<OT> A CAD recommendation

[Tony Alfrey]

Hi kids;

Over several years now, periodically someone asks about CAD programs 
that run on linux.  And for that same period, I've been aware of a 
package called VariCAD, developed apparently by a bunch of people in 
Eastern Europe (Czech Republic or something).  I've needed such a 
package for a long time that would allow full 3D mechanical design at 
about the level of Autodesk Inventor or SolidWorks.  But anybody that's 
familiar with CAD knows that these packages start at about $4000 and 
rapidly go into the stratosphere with added tools, upgrades, blah blah.  
While SolidWorks is really a nice package, if you're not a large 
enterprise that can afford the $4000, you're a little screwed.  And a 
really serious portion of the investment is the learning curve to 
become even remotely efficient at the package.
So I finally bit the bullet and downloaded the trial of VariCAD (30 
days) and have recently forked over my $400 for the license (no, it's 
not free).  And I will say that I think I'm getting my moneys worth so 
far.  Their documentation is weak, but their tech support guy is pretty 
accomodating so I've actually become productive in about a week.  I may 
get annoyed with the package at some point when I run up against some 
intractable brick wall, but so far it is not bad and the trial is 
full-featured.

Not trying to be an advertising agent, but I know others have asked 
about this stuff before without much real useful feedback.

-- 
Tony Alfrey
tonyalfrey at earthlink.net
"I'd rather be sailing"