Topic: Favorite AutoCAD Release

[ronjonp]

Every year computers get faster and AutoCAD gets slower  (at least from my experience).
The version to me that did everything I've needed (not much 3D) and was snappy would have to be '08 so far.

[JNieman]

lol @ the last choice.  "My favorite version of Autocad is Solidworks!"

Voted '13.  I've stopped caring much, though.  This machine and this software package seems to not really lag much and only has the average/typical amount of random crashes and fatal errors.

[M-dub]

For me, there are two answers.
R14 made the biggest impact for me, coming from R9, 10 and then R13.  Man, was R13 the worst release ever or what?!  R14 was a HUGE improvement.

Since then, I think I'd have to go with 2009.

[Keith™]

for me R2000i was the quintessential drafting package, but improvements in design and speed through R2004 made it a tough competition.

I didn't use R2005 and R2006 was only short lived. I still use R2007, but I don't like the quirky zooming, colorful windowing and the other eye candy that doesn't add anything to my drafting experience.

If I had to choose which one to use on a regular basis, I could probably get used to the eye candy, as distracting as it is, 2007 would probably be my choice. It has solids editing improvements over 2004 and doesn't yet implement the dreaded ribbon ... I absolutely hate the ribbon

haha .. I noticed that you didn't include R13 .. that was almost as bad as Windows ME ... or is it the other way around

[Krushert]

but I don't like the quirky zooming, colorful windowing and the other eye candy that doesn't add anything to my drafting experience.

They added those features for Apple/Mac Users.   

R2010 and R2012

[StykFacE]

Good topic. '08 for me. Multiple reasons...

ABS changed to MEP, it was stable, it added photometric lighting for rendering, layer manager wasn't a palette yet, overall was best release without issue. '10 would be second best.

However, I must have the latest version as every release comes with benefits that I always seem to pick up and use.

[JNieman]

However, I must have the latest version as every release comes with benefits that I always seem to pick up and use.

Yea that was the main factor for me too.  If I thought anything but 2013 was the best, I'd be using them.  It seems pretty obvious that 2013 is the best because I decided to use it over the others I have available.  And it's not because I'm forced to by interoperability issues for me. 

[MP]

Have to go with R12 and the introduction of DCL as it completely changed the kind of tools I could develop and thus my play value as a coder.

[danallen]

release 2000i - middle mouse button pan! for the win!

[ronjonp]

release 2000i - middle mouse button pan! for the win!

That was one of the greatest additions IMO.

[danallen]

which release added implied distance acceptance? (when you start a line, point the mouse in ortho direction want, then enter number), kicked butt over @5'-4"<90, might rival the panning

[StykFacE]

I'm too young for the earlier versions, but middle mouse button pan would be a huge one if I were a true AutoCAD veteran.

[Birdy]

I was gonna vote, but since r13 isnt in the list, I'll pass.

[M-dub]

release 2000i - middle mouse button pan! for the win!

That was one of the greatest additions IMO.

Yeah, I can't argue with that... 

[tedg]

This is a tough question, 'cause there have been many releases that made a big difference..for me anyway.
 
Going from R12 to R14 was sweet!
 
2000i was what I picked for the survey, this had allot of stuff we had been wishing for, especially the ability to have multiple drawings open and multiple layout format. Back in the R14 days we needed to have a few sessions of Acad open to go between drawings.
 
2006 for dynamic blocks
 
 
 
 
 

[LE3]

--- pre - r12 versions ---

[StykFacE]

2006 for dynamic blocks

Yes, good one. Also:

2004 for Tool Palettes.

2005 for Tables.

^^those are sometimes very underestimated OOTB tools (in addition to dynamic blocks in 2006).

[Dinosaur]

I learned to customize using r12 and have not found any version since easier to bend to my will.  It was also quite versatile ... toward the end of its tour, I was able to use the DOS version either within Windows or in DOS and was lightning fast in both environments by loading parts or all into RAM.  I went on to r13 and likely had more billable time using it than the rest of the subsequent releases through r2008 combined.  I consider them co-favorites.

[ronjonp]

r14 and 2013 are tied at this point 

[tedg]

I just happen to notice that R13 is missing from the list...
What, you didn't think anyone would pick that release as their favorite?? 

[ronjonp]

I just happen to notice that R13 is missing from the list...
What, you didn't think anyone would pick that release as their favorite?? 

 

[Birdy]

I just happen to notice that R13 is missing from the list...
What, you didn't think anyone would pick that release as their favorite?? 

I would have!!  That is the version I learned on, and never really had any crashing issues (or any others for that matter) that I can recall.  Ignorance is bliss I guess... I never knew "...how bad it was", because I had never used anything else.

I would list r13 as my favorite because I learned to edit the acad.pgp file and that opened a Pandora's box of customizing autocad (and other programs) to bend them to my will that still keeps me going today.  Regardless of the version.  With help from the interwebs (and folks like you all) I was able to do things that came out in future releases! [Fields, annotative (sort of) dimensions]

[Gasty]

Hi,

R12 it's the best for me, 5[K] of very good printed documentation (hard cover version of the user manual), stable, DOS+Windows, DCL, fast, render, SQL connection (ASI remember?), great fun with ADS (I know ADS is a little older but this version was a lot better), great ADS examples from JW in person. Still have a CD (from Autodesk)  with a lot of resources for programmers.

Gaston Nunez

[tedg]

Hi,

R12 it's the best for me, 5[K] of very good printed documentation (hard cover version of the user manual), stable, DOS+Windows, DCL, fast, render, SQL connection (ASI remember?), great fun with ADS (I know ADS is a little older but this version was a lot better), great ADS examples from JW in person. Still have a CD (from Autodesk)  with a lot of resources for programmers.

Gaston Nunez

I remember R12 being a fist-full of 3.5 floppy discs to load the program, like 10 or 12 of 'em.
Those were the days.

[Matt__W]

I remember R12 being a fist-full of 3.5 floppy discs to load the program, like 10 or 12 of 'em.
Those were the days.

Did you ever have to install MS Office from the discs?  There must've been 2 dozen of those little.....   :realmad:  :pissed:

[Matt__W]

"My favorite version of Autocad is Solidworks!"

"My favorite version of Autocad is Revit!"   

[StykFacE]

"My favorite version of Autocad is Solidworks!"

"My favorite version of Autocad is Revit!"   

Haha! Good one Matt. +1 here.

[TimSpangler]

I chose 2006 primarily for the Dyn blocks.  If it weren't for that and it was just  speed / usability then I would go have to say R12 (it got the job done . )

@Jim,  your sick mister.

[ronjonp]

No love for 2005 ... I believe that's when sheet sets were introduced  . That was a great addition.

[cadtag]

2005 -- last release before cui came along.  still faily light and responsive, thanks to less eye candy than later releases. 

[ronjonp]

Any takers on 2014 ?    "The newest release of AutoCAD, codenamed "Keystone" was released March 26, 2013"

[JNieman]

Any takers on 2014 ?    "The newest release of AutoCAD, codenamed "Keystone" was released March 26, 2013"

I predict one vote, any time soon:

[Matt__W]

Or 30....

[ronjonp]

New 2014 Lisp Icon:
For you developers also look into the SECURELOAD sysvar 

[Matt__W]

Ummmm...... why?

[ronjonp]

uuuummm ... because 

[JNieman]

.

[ronjonp]