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SketchUp Has a New Home

David Richards, contributor

3 users recommend

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This morning an announcement was made of SketchUp leaving Google and moving to Trimble. There's a blog post on the SketchUpDate blog here. It'll be interesting to see what new stuff comes out of this. It's early yet but I think there could be some new features and integration developed.

Dave

More info aggregated by FW editors:

FAQ’s by Trimble

Announcement and reactions on SketchUcation Forums

Google Plus: SketchUp Community Manager Mark Harrison’s announcement and community reaction

Questions:

Will SketchUp continue to be free? 

• “Trimble intends to... continue to offer both the free and professional versions to a multitude of markets” according to Trimble FAQs

• "The free version of SketchUp is an important part of our world as well, and that isn’t changing in the least," according to John Bacus, Product Manager, SketchUp
• “the free version of #SketchUp isn't going anywhere!” according to SketchUp Community Manager Mark Harrison on Google Plus

What happens to the 3D warehouse?

• “Trimble will partner with Google on running and developing the 3D Warehouse. For the foreseeable future, Google will host and operate the 3D Warehouse for Trimble...” according to Trimble FAQs

What does this mean for woodworkers?

• "If you’re one of the many, many people who use SketchUp for something else [not architecture, engineering and construction]—from education to woodworking, geo-modeling to movie-making—rest assured that there will be a SketchUp for you, too," according to John Bacus, Product Manager, SketchUp

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Drawing a Joggling Board

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Designing for Young Woodworkers

Comments (7)

pwonion writes: It's getting harder and harder to believe in "progress!" Missing WA said it: why does everything in computerland have to be cranked up to the "highest and most sophisticated" level? Maybe we have too many computer engineers, who all seem to love adding gizmos only because they can.
Posted: 6:56 pm on April 30th

vbdcb writes: Like anything else out there, if I get value out of it, then I have no problem paying for it.


Posted: 1:38 pm on April 30th

MaryEtta writes: I love Fine Woodworking. And I'd love to win the Sketch Up DVD being given away. Consider this an entry.
Posted: 7:52 pm on April 28th

VicHappy writes: Any time I see a beloved application change hands like this I am a little wary but I am with you on this Dave.

I don't get why people gets so caught up in upgrading to the latest version of everything. I bet 98% of the woodworkers out there don't use the current one to even close to its max potential. Why do they even care about new hypothetical functionalities then?

I consider myself a very advanced user and I don't feel I need to upgrade for the foreseeable future. Actually, I am running a previous version as my usual go to because my current Mac is too old for the newest and, even the newest is installed on my wife's iMac, I can't recall the last time I opened it.

That said, let's wait and see before start panicking (but keep a backup of the current installer just in case!). Thank you for the info, much appreciated as are all your articles.
Posted: 9:13 pm on April 27th

DaveRichards writes: I don't think there's any need to worry about a replacement for SketchUp. Trimble has said they are committed to continuing the free version. No point in abandoning the program. Actually I think it'll be interesting to see what the SketchUp team is able to do with it once they have the chance.

SU8 won't just quit working even if they do discontinue free versions in the future. You would be able to continue using it.

-Dave
Posted: 7:43 am on April 27th

hbowern writes: So as to have a plan B, is there something else on the free or modestly priced range that a small woodworking shop could be reviewing that may be a replacement of SketchUp?
Posted: 6:39 am on April 27th

kaschimer writes: So it's nice that they say that the free version will continue to be free... however, I am a .NET software developer, and there is a *great* tool that was free for the longest time.

The developer who created it sold it to a company called Red Gate, who also said the same thing, that the free version would remain free forever... that is until they found out how much effort goes into maintaining it. So they did what every good software company does for good tools. They started charging for it.

I promptly abandoned the tool, even though it was by far the best of its kind out there.

So the moral of the story is, buyer beware. It's in the hands of another company now. Expect to pay for it. Maybe not this year, maybe not next year, but expect it, regardless of what the company says.
Posted: 11:21 am on April 26th

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