Tuesday, September 22, 2015

I gathered the following information to help convince my boss to get the upgrade to Revit or start a subscription.

System requirements:
Microsoft Windows 7 SP1 64-bit:Home Premium, Professional, Ultimate or Enterprise
Microsoft Windows 8 / 8.1 64-bit: Windows 8 / 8.1, Pro or Enterprise
CPU Multi-Core Intel Xeon, I-series processor or AMD equivalent with SSE2 technology. Memory 8 GB RAM
Display 1680 x 1050 (WSXGA+), true color
Graphics card DirectX® 11 capable graphics card with Shader Model 3 as recommended by Autodesk.Disk Space 5 GB free disk space
Media Download or installation from DVD or USB
Pointing Device Mouse or compliant device
Browser Microsoft Internet Explorer 7.0 (or later)
Connectivity Internet connection for license registration and prerequisite component download

Our projects are getting larger and more complex, the performance of Revit is improving with each new release. “The Revit Jedi”
2015 
Sketchy lines - yep, create sketchy alteration to views
Family parameter order adjustments - reorder/control parameter positionSchedules/material takeoffs - Access to Additional parameters and Grand Total customization
Revision improvements - Delete Revisions and more sketching options
View references - Reassign view reference to different view
Anti-aliasing improvements (related to Sketchy Lines)Images in schedules - Instance and Type Image parameters can be used in schedules
Building element analysis - Improved surface analysis and calculations (Subscription Only)Tag improvements - Leader behavior mimics text leaders
Ray trace usability improvements - faster, better quality and smoother
Views on sheets - Double click to Deactivate View (compliments 2014's Activate View)
Keynoting settings - Keynote settings access easier, more obvious
Trim - Use selection box to trim extend multiple elements

2014
Conceptual design environment:Non-rectangular crop regions and callouts
Schedules format improvements
File export improvements
Stair creation improvements

2013
Double-click to Edit Family
View & view templates improvements
General usability improvemeents
File export improvements, text & transparency
You can now tab to the dimension & hit the delete key & the dimension is removed from the string.
Diameter dimension tool
Surface Transparency slider
Stair creation improvements

Why do subscription?
Latest product enhancements (daily add-ons)
Autodesk 360 cloud services for rendering, optimization, and analysis
Previous Version Rights (three years worth), Home Use Rights
25 GB of Autodesk 360 cloud storage per named user
Basic Technical Support
Collaborate with project stakeholders securely in the cloud

Use building design suite software month to month? ~$340/month/seat
Autodesk only – no resellers (works out to $4080/year/seat), only current version offered.

I have three quotes:
  • Microdesk $5,327 + $1,000/year
  • Keller Pacific $4,295 + $1,025/year
  • US CAD $4,560 + $995/year
Each quote expires in September 2014. Starting in February 2015, Autodesk will no longer allow discounted, “upgrade” pricing. All upgrades will be new purchases to the tune of $8,000.
Every reseller also offers quarterly pricing and financing of licenses

Podcast with some architecture content...

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chris-ganiere