FreeCAD on the web

[NormandC]

Maybe we could reformulate a bit the text on the homepage? What do you guys think?

Maybe, but I think it's a mistake putting us in the same boat as TinkerCAD, Autodesk 123D and SketchUp. FreeCAD's purpose is not the same as these software, which do not target power users. Well maybe SketchUp.

And it's such a subjective subject. We see often newcomers with no CAD experience at all do amazing things very quickly with FreeCAD, while others struggle more with it.

I don't mind if it was reformulated, I don't have ideas at the moment, but if anyone else has...

And while we're at it, this reminds me of this topic: Who is FreeCAD for?

[bejant]

The site claims no previous CAD experience is necessary but compared to TinkerCAD, AutoDesk 123D and SketchUp it is fairly more complex.

From the FreeCAD homepage:

Model it in FreeCAD. No previous CAD experience required.

Sure FreeCAD is more complex, and it's true that no previous CAD experience is required. I thought about saying that previous CAD experience wouldn't hurt, but from the forum we've seen that previous CAD experience can be either a blessing, curse, or somewhere in between for somebody starting on with FreeCAD - it just depends on the individual.

Maybe we could reformulate a bit the text on the homepage? What do you guys think?

I'm of the notion that no previous CAD experience is needed, but I don't object to any changes you may deem appropriate. (I sure don't have much of a knack for creating web pages)

[shoogen]

I just found a notice about the 0.14 release in real life.
The German magazine c't features it on page 48 of issue 18/2014
The preview available at http://www.heise.de/ct/heft/2014-18-akt ... 84584.html shows the full text of the article. The screen shot didn't make it into the printed version.

[vrytar]

I thought about saying that previous CAD experience wouldn't hurt, but from the forum we've seen that previous CAD experience can be either a blessing, curse, or somewhere in between for somebody starting on with FreeCAD - it just depends on the individual.

Well, I would definitely avoid saying something like "previous CAD experience is beneficial". These are weasel words, which don't really say anything and might put people off. A little bit like saying: "In order to study French, some knowledge of Latin is beneficial." True but misleading.

[yorik]

Hmm what you all say make sense indeed... It's the same with Blender... Sometimes you see newcomers with zero experience get the grip of it very quickly, while people used to other systems find it hard to understand and complain... And it's also a bit of a political statement, like if we were saying: Yes, we think newcomers CAN use this... I'm convinced now

[wmayer]

I just found a notice about the 0.14 release in real life.
The German magazine c't features it on page 48 of issue 18/2014

Two times there was already a brief article about FreeCAD in c't. On page 117 10/2009 and then sometime in 2005 or 2006 (when a CD/DVD was attached), too.

[shoogen]

Two times there was already a brief article about FreeCAD in c't. On page 117 10/2009 and then sometime in 2005 or 2006 (when a CD/DVD was attached), too.

The also had an article about CAD software earlier this year. But then FreeCAD was only mentioned with like three words.

[wmayer]

Taken from this thread: FreeCAD for a CATIA designer

[NormandC]

Nice. Have you clicked on the Google Trends for FreeCAD link? It's pretty impressive!!!

http://www.google.ca/trends/explore#q=freecad

[jmaustpc]

Taken from this thread: FreeCAD for a CATIA designer

Hi all,

that forum might, or might not, develop overtime into a good thing, but right now it has about 40 members and only approximately 11 that have ever posted anything. If you you look at the summary page there are only a handful of topics.

When I wanted a free open source CAD application I searched on Google and Wikipedia. they are all easy to find.

I had a quick look at the review above, it was a bit weak and inaccurate ....makes me think some of us regulars and I should write an accurate and detail one....but I suppose that is almost what the wiki is and we hardly keep up with that.

Jim