Is it worth it???

[tc3dcad60731]

I have used ACAD since R13 and MDT since R2. Inventor has been a royal pain but now I have people asking if I can do dwgs in ADT. So I went and bought the newest book (2004) to start reading it and discover that this "appears" cool but Autodesk is coming out with 2005. IS this program really worth the learning curve and especially the PRICE?

The subscription rate is good but to buy in is very high.

[hand471037]

what kinda work do you do?

[tc3dcad60731]

I do 3d modeling of steel structures, structural & civil drawings, landscape & irrigation drawings, architecturals of homes, buildings, and remodeling, and hand drawing to cad conversions. The arch side is really picking up.

What do you do??

[hand471037]

Architecture, pretty much. Mostly Mutli-unit housing, mixed-use commercial things, and a few smaller custom residential and stuff. In the past have done Historic renovation projects and Museums and such. I use Revit, and if you want to go 3D for the kinds of work it sounds like you're doing, you may want to download it and try it out prior to going with ADT. Revit is a lot like Inventor in some ways, but tailor-made for the construction industry.

Unless you've got a huge investement in AutoCAD/MDT/ADT in licences/training/LISP, and you don't have the flexibility or time to switch to something else, I'd highly recommend looking forward at Revit, rather than looking sideways from MDT to ADT...

[richard.binning]

And then theres the other side. If you want to leverage your investment in training with autocad products and utilize software that is already fully integrated with the MEP disciplines through Building Systems then stick with the autocad based product and train on the ADT aspects which work on top of autocad. Check for info on the productivity benefits of ADT.
Don't get me wrong, REVIT is a fantastic tool and we are currently running 14 licenses of it. However, we have 110+ licenses of ADT/ABS/LDDT which we use 95% of the time. REVIT is an excellent software package, but is still lacking in many areas critical to building design professionals.

[hand471037]

Well, while I'd not completely agree with the 'fully integrated with MEP via Building Systems (I personally feel there are a lot of issues still there, and that it's not fully integrated)' or the 'leverage your existing training (I've used AutoCAD forever, and know it pretty well, and ADT is a totally different beast)' comments, you point is completely valid: If you've got a heavy investment in AutoCAD, and are looking for productivity gains without leaving that AutoCAD platform, then ADT is a viable option. Additionally, if Revit doesn't work for you right now, for whatever reason, then it's another path you could take.

However you really should look at both Revit and ADT, for if Revit does fit your needs, I feel from the kinds of work you describe and the fact that you've worked with Inventor some you'll get much more productivity gains by going with Revit over ADT. ADT lets you work faster within AutoCAD, it doesn't help you work faster at your JOB. It's a subtle but important difference, and you'll need to ask yourself what you really need, as in 'I need to do exactly what I do now, but just do it faster' vs. 'I need to do what I can't easily do now, and do my whole overall job faster'. Also your workflow comes into play, for working professional designers who also produce CD's, Revit is the bomb. If you've got a huge drafting pool of CAD Draftspeople, then ADT can be the bomb.

So download both, and give both a try. Be objective about it to, and understand that there is every bit as much of a change in going with one as there is in going with the other, 'cept that with Revit you've got to jump in with both feet.

But trial

[tc3dcad60731]

Ok, So i can download these and use for what 30 days? Are they fully functioning versions/demos? Right now I have a lot of experience with different programs as mentioned. I am also a designer that owns their own company and am working on an engineering degree (like i need another one). The engineers that I work with want it in ACAD but the builders that I deal with want to know if I can do what ADT is doing because they have seen it used on other jobs I guess. The point is I am wondering which one is the best to stick with/move to?

I will research REVIT because i do not know anything about it.

Thanks for the input!!!!!!

[Scott D Davis]

Revit (and I think ADT) is a fully functional 60 day license for the demo version. Definately research Revit.....you will be blown away with it's capabilities.

[tc3dcad60731]

One more dumb question.......

How much is REVIT??? I do not want to call my vendor because they always give me a high price. Furthermore, Autodesk does not come out and state how much it will cost you to buy only what the subscription rate is.

Furthermore, I like what I see so far.

[beegee]

One more dumb question.......

How much is REVIT??? I do not want to call my vendor because they always give me a high price. Furthermore, Autodesk does not come out and state how much it will cost you to buy only what the subscription rate is.

Furthermore, I like what I see so far.

You will need to contact a Revit reseller to get a quote. Depends on where you are ( geographically ) and what deals they may have going.

You may be interested in the Revit Series for instance, which bundles the latest AutoCAD and Revit together, on a subscription basis for upgrades to each as they become available. I understand there are some good deals available for the Series product.