The new version of Parallels Desktop 5 for the Mac OSX has a new crystal view mode. This crystal view mode blurs the lines between Windows and Mac on your desktop as it shows none of the Windows OS UI. Parallels 5 also feels much faster than previous versions in my unscientific testing. Apple Bootcamp is still faster performance overall because it is running Windows natively, but you also must boot to Windows on your Mac with Bootcamp.

The sweet spot with Parallels Desktop is that I can run AutoCAD 2010 and other Windows applications on my Macbook Pro and still use my Finder or other Mac applications at the same time. In my case I had installed Parallels 5 on my Macbook Pro running OSX Snow Leopard and then installed AutoCAD 2010 on Microsoft Windows 7 running in the Parallels virtualized environment.

Autodesk now supports some of the 2010 products running on Parallels Desktop on a Mac. Having Windows 7 applications on my Mac desktop at the same time is fantastic.  AutoCAD and Other Autodesk Software Supported on Parallels.

For more information on Mac support by Autodesk see http://www.autodesk.com/mac

Cheers,
Shaan

The AutoCAD Product Design Team would like to invite you to a series of special events during Autodesk University this year!

On Tuesday, December 1st and Wednesday, December 2nd, the AutoCAD Product Design Team will be hosting special customer Discussion Forum sessions, as well as traditional annual “What is New in AutoCAD?- AutoCAD Sneak Peek & Test Drive” event. Please see below for more information and the sign up link. We hope you will be able to join us for one of them if you are planning to attend AU this year!

Discussion Forum: “Synergies and Advancements in Drafting and Modeling for AutoCAD"

• In this focus group, participants will get a chance to talk about their needs for existing and new 2D drafting features and 3D modeling tools.
• Designers will show some potential directions and share their ideas on new and advanced tools (e.g. Join/Fillets/ blend enhancements), new 2D geometry object types (e.g. “uber” unified 2D curve objects - Spline/Line/Pline/Arc - all in one), as well as 3D modeling tools (e.g. Space deformation tools/Bend/Twist etc).
• Participants will get a chance to preview and provide feedback on 2D drafting and modeling tools including direct manipulation and modeling techniques.
  
• Who Should Participate?
  AutoCAD users who currently work in 2D and are interested in advanced drafting; designers who are looking into moving to 3D modeling, and users of 3D features in AutoCAD and other applications – including surface modeling in Rhino, 3DS Max, and Maya.

Event: “What is New in AutoCAD? - AutoCAD Sneak Peek & Test Drive”
Description:

• In this session, participants will work individually on computers to "test drive" the new and exciting features in the upcoming AutoCAD release. This is an opportunity to learn about and provide feedback on the newest features, components, and user interface enhancements.
  Product designers and usability specialists will be available to answer your questions and discuss the features.
  
• Who Should Participate?
  Intermediate or advanced AutoCAD users who use AutoCAD at least 20 hours a week for drafting, design, or modeling work.

All events will take place in the conference area in the Mandalay Bay hotel. Participants will receive a gift for their time.

How Do I Sign Up?
To sign up, fill out this brief survey:
Please indicate which sessions you are available to attend. You will be confirmed for at most one discussion forum and one test drive. The confirmation will include specific location, and an NDA will be required for all who attend.
In the meantime, please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions, email to:
melissa.dawe@autodesk.com or elena.fadeeva@autodesk.com

Space is limited so sign up today! Please fill out the survey by Monday, November 16.
We look forward to seeing you in Las Vegas!

-The AutoCAD Product Design Team

 I will shave my head at AU  Buzzzzzzzzzz 

It was started with a small comment and discussion that grew and grew until I challenged people to donate to Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and I would shave my head.  I had the target on my twitter followers as a safety net to make the effort last longer and drive more awareness. This was not a stunt but a good hearted effort  to do something good as well as fun.  A nice amount has been donated thanks to everyone that responded including tenlinks.com and especially Gregory Arkin.

Please keep the donations coming even though  have agreed to shave the head.

http://www.info-komen.org/goto/revit3d

I will let people know when and where during Autodesk University my head shaving will occur.  I don't have too much hair, but I think we may need to make this a parking lot event. I do not have an ideal head shape and face for sporting a shaved head style, so the plan is to hopefully re-grow the hair after the event. I might wear a hat afterwards as my head will reflect and amplify light and potentially blind or scare people and I would not want that on my conscience.

All I ask is that people keep thinking about charitable causes throughout the year not just the month selected. Shine a light on them be it diabetes, autism, cancer research, alzheimers, leukemia, muscular dystrophy, Red Cross, habitat for humanity and many other charitable causes.

There has been a great effort and much awareness created about breast cancer which was the entire inspiration.

Thank you everyone,
Shaan

In AutoCAD when you go to the Plot command and enter the Plot dialog expand the Plot dialog.

Select the Monochrome plot style (ctb or stb). Now select Apply to the Layout and preview or Plot and you should should be good to go.

 

Cheers,
Shaan

Sign up, space is limited
Sign up and help shape the future of Autodesk products at AU!

Hope to see you at AU in 20 days (only 461 hours 42minutes 13seconds away)
Shaan

Here is a interesting project in the works in the labs, Alias Sketch for AutoCAD 2010. This is an AutoCAD add-on application for sketching and experimenting with creative concepts in AutoCAD. You may be aware of the great Autodesk SketchBook Pro product for both Mac and PC as well as the new SketchBook Mobile for the iPhone. which I have and love.

