March Reviews

• Running on All Eight Cores - HP xw8600 workstation fitted with dual 64-bit quad-core Intel Xeon processors, high-end NVIDIA Quadro FX4600 graphics card, David Heller, MCADCafe.com

• NVIDIA's Quadro FX 3700 Ups CAD Performance - mid-range professional graphics card supports application configuration engine and PCI-Express Gen 2, more, Beth Stackpole, Design News

• Nvidia Quadro FX 4600 and FX 5600 - It’s only been a year since Nvidia introduced its last round of Quadro FX graphics cards - the Quadro FX 350, FX 550, FX 560, FX 1500, FX 3500, and FX 5500 – but the Santa Clara graphics giant is already rolling out two new boards which mark the arrival of its eighth generation Quadro (G80) graphics technology.

• NVIDIA Ships Quadro FX 3600M Pro GPU for Notebooks - NVIDIA Quadro FX 3600M professional GPU for notebook and laptop workstations

• Scan 3XS CAD-8500 - high-end workstation fitted with Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 and Nvidia's Quadro FX 3700 graphics card, reasonably priced, more, Greg Corke, MCAD Online

March Articles

• Animation in AutoCAD By Using ORBIT Command - Eren Pala, Daily AutoCAD

• Command: _PLINE, Drawing 2D Polylines - Mustafa Coban, Daily AutoCAD

• Drawing Scales, Part 1: Practicing Our Scales - using annotative objects in AutoCAD 2008, Bill Fane, Cadalyst

• Easy Way of Getting a Section From a 3D Model - using SECTION command, Orhan Toker, Daily AutoCAD,

• Command: _EXTEND - increasing length of line in AutoCAD, Murat Senel, Daily AutoCAD

• Script Usage (To Edit Multiple Drawings Quickly) - Eren Pala, Daily AutoCAD

• Unraveling AutoCAD's CUI, Part 1 & 2 - customizing toolbar, Lynn Allen, Cadalyst

• Video Text Tips and AutoCAD Features - this weeks tip has to do with Text inside of AutoCAD 2008 , Lynn Allen

March News

• New Gallery Renderings - Our users keep amazing us with their renderings that look like a photograph.
Check out the new renderings by GB Stephens. I think you will be impressed by the quality of these renderings.

• Stock20.com - With a fresh batch of songs Stock20.com has decided to sell this month's release bundle for half price. But this month they will let you add your "Charter Member" discount on top of that (all 6 songs for $30) .

• USITT Conference & Stage Expo - Houston March 19-22, 2008
The Design and Drafting team will be exhibiting at the USITT Stage Expo trade show in Houston, Texas, on March 19-22, 2008 at booth 134. This event is for the theatrical students and associated professionals in the performing arts/event world. If you would like a free pass to the Stage Expo, please let us know. Visitors to the Stage Expo are welcome, though you must be registered and have a badge.

• LD Assistant 08 - See the latest in CAD technology at USITT Booth 134
Real-time Video * Real-time Animation * Real-time Walkthrough. Other programs have you buy three or four other programs to do what LD Assistant does in one. No other program offers lighting designers as many advanced tools in one easy to use program. With LD Assistant's advanced What You See Is What You Get block library you won't have to buy a 3rd party's symbol library to make your program work.

• Autodesk Q4 Revenue Up 20% to $599M with $96M Profit

Design & Drafting has released a Quick Start Training CD and a new user interface for LD Assistant 08

"These menus truly make LD Assistant the easiest to use CAD program in our industry."

• New User Interface - Design & Drafting released four (4) new embedded menus in LD Assistant Ac08. LD Assistant Ac08 Lt: Easily create the perfect event in less time. LD Assistant Ac08 Pro: Adds advanced lighting design with event planning. LD Assistant Ac08 Studio: Brings production, lighting, animation and rendering. LD Assistant Ac08 Classic: Brings in all the advanced tools found in the program.

Click here to view the new menus and see for yourself just how easy the new menus make the program.

• New Training & Support CD - This CD details the new tools and technologies found in LD Assistant 08. These tools include Video anywhere, fully rendered real-time walkthroughs with Audio & Video, photometric lights, IES file support, playing movies through light fixtures, through camera real-time view, redesigned user interface and a lot more new advances that wont be seen in other programs for years, if ever.

• New German Quick Start and Training Manual - Working closely with it's German Support and Resale Center,Qconcepts, Design & Drafting released the 08 Quick Start and Support Manual CD in both English and German. • Promotion - Upgrade your existing LD Assistant to 08 by March 15th for $695.00 or purchase a new copy of LD Assistant 08 and receive a USB Dongle at no charge.