4 ms·

Fusion 360 was the greatest bait and switch I’ve seen in a long time. Went from free for personal use to $300/mo to make it useful at all… right after everyone

Fusion 360 was the greatest bait and switch I’ve seen in a long time. Went from free for personal use to $300/mo to make it useful at all… right after everyone built their library of parts on the free version

plagiarist 3y ago
Sorry if I am missing something obvious, but the 10 editable files hasn't bothered me (very) much yet. Am I not using it as much? I'm I too inexperienced to notice other features that were previously there?
- mchannon 3y ago
  Perhaps the latter. Certain types of screw convolving are essential to a number of my parts. That feature is mostly now missing from the free version, though my existing files with it can change the parameters (though not add additional). The 10 editable thing is just weird. It’s like having n light switches in your house and only 10 can be on at any given time (mechanically interlocked), but in exchange you get free electricity. While that’s a worthwhile deal for most, it’s hard to see how that incentivizes anything. It’s just mildly annoying.
  - plagiarist 3y ago
    It does sound like I am not making advanced enough parts to encounter anything locked off. Thank you, I was curious. I don't know what the alternatives are, but that sort of behavior does factor in to considering a license for me. I agree on the 10 editable limit being idiotic as an incentive. They also have a quick button to flip it on and off in the sidebar. Like in your 10 switches example if you can activate any switch from anywhere in the house.
mhb 3y ago
I don't use it, but it looks like it is normally $545/year and currently (sale?) priced at $382/year. What is that missing from the useful $300/month version?
- serf 3y ago
  they compartmentalize a lot of different modules into a marketplace. Lots of the simulation/CAM suites at one time came with the cheaper subscription, now they're behind additional payments.
avhon1 3y ago
For those wondering, this page shows the current difference in features between the free "Fusion 360 for personal use" and the subscription-price Fusion 360. https://www.autodesk.com/products/fusion-360/personal/compare https://www.autodesk.com/products/fusion-360/personal/compar...
dekhn 3y ago
it's ~$500/year not $300/month. For me it's worth it.
- samstave 3y ago
  Seimens Solid Edge is free and fantastic https://solidedge.siemens.com/en/free-software/overview/ https://solidedge.siemens.com/en/free-software/overview/
  - dekhn 3y ago
    Does that include CAM? Much of what I pay for is the CAM functionality.
    - samstave 3y ago
      I believe the student personal version has all functionality, but that may have changed.
      - dekhn 3y ago
        I am not a student, I am a hobbyist, so I think https://www.plm.automation.siemens.com/plmapp/education/solid-edge/en_us/free-software/community https://www.plm.automation.siemens.com/plmapp/education/soli... (which has education in the URL) is probably what I want.

plagiarist 3y ago

Sorry if I am missing something obvious, but the 10 editable files hasn't bothered me (very) much yet. Am I not using it as much? I'm I too inexperienced to notice other features that were previously there?

mchannon 3y ago
Perhaps the latter. Certain types of screw convolving are essential to a number of my parts. That feature is mostly now missing from the free version, though my existing files with it can change the parameters (though not add additional). The 10 editable thing is just weird. It’s like having n light switches in your house and only 10 can be on at any given time (mechanically interlocked), but in exchange you get free electricity. While that’s a worthwhile deal for most, it’s hard to see how that incentivizes anything. It’s just mildly annoying.
- plagiarist 3y ago
  It does sound like I am not making advanced enough parts to encounter anything locked off. Thank you, I was curious. I don't know what the alternatives are, but that sort of behavior does factor in to considering a license for me. I agree on the 10 editable limit being idiotic as an incentive. They also have a quick button to flip it on and off in the sidebar. Like in your 10 switches example if you can activate any switch from anywhere in the house.

mhb 3y ago

I don't use it, but it looks like it is normally $545/year and currently (sale?) priced at $382/year. What is that missing from the useful $300/month version?

serf 3y ago
they compartmentalize a lot of different modules into a marketplace. Lots of the simulation/CAM suites at one time came with the cheaper subscription, now they're behind additional payments.

avhon1 3y ago

For those wondering, this page shows the current difference in features between the free "Fusion 360 for personal use" and the subscription-price Fusion 360. https://www.autodesk.com/products/fusion-360/personal/compare https://www.autodesk.com/products/fusion-360/personal/compar...

dekhn 3y ago

it's ~$500/year not $300/month. For me it's worth it.

samstave 3y ago
Seimens Solid Edge is free and fantastic https://solidedge.siemens.com/en/free-software/overview/ https://solidedge.siemens.com/en/free-software/overview/
- dekhn 3y ago
  Does that include CAM? Much of what I pay for is the CAM functionality.
  - samstave 3y ago
    I believe the student personal version has all functionality, but that may have changed.
    - dekhn 3y ago
      I am not a student, I am a hobbyist, so I think https://www.plm.automation.siemens.com/plmapp/education/solid-edge/en_us/free-software/community https://www.plm.automation.siemens.com/plmapp/education/soli... (which has education in the URL) is probably what I want.