Now there is some work on an add-on to AutoCAD to add some of the Sketch features currently named “Alias Sketch for AutoCAD 2010”.

Illustrate with Alias Sketch

Use intuitive pen-based painting and drawing tools such as pencils, markers, and brushes to create and adapt raster images in AutoCAD paper space.

The Alias Sketch Workspace

The Alias Sketch workspace is comprised of a single tabs on the AutoCAD ribbon. Marking menus, tool palettes, color editors, and browsers provide access to all the features you need to create illustrations in paper space.

Use intuitive pen-based painting and drawing tools such as pencils, markers, and brushes to create and adapt raster images in AutoCAD paper space.

Layer and transformation features extend your power to explore and fine-tune your ideas. Display 3D objects as layers in an Alias Sketch raster image to trace or to provide rich composition possibilities.

• Draw Freehand Illustrations
• Create Concept Variations
• Create Compositions with 3D Models
• Trace 3D Models
• Create Concept Walls
• Annotate

Just a glimpse of the possible future with AutoCAD. If you are into Industrial Design, then I would recommend the Autodesk University 2009 90 minute class ID218-1   Taking 2D Beyond Documentation
Description: Will explores creative methods that utilize Alias® Illustration functionality with AutoCAD® to extend documentation beyond technical drawings.
Speaker: Paul Lebovitz  Product Architect Autodesk

So if you use Photoshop® with AutoCAD®, this is the class for you!

Cheers,
Shaan

Greg even setup a donation page from a blog posting. Gregory made the first donation to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation at http://www.info-komen.org/goto/revit3d. He also offered to give one dollar for every new follower to his blog http://bimboom.blogspot.com/ .

Greg, If the goal is reached you can personally shave my head…

It is all for a great cause and to raise awareness for Breast Cancer.
Shaan

We have been adding many new features and content to the AutoCAD Exchange. Some of the new content includes new funny Roger Penwill Misunderstood CAD Manager cartoons, Lynn Allen’s hilarious Top Ten Reasons to attend AU videos, AutoCAD Help online, AU courses, weekly Ask the Expert to ask questions to. Donnie Gladfelter is this weeks resident AutoCAD Expert.

Now we just published free AutoCAD 2010  “The Best of AutoCAD 2010” learning content.

http://autocad.autodesk.com/?nd=m_acad_elearning

Membership is free, so join the community of AutoCAD based product users including AutoCAD LT, AutoCAD Mechanical, AutoCAD Architecture,and AutoCAD Plant 3D.

Cheers,
Shaan

Video: Subscription Advantage Pack
”See how easy it is to get exclusive benefits that provide early access to new product enhancements only for Subscription customers”

I love these tools, many have been requested by AUGI members and some have been seen in other Autodesk products such as the Create Selected which is also in AutoCAD Architecture. It is like a match properties to create a new object instead of just matching two objects. Also for many having the ability to send all text to the front and all hatches to the back is a huge TimeSaver. What you see in the Subscription Advantage Packs will be included in the future releases of the product so think of it as a sneak peek at some future functionality. There are many other Autodesk products with Subscription Advantage Packs now available so check out the Subscription Center. Some in other countries might have to wait a few weeks.

“If I save time, when do I get it back?”

Cheers,
Shaan

If you would be interested in your user group participating in this pilot, please send me an email at shaan@autodesk.com and use the email subject line of “User Group Pilot”.

Best Regards,
Shaan

I have just sent the first batch of confirmations to those that had signed up to attend the Autodesk University Bloggers Social event this year.

There will be a flock of bloggers and Autodesk employees attending as well as some speakers in a casual social networking environment to place names to faces. We will have name/blog badges this year. Thus far I have confirmed over 100 bloggers and many Autodesk employees to attend the special event including Autodesk CEO Carl Bass.

Only 29 more days until AU 2009!

Cheers,
Shaan

This is more common now that the application menu icon is a little bigger “Big Red A” in AutoCAD 2009 and AutoCAD 2010 as well as other Autodesk products. I did this once while on the See the Difference with AutoCAD 2010 Tour.

Make sure to take your time when selecting the application menu icon and not get impatient and click it again causing a double click event and close the application. Patience is a virtue.

Cheers,
Shaan

Project Cooper is not the final name just a project name while the product is still in development phases. What do you think it should be called?  Help us give Project Cooper a permanent name!  Take this short, multiple-choice survey.  Should take less than 2 minutes, and we appreciate your input.

The SurveyMonkey survey link is live at:  Click Here to take survey

Have you tried Project Cooper with Win 7, or even XP?  If the answer is no then give it a try or mention it to someone that needs a super simple precision design tool. Be sure to email labs.cooper@autodesk.com with any comments you might have.

For those unable to attend the main event in Las Vegas in Las Vegas this is a great opportunity to experience part of it from the comfort of your own computer. People from around the world can now attend Autodesk University “virtually”!

Complete details are on the AU Virtual website.
Event date: December 1-4, 2009.

• 50+ Classes and Sessions- streamed “live”
• A “Premium Pass” (full access) is only US$99
• All Subscription customers receive a free “Premier Pass”.
• A “Free Pass” (limited access) is available to anyone. 

www.autodesk.com/auvirtual

There is no virtual beer bust so you will have to arrange that activity yourself. :-)

Cheers,
Shaan