DISQUS

From what I've seen, it has to do with the location of the first light in the list. If it is just on the horizon, then the shadow will be long. Make sure that the first light is one mostly overhead.

The reason why I like shadows in realview is that in 2008 they will cast shadows on the part itself. This adds more realism and depth to the part. The shadows left on the "ground" are not all that important, imho.

Realview + Shaded (no edges) is good, but can be even more with "Shadows In Shaded Mode" turned on. I keep it off for performance, but turn it on when I need the screenshot.

Excellent. I just replaced the transmission on my truck, and I kept the old one. I plan on pulling out all the gears and doing something interesting with them.

And designs that look just a bit too similar to the new Ferraris.

Looks like we might be able to get rid of those keyboards sooner rather than later. Just announced: http://money.cnn.com/2008/05/28/technology/micr...

Also,
"S" is for shortcut, "L" is for Line Properties toolbar, "A" is for Alignment toolbar, "CTRL+E" is for sketch, "CTRL+3" is for 3D Sketch, "CTRL+SHFT+S" toggles snapping, "CTRL+SHFT+C" is for coincident, "CTRL+SHFT+L" is for coLinear, etc for all sketch constraints. Plus all the typical windows/SW shortcuts, F, F5, CTRL+P, etc.

Lets see that new user interface! I want a shortcut toolbar!

My University (Missouri S&T) had a room that had flicker glass, and a projected image 8' tall. With it you could get stereovision and manipulate things. I saw it in 2001. At least it's a start. Have you seen the new ads for... I think it's Ford? They show goggles and interacting with models.

Sweet. I had to use a HDR technique to take a photo of my house. I didn't know it had a name though. Mine was not this nice, I think I'd need a better camera, and a more stable tripod to do this kind of stuff.

I see holographic displays (The university I attended already has one, but us peons can't afford it, and it takes up an entire room). I still see 2-D input devices, however. I just don't think humans have enough haptic control to do real 3D input. So I think the meat and potatahs of the software is mostly there! We just need some hardware upgrades to get us better interfaces.

I am currently reading a book by Robert Heinlein "For Us, The Living". I just started, but so far it contains some interesting tidbits. Written in 1939, it is a look into culture of the year 2086. The main character finds himself suddenly in that year; one of the quotes is "next you are going to tell me that watermellons don't have seeds!"

The funniest things actually get implemented...

Wow. you guys make me sound like I'm and "old fogey". I don't even have a land-line phone anymore, because I think phones are outdated. I wish I had enough money to buy an electric car (don't count on me having one for a long, long time). I'm ready for a paperless world, I would love a digital book reader. I just hate DRM...

I won't buy a Kindle for the same reason I won't buy an iPod (although I do on a non-DRM managed mp3 player). I don't want to pay money for something without getting a hard copy of some sorts, or the capability to produce a backup copy. If this means a CD, great. If this means a book-on-CD, even better. I can't stand DRM, however. What happens when something in the computer/harddrive/Kindle breaks? You've now lost your rights to whatever was on that device. Ouch!

When they can ship me a CD with the information on it (or whatever!), or are willing to distribute the content DRM-free, I'll jump! I can't wait for such a product to become available, so my bookshelves can hold priceless works of art.

Also, I think my wife would swoon if we ever had a bookshelf that looked like that middle one, with the color-coded books.

Heh. Excellent.

My models often have three levels of colors. You know, after it gets machined it changes the surface finish! Then it gets painted! It's important to have that in the model. (we use B&W drawings only)

I too have already created a geeky valentines day greeting:
http://forum.solidworks.com/forum/attachments/v...

Perfect for spouses who wear "I <3 Geeks" t-shirts.

I now have expectations of wide-screen HD flash, made from eRain's Swift, and will be disappointed if it is anything but!
BTW. I am actively working on some Swift content, I'll let you know when I get it done! (it's pretty low priority tho')

I used to. It paid for a hefty chunk of my engineering school. After I get done with taxes I plan to revamp my personal page; it is down right boring right now. I used Swift before to do fly-in 3D text, and rotating text. I'm afraid the site it went on is now defunct. I will have to download the new trial and see how it does compared to my old version!

I was able to import data from Solidworks to .3ds by using 3D Studio... I exported an .stl file. 3D Studio can read both .stl (meshed surface) and IGES (nurb surface). Then I could export to 3D Rain. I haven't done anything with that in a long time! I may have to check out the new version of 3D Rain, my version 1.0 created some pretty large flash files...

I think if they increase performace, than it is impossible for it to be a bad change. You can complain about UI changes if you don't like them. Noone will complain about true performance speed enhancements.

Damn! I'm missing out on steps and escalators! I feel so incomplete going to work today.

Ricky,

I'm afraid your link didn't work for me.

As Montgomery Burns would say, "Excellent."

A good tip on derived sketches would roxor my boxors.

I already did this, and let's hope everyone else does too. This has the potential to save me HOURS EVERY DAY. No, I am not kidding. I've even resorted to "import part" workarounds for the most complex parts; how's that for "design intent".

Thank you for listening to my rant.

I appreciate you using this over whatever everyone on typepad uses. When I try and post on any of those sites it fails.