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My thoughts exactly!
But then - I wonder if Autodesk is on the right track with their
aggressive upgrade program. The debugging on the latest version is just
getting seriously started when the next version is already out!

Worse yet - they are risking one of their prime sales arguments.
When asked "Why use AutoCad, when there are cheaper challengers?" the
answer has always been, "Because that's what everyone is using". If you
want to work with others, you have to use AutoCad. But now, with so many
versions out there this argument is going by the wayside. I am currently
working on a project where I have to save back to 2002, or the others
cannot open my 2004DX files. I have some clients who are still on R14,
which I can no longer write to. Autodesk's answer is "Tell them the
cant do that any more. They need to upgrade" - Great business policy,
tell your clients to go to hell.

I would hate to have to go back to R14. As much as I loved it, so much
has improved since then. On the other hand I don't like telling my
clients I can no longer work with them because Autodesk has phased them
out, and I'm getting worried that my own one-year-old program will soon
be obsolescent.

By forcing earlier AutoCad releases into obsolescence, Autodesk may be
making excellent sales arguments for their competitors.

GF

 

Obsolete ?

Perhaps they have a "de facto monopoly" problem.

Years ago, when computers were called IBM machines, IBM had over 80%
of the market for punch cards - the standard method of putting data
and programs into computers.

They were told this large volume constituted a monopoly of the punch
card market, and were ordered by the FTC to divest themselves as soon
as possible of a large part of this market.

What did they do?

At the time they were selling the cards for about $1 a box (2000
cards).

They just doubled the price. This cost them about 30% of the market,
bringing them well within the guidelines set by the FTC. More than
half their customers just kept ordering from them anyway.

They also tripled their profit on punch cards !

Maybe Autocad has a similar problem, and are trying to lose customers.

Maybe.


Happy Trails To You