to the complicated and expensive full > blown AutoCAD that I didn't want or need. None of the drawings that I > created in AutoSketch could be used. There was no import or > conversion to AutoCAD Lite. The hundreds of hours I spent in > AutoSketch was a completely wasted effort. I got the impression that > AutoDesk viewed their entry level products as marketing tools to hook > new users so they could be up sold on their more expensive CAD > software. It was a marketing approach that was not customer oriented. > > At the time, AutoCAD was still a 2D CAD package, but they had tacked > on some kludge 3D features. Meanwhile, smaller and leaner software > companies had introduced true 3D CAD. Many still exist but SolidWorks > emerged as the big winner. AutoDesk was suddenly at the back of the > pack and disappeared in the rear view mirror for a few years. Fusion > 360 is their attempt to recapture the market they lost through > complacency. I can't help but feel that once AutoDesk has herded the > majority of the CAD market back into a near AutoDesk monopoly, they'll > start putting the screws to the users again. > > I have no interest in AutoDesk's proprietary Fusion 360 file format > that uses the files that I create to hold me hostage. I have even > less interest in sharing my data on their cloud. > > I use FreeCAD, mostly for 3D printing. It's still not ready for prime > time and doesn't have a usable CAM system so it's not a possible > replacement for Fusion 360, but it's a viable CAD option for me when > Fusion 360 isn't. > > If there was no FreeCAD, I'd use OpenSCAD long before I'd use Fusion > 360. Free Open Source Software for the win. I wish there was some > effective method to leverage the advantages of commercial software and > FOSS. I'd like to be able to pool my financial donations with those > of other users to encourage open source software developers to > implement new features.
We freebies need a lot more of that attitude. Sure, free is nice but one should never forget TANSTAAFL. AKA somebody has to buy lunch. Or a bunch of somebody's take up a collection to make the coders mortgage payments. Can it be made to work? Maybe, but its us that have to change our attitude to make it work. > > On 3/22/2019 5:14 PM, Jeff Johnson wrote: > > Anyone on here have opinions on Fusion 360 Cad/Cam by Autodesk? > > > > Using ShopCam for simple 2.5D work, VisualCam for 3 or more axis > > work, using Alibre Cad for 3D Drwaing and creation as well as > > ProgeCad for 2D Drawings. > > > > With this combo there is not much we can't handle but maintenance > > agreements > > and updates do get cumbersome. > > > > > > I am worried about moving to the cloud based system but I guess it's > > the future. > > > > > > What are this groups thoughts if any? > > > > > > Jeff Johnson > > > > john...@superiorroll.com > > > > Superior Roll & Turning > > > > 734-279-1831 > > > > _______________________________________________ > Emc-users mailing list > Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users Cheers, Gene Heskett -- "There are four boxes to be used in defense of liberty: soap, ballot, jury, and ammo. Please use in that order." -Ed Howdershelt (Author) Genes Web page <http://geneslinuxbox.net:6309/gene> _______________________________________________ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
