I’m starting my own small business and want to buy Autocad for use either on a PC or a Mac.

Does anyone have a seat for sale?

It must be original and not a copy.

You tend to find that you purchase a license from Autodesk which is registered to the individual so I think you’ll struggle to find one second hand. Google for Autodesk reseller UK and pick one nearby. You will have an initial outlay then a yearly subscription upgrade.

I understand what you are saying but to be honest all I need is the basics.

I have used Autocad for 20+ years and it is what I know.

All that i need to draw is basic 2d plans so can’t justify a full current version.

Will draftsight be enough for you? Interface very similar to AutoCAD. I’m not an autocad user though so it may be subtly different…

http://www.draftsight.com

Have a look at draftsight. It’s pretty similar to autocad for 2D stuff and it’s free.

Edit- too slow

LT any good? Download it, use it for a month, see if it does everything you need. Much cheaper then the full version.

http://www.autodesk.co.uk/adsk/servlet/download/item?siteID=452932&id=14875323

autoCAD don’t allow transfer of license between different parties.

odd that, as they do on 3ds max. 😕

curvature you will be able to transfer your skillset over to the free solid edge 2d package very easily, it’s an autocad clone.

siemens solid edge 2d.

odd that, as they do on 3ds max

really don’t think do. You can install it but you wont get support such as free upgrades to new versions when they are released etc

I use it a lot and don’t need anything other than LT. Been running 2013 for the past few weeks and it’s full of glitches. £1200 is still quite a bit of money though.

Is LT £1200!! 😯

I’ve worked for companies who get special copies, I understand students doing that but companies!

Perhaps contact a university, they might have unused seats!

Perhaps contact a university, they might have unused seats!

using a student edition for comercial work… 😕

Is LT £1200

Yep, I remember when it was about 500 quid…

Sketchup no good?

Thanks people, I should really have said LT but as a few of you have said it is now £1250.00

I remember a few years back you could buy it PC World for £450.00

There was a guy in the USA who was taken to court by AutoDesk for selling used seats of Autocad. He won!

I’ll keep searching and try the freebies to see of they are any good.

I use Progecad.

It’s a few hundred quid and totally CAD compatible..

I have just downloaded and installed Draftsight on my Mac and have to say i’m really impressed.

I have opened up and played with a DWG file created on LT2011 and the format appears very similar to Autocad.

I have a scheme to draw over the weekend so I will give it a proper try out. Thanks again to CP and Nickjb!

Off to look at Progecad now.

I spent 4 years using lt 1999-2003 for me thaqt solid edge 2d is a virtual clone.

I just downloaded Draftsight. It’s nicer then Progcad but not quite the functionality. After a few minutes use it seems to lack a “past to original coordinates” command, which I use a lot.

Think I’ll be using Draftsight more often though.

Solid edge is pretty intuitive, and free if you’re sticking 2D. It’s the way forward I think. Most companies don’t charge for the software these days, they just ensure the license is hardware linked to the license server and you have to let them know if you’re going to change it.