AutoCAD LT 2002

Rating:
Summary: I use it every day
Review: After using a product on a daily basis I can say this program is def. not worth it, I have started with R12, then R14, ADT 2000 and now 2002 and still the program crashes on all ov our computers at least twice daily, many times without even saving ANYTHING to the recover file. The program makes a user want to pick up a pencil and start drawing by hand again!

Rating:
Summary: GOOD BUT LIGHT FOR A REASON
Review: As a design professional I have been using AutoCad since 1991. I have learned through bitter experience, the full version is what you want. LT is okay if all you will ever do is 2-D drafting. But, the commands in LT are not very flexible. If you want to build your speed, you must use custom commands. To do this, you will eventually get into wrting LISP commands on your own...it's much easier than you might think...and you can not do that in LT. Also, drawing in 3-D is one of the most fantastic experiences you will have as a draftsman. The full version is a delight to use. It takes just about as much time to learn LT as it does the full version if you are new to CAD. And, the 3-D tools are very easy to catch on to after you have the basic concept of working in the computer environment. So, LT is good...but really leaves you wanting more drafting power very quickly. If I had to do it all over again, I would have saved the dough and just bought the full version right off. Be aware, however, the full version is a huge file. But, with today's computer power, it's no problem even for a cheap lap-top.

Rating:
Summary: GOOD BUT LIGHT FOR A REASON
Review: As a design professional I have been using AutoCad since 1991. I have learned through bitter experience, the full version is what you want. LT is okay if all you will ever do is 2-D drafting. But, the commands in LT are not very flexible. If you want to build your speed, you must use custom commands. To do this, you will eventually get into wrting LISP commands on your own...it's much easier than you might think...and you can not do that in LT. Also, drawing in 3-D is one of the most fantastic experiences you will have as a draftsman. The full version is a delight to use. It takes just about as much time to learn LT as it does the full version if you are new to CAD. And, the 3-D tools are very easy to catch on to after you have the basic concept of working in the computer environment. So, LT is good...but really leaves you wanting more drafting power very quickly. If I had to do it all over again, I would have saved the dough and just bought the full version right off. Be aware, however, the full version is a huge file. But, with today's computer power, it's no problem even for a cheap lap-top.

Rating:
Summary: AutoCAD LT 2002
Review: AutoCAD LT 2002 is an excellent product. It does everything I had expected it to do but the licensing policy is unfairly restrictive. I was required to purchase a new license because no upgrade path exists for the AutoCAD LT 95 product that I owned previously. Prospective customers should also be aware that, unlike software licenses purchased from many other vendors, AutoDesk does not allow the license to be resold to another user.

Rating:
Summary: Good Transitional Tool
Review: I am a design/drafting professional who has been using the full-version of AutoCad for more than a decade as well as AutoCad LT. I've seen a lot of frustration from professionals who try to make the transition from manual drafting to CAD. AutoCad LT 2002 is finally the product for the professionals who need to make this transition. Many who need to make this transition often feel overwhelmed by the copious amounts of information in the full version of AutoCad. This version of LT, and even the accompanying book (whoa!a useful manual?), allows a professional to go at his or her own speed and self-teach without the usual frustrations. This is also a good program for the road warriors who need to review drawings on job sites, but don't want to bog down their laptops with the full-version of AutoCad. There are commands missing, for the purists out there, and the 3D capabilities are almost non-existant. This program is good for those who have no AutoCad experience at all.

Rating:
Summary: Standard for working with pros
Review: I divide land, design and build tracts, and used AutoCAD LT as the [less costly] industry standard for computer drafting inputs to engineers, architects and surveyors. And while LT 2002 does include a few of the important innovations of AutoCAD 2002, its capabilities are still strictly limited to 2-D drawing. Definition used below time in/out, 1 in to 4 saved = 1/4.
True to form and the army of programmers, support staff and professionals, compatibility is one of the key advantages of LT 2002. It is 100 percent DWG-compatible with AutoCAD 2000-, 2000i-, and 2002-based products, allowing me to open, edit, and exchange drawing files with my engineers, surveyors, blueprint shop and partner in Hawaii.

