Expert: Bill DeShawn - 2/5/2008

Question
Hi, my name is Tompkins and I am 15.  I have always been inventing things but I now have alot more invention ideas that I would like to put on a computer What CAD software would you recommed for a firts-timer? and if you have any good advice on how to get started that would be good too.
If you could email me back
     -thanks
           Tompkins

Answer
Tomkins:
This is a forum about AutoCAD, so, as you know AutoCAD is what I like.  However for a lad of 15 years, it's pretty pricy.  But there are alternatives.  As a newbie to the CAD business at your young age, IntelliCAD is the way I would go.  It's very functional and about 1/10 the cost of AutoCAD.  It's customizable, too, and if you never have to share drawing files with anybody, it will never be a problem.  I believe that currently the only problem a message that AutoCAD brings up if you share a DWG file with somebody who has AutoCAD.  Autodesk programmed a drawing check to see if any part of the drawing was ever created by software other than that which you can buy from Autodesk.  All it does is that it says the drawing isn't "trusted".  If you share a drawing with somebody who has AutoCAD and they don't know about the "TRUSTED DWG" message and how lame it is, they might get nervous and refuse to open your drawing that you made in IntelliCAD.  

On the other hand, Autodesk has an AutoCAD LT, which is AutoCAD without some commands missing and about a quarter of the customization available.  Macro writing with LISP for AutoCAD LT is purchaseable from third party developers like those at DRCAUTO.COM.
But IntelliCAD comes with that already and still cheaper.

This is good for you to work and save for something like this.  Then work with it and you will get experience that will be valuable in AutoCAD (not just IntelliCAD).  

Keep in touch
Bill DeShawn
http://my.sterling.net/~bdeshawn