Mac software > All Reviews > Software > Graphic design > CAD > AutoCAD for Mac review

Wed, 26 Jan 2011 AutoCAD for Mac review

Industry-standard computer aided design application returns to the Mac

David Bradforth

Manufacturer: Autodesk
Pros: File compatible with PC; bulk of tools in place; immediately familiar to PC users yet remains true to Mac platform
Cons: Number of tools lacking in this initial release; expensive
Price: £4,200
We rate this 4 out of 5.Star rating:

AutoCAD 2011 for Mac is the first native release of Autodesk’s market-leading computer aided design program since 1992. If you’re already familiar with AutoCAD on the PC you’ll see a mixture of both the familiar and the new in the opening window.

The ribbon bar, a long-time feature of AutoCAD PC, is missing in the Mac version. Autodesk has decided to make the interface a little more Mac friendly; even supporting preview of the DWG files on your system using Cover Flow. This makes it a lot easier to see which file you need before opening it.

If you have a Magic Trackpad or Magic Mouse you can use the pinch gesture as you would on the iPhone or iPad to zoom in and out of a project.

Creating 3D representations of your living room in AutoCAD is possible with a little time and effort

AutoCAD 2011 will open all existing DWG files. If the file uses a feature that the release doesn’t support, the application will do its best to open it – this provides you with the scope to consider a workaround if you actually need that feature of the package.

Whereas you can have multiple workspaces in AutoCAD PC, in the Mac version you have just one with three different custom toolsets. You can add to these with ease, and manipulating them is a case of dragging and dropping from one side of the customised window to the other.

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