I used successfully the Web publishing tools included, worked, however a bit laborious, time in vs. time saved 1/2. eTransmit, for example, puts drawings you currently have open--with all associated files and x-refs--into a single set so that I could edit the file on another machine. Necessary component of a file is present without the user having to individually select all related files. Users can then post the transmitted set on the Internet and send it as an attachment via e-mail, even while changing ISPs a couple of times. Additional Web publishing enhancements, such as templates and themes, have been improved dramatically and all worked.

Associative dimensioning works and time in/out 1/4. If you modify a geometric object in a drawing, associative dimensioning automatically adjusts all dimensions associated with that object. Got rid of the need to manually update or re-create dimensions for changes in geometry. All in all, this is a very useful feature. However, it does make it more difficult for users who have grown accustomed to manually forcing dimensions of objects in their drawings. Saved tons of time on text, the dimensions immediately change. New layer, text, and attribute tools, such as text scaling, the enhanced attribute editor, block attribute manager, layer translator, all work.

Tutorials and product support will speed up the two days of required start up traing, very easy to learn, but time intensive in the box) provides step-by-step instructions on all of AutoCAD LT 2002's features using interesting and real-life sample files.

Rating:
Summary: I've earned my living with LT.
Review: I've been a regular user of AutoCad now for well over a decade (I started on R10.) I've had various versions of LT on my home computers since '95. If you work in a 2-D environment, then it is everything you really need. In fact, even though I use full AutoCad at work (R14) I regularly take drawings home with me to view and edit on my LT. I've also done extremely large projects at home (mechanical design) that are as complex as anything that I've ever done on the full version at work. However, if you are now part of the 3-D and solid modelling world, then you are out of luck. This is strictly a 2-D product.

At the risk of offending the newer generation out there, I've found that in my experience 2-D fits the actual needs of the vast majority of users in the real manufacturing world. In fact I've seen company after company, especially small ones, that have been talked into solid modelling ( and expensive new work stations) they never needed, only to end up using the system exclusively for 2-D work. I've also seen several companies suffice perfectly well with a couple of seats of AutoCad LT on their old office PC's, combined with AutoCAD Viewer for the salesmen (which is a much, much, more economical way to go.)

Oh yes, don't even think about loading this software on multiple machines with only a single license. Autodesk WILL come down on you like a 600 pound gorilla....

Rating:
Summary: Pretty Fair Product, But ....
Review: I've been using Autocad since 1985 - V2.0. If all you are going to do is 2D drafting and want to do only limited customization, then this product is fine. But it will not recognize lisp routines. But if you intend to do extensive customization, go with the full version ($3750.00 MSRP).

As other reviewers have pointed out, Autodesk has some strange licensing policies. First of all, Autodesk does not allow transfer of licenses. So be sure you don't want to sell the software to someone else. Second, two versions later Autodesk will not allow upgrading of any product. This means that if you EVER want to upgrade, you MUST upgrade every other version or your license will expire as far as upgrades are concerned. Therefore you will have to upgrade this product (AutoCAD LT 2002) probably late next year or early the following year to keep your ability to upgrade at all.

If the Autocad dwg format is absolutely critical for you, then you should probably stick with Autocad. But recognize that there are other CAD programs (Datacad & Turbocad etc.) that may not have such restrictive licensing policies. Today there are lots of conversion programs you can get to convert files to dwg format if necessary.

Rating:
Summary: Great tutorials and product support included!
Review: What I found after buying this software is that it's very intuitive and easy to learn. I've tried several other CAD packages, but AutoCAD LT's "Learning Assistance", which is a tutorial-based and multimedia learning tool, accelerated my technical drawing tasks in no time! Being a software developer, CAD isn't really my field, but I'm pretty confident about using it in the future because it really helped me finish my project in less time than expected. The "Getting Started Guide" (included in the box) provides step-by-step instructions on all of AutoCAD LT 2002's features using interesting and real-life sample files. Although it doesn't run on Windows 95, it works on all other Windows operating systems, including the forthcoming Windows XP! I'm sure it's the best value for money and I'd recommend it to anyone who needs great 2-D/3-D software!