Inventor evolution, and finding a holdout

[Andy A.]

This isn't directly related to the 2007 season, so rank it's importance to you accordingly. It's an offshoot of the 'what version?' thread.

A friend and I recently had some time during a metallurgy lab while we waited for some samples to anneal in an oven. While we watched the clock, we poked around the lab looking for something to do. We ended up playing with the old HP Vectra that was used as the labs resident data logger. It wasn't networked, but we did find a little gem.

A real, full fledged install of Inventor 4. Yup, that version before 5. I have no idea how it ended up there, as my college has always used a networked licensing system, and never standalone installs. If it was one of the colleges installs used way back when, it shouldn't have been able to start with out querying a server for the correct permissions. So who installed it and why will probably always be a mystery. No one seems to know were the computer came from, who put it there or who owned it. It doesn't have a college S/N sticker, but it might predate that system.

In anycase, we braced our selves for some serious fun mucking about with an ancient version of software we had recently learned (10). We were shocked, not by how diffrent it was but how simular it was. Aside from using windows 2000 style buttons and menus, it was the spitting image of 10 or 11. Right down to the feature tool bar, everything was the same. Even the textures seemed to be the same, and the help file was just as useless as ever. We built up some parts, and concluded that an adept version 4 user would hardly notice the difference if he were given 10 today.

So, I am interested in hearing from people who have been using Inventor for some time. I've only used 10 and 11 to any extent. How have things changed, if at all, between versions? Autodesk claims its added a lot of features, but I can't pick out any that are real changes to the program. Functionally, building 99% of the parts I've drafted in 10 wouldn't be any different then in 4. I'm not sure anything would be different.

I'm really curious about this. Inventor is a fantastically expensive program and rightfully so. But, with a new version coming out nearly every year, what is the impetus to upgrade? If a 5 revision old version seems to offer pretty much everything a new version does, why are there so many versions? Is the CADD world like the car industry, rolling out a new model every year even if its just cosmetically different?

I would like to hear from any of the Autodesk reps that might be here. I'm not dissatisfied with the program, just surprised and curious. I'd like to know why my copy of 10 is better then that Vectra running 4, thats all. It's like looking at your grandfathers Plymouth in his garage and realizing that it works just as well as your new car.

-Andy A.

[JD Mather]

I had my original training on r4 but didn't really start using it until r7. I have been an Autodesk Inventor Certified Expert since r7.
Although the User Interface looks essentially the same there have been a lot of changes since r4. In fact I consider r9 to be the first usable release of Inventor and r11 to be quantum leap above r10.
There are many websites that run down the improvements.

JD
Autodesk Inventor Certified Expert
Certified SolidWorks Professional

[Greg Needel]

I have been using inventor since version 5. More specifically I have used 5,6,7,9,10,11 Every year while the software looks very similar to each other there are new features that pop up. In speaking with some of the autodesk guys the way it works is that current released have the infrastucture to add features. The software may look the same because it is the same for the most part.

I look at new software versions like cars. Every year car manufacturers come out with brand new modles, but in the end they all still have the basic features. Steering wheels, engine, seats, etc. They start from what they know and add features. When it comes down to it you can use whatever version of inventor you want but if you want a CD player and heated leather seats you are going to have to go with the new version.

[GMAdan]

I am curretly using inventor 11 but the first verison i used was 9 and i have noticed some changes. Though some the changes are small they make modeling the part smoother.

[Andrew Blair]

I think that in creating a visually similar program year after year, while just adding upgrades to an already good software, Autodesk has made it extremely easy to make the transition from old release to new. Just as you said, a fair Inventor 4 user could easily make the switch to Inventor 10 or 11, but while still being able to function as before, he could find and use all the cool little features that have been added. Like Frame Generator, Design Accelerator, Stress Analysis, and most importantly in my opinion, Sheet Metal. The software retains it's core functionality over time, but can increase one's options and productivity should one pursue it.

[Dan Zollman]

...Frame Generator, Design Accelerator, Stress Analysis, and most importantly in my opinion, Sheet Metal.

and Inventor Studio, Tube and Pipe, Cable and Harness, Weldments.

I'm not sure if r4 had associativity or Content Center yet.