AutoCAD LT is the younger brother to AutoCAD the full blown version that utilizes AutoCAD LT features but with 3D. A lot of design engineers use Google Sketchup as a quick and easy way to render new designs in 3D and then create their finished products in AutoCAD. That is one disadvantage to the LT version it is only 2D. I wrote an extensive review on AutoCAD LT 2011. 2012 has seen a lot of improvements in ribbon speed, startup times, and the new auto-complete command entry feature saves more time because all you need are the first few letters of a command name and a list appears.

AutoCAD LT 2012 does not offer everything the full blown AutoCAD does, but it is a great choice if you only need to do 2D drawings. +Now supports Associative Arraysn+Built in support for connecting to AutoCAD WSn+Save in older file formats for collaboration with people using older versionsn+Supports PDF files as an Underlayn+Improved Layer Managementn+Delete duplicate objects easilyn+Support for Windows 7n+You can upgrade if you are using AutoCAD LT 2009 or highernnLlimitations of the LT Version of AutoCAD 2012 include:n-No 3D modeling, so no walk-through or photorealistic renderingn-No Network Licensing

CorelCAD is a good program for beginners. It is easy to install and use, plus the tutorials are very helpful. This program is useful for students and non-professionals. I know there are better programs out there, but for the price this program is great.

CorelCAD is a decent alternative to other pricey companies’ offerings. Being able to do traditional CAD along with having integrated 3D capability at this price point is very compelling. The layout is familiar and easy to learn, and having full CAD tools and abilities is often needed compared to some of the free alternatives. These points could be a consideration if you need a full-featured CAD program on a budget, but the free ones won’t do.

CorelCAD is 1/6th the price of AutoCAD. CorelCAD has some of the higher end professional options removed which are present in AutoCAD. Corel is marketing this to professionals who cannot afford AutoCAD such as start-up businesses in architecture or those who do mechanical drawing in 2D and 3D. I thought this would be fun for my family to learn to use since my teenage son has been using SmartWorks with his FIRST Robotics team.

CorelCAD is a great package for those getting started in computer drafting. CorelCAD offers an easy to use CAD interface that also helps beginners get used to the software. For experienced users, CorelCAD has all the tools and features you have grown accustomed too, and you may be impressed with how fast the software runs. Make sure your computer has the suggested memory and specifications, but CorelCAD runs faster than AutoCAD in my opinion.

CorelCAD is a top of the line software product that is sufficient for professional engineers and designers. I had the opportunity to use this product to design a deck and an addition for one of my homes. I was able to create the level of detail needed by the county to get my designs approved and it also was easy for my crew to work from the plans. My father was a chemical engineer and I let him use the product for a few weeks to get his professional opinion.

AutoCAD is about the best it gets and this program is no exception. Its only disadvantage is it does not work in 3D like the full AutoCAD version. The program retains the familiar AutoCAD interface so the learning curve is not very steep from 2010 or 2009. AutoCAD has somewhat of a learning curve for newbies but after a few months becomes second nature. I installed the program on a Win 7 64 bit system and it seems to install and work fine.