Buy Sketchup Pro?
August 29, 2010 6:06 PM Subscribe
Is Sketchup Pro worth $495?
I know the best answer, like always, is probably "it depends."
In this case, I have a masters degree in landscape architecture, and do some design work for clients who ask, but am generally busy with urban agriculture projects, community development and writing. So I'm not sure it would pay for itself as a tool, but maybe if it was so useful I fell in love with it, and wouldn't even want to look at Vectorworks or something similar when I do occasionally need CAD drawings, it would be worth the money.
Any happy/sad customers who can help me decide?
I know the best answer, like always, is probably "it depends."
In this case, I have a masters degree in landscape architecture, and do some design work for clients who ask, but am generally busy with urban agriculture projects, community development and writing. So I'm not sure it would pay for itself as a tool, but maybe if it was so useful I fell in love with it, and wouldn't even want to look at Vectorworks or something similar when I do occasionally need CAD drawings, it would be worth the money.
Any happy/sad customers who can help me decide?
Also, it includes Layout. Now, I personally don't know Layout, but I do know that Sketch-up alone (the free version) isn't really capable of producing the sort of clear documents that you'd likely want if you were handing things off to a contractor.
I think Sketch-up is a pretty amazing tool, and even more remarkable that the base version is free. If I had any personal paying work at all that justified it, I'd go for the Pro.
posted by meinvt at 6:31 PM on August 29, 2010
I think Sketch-up is a pretty amazing tool, and even more remarkable that the base version is free. If I had any personal paying work at all that justified it, I'd go for the Pro.
posted by meinvt at 6:31 PM on August 29, 2010
As a Landscape Architect and someone who has recently set out on my own I know how hard it is to try to make choices like this.
I find the Sketchup pro to have a more efficient work stream over Vectorworks | Landmark when putting together quick study models, but it lacks the power of Landmark when producing planting design. It would appear from your description that perhaps you aren't doing that much relative to detailed construction documents but Landmark will also be helpful in Site Information Management (SIM) utilizing the landscape area tagging.
I would, in closing agree with meinvt, that if you have any paying work it would ultimately pay for itself in very short order.
posted by Rowbear97 at 5:10 AM on August 30, 2010
I find the Sketchup pro to have a more efficient work stream over Vectorworks | Landmark when putting together quick study models, but it lacks the power of Landmark when producing planting design. It would appear from your description that perhaps you aren't doing that much relative to detailed construction documents but Landmark will also be helpful in Site Information Management (SIM) utilizing the landscape area tagging.
I would, in closing agree with meinvt, that if you have any paying work it would ultimately pay for itself in very short order.
posted by Rowbear97 at 5:10 AM on August 30, 2010
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posted by Dick Paris at 6:25 PM on August 29, 2010