Unfortunately for those of us who have the base package, we are supplementing these features but won't get to use them.
I pay $1200 annually for SolidWorks maintenance and about $1000 for simulation.
For that kind of money, you would think that there would be some fabulous upgrades every year!!!!!!!!!
Especially when it comes to interface. Interface is fundamental to the use of the software. Interface upgrades should be a focus of the software development, since we are using this product exactly like we were using AutoCAD decades ago: Monitor, Keyboard, Mouse.
By now, we should have:
VOICE COMMANDS
GESTURE CONTROL
VR
These technologies ALREADY exist!! How hard is it to adapt these?
VOICE COMMANDS
Not sure I'd like to work in an office where the CAD people ran with voice commands :-)
The problem is that I believe engineers and designers need their own offices or at least a quality cube system to be as effective as possible.
trying to design with a bunch of people yacking around you, voice commands or just simply typical conversation, would be distracting.
Many people these days isolate themselves with earbuds when their work space does not adequately isolate them, so, either way, we should be promoting better workspaces.
Companies get weird about offices, but it isn't expensive to put up some 2x4 walls and a door. They may find a quick payoff in productivity.
I read an article not too long ago on these open-cubicle workspaces that are getting trendy, like at Tesla. It said that the supposed improvement in collaboration that they are designed to foster is offset by decreased productivity due to constant distraction.
Someday voice commands will be the norm...until they can just tap into our brain.
Matt Juric wrote:
VOICE COMMANDS
Not sure I'd like to work in an office where the CAD people ran with voice commands :-)
Then a "New Prank" will be born, record your co-worker by day and then at night play it backwards....
"Ok Google, Format C:, Yes, Yes and Yes."
Dan Golthing wrote:
By now, we should have:
VOICE COMMANDS
GESTURE CONTROL
VR
These technologies ALREADY exist!! How hard is it to adapt these?
That's three hard nopes from me.
Not to mention no 2D/dwg/dxf anymore after this year without paying for it.
There should be some development of Solidworks to properly handle basic 2D/dwg/dxf files. Draftsight going to paid for really only highlights it was a sticking plaster for the fact that Solidworks cannot handle that type of file in it's current state.
Companies get weird about offices, but it isn't expensive to put up some 2x4 walls and a door. They may find a quick payoff in productivity.
But it is expensive and outrageously expensive in high rent areas. When you're staring at 25-50$ per square foot. Going from a 8X8 Space cubby to a 12 X 12 office will cost 2K to 4K per employee more per year. To make it even more expensive is the fact that many places are going to "Collaborative spaces" where you have might have an open concept office where your actual floor space per person is maybe 6 X 6 or even less. Throw in cost of construction, which you would need HVAC ducts etc and the initial cost is high as well. You can't just send an employee down to Lowes and toss up some walls. Codes, landlords etc etc wouldn't allow that in most spaces.
Secondly I think there is a STRONG argument that isolating people does not increase productivity it decreases it. Put someone in a room that no one can see them and I'd bet dollars to donuts that a good majority of people will tend to not do what they are being paid to do.
While I am equally frustrated with paying for features I do not use, or up-charges. Especially when there still are issues with some functionality of SW. EDrawings desktop (is free) and Edrawings Pro. is included with Premium or Professional subscriptions, so yes my subscription $$$$ are going to a feature I will not use for a number of more years.