CAD software?

[Elan]

Can anyone recommend a decent piece of CAD software? I'm explicitly not looking for anything fancy. Just something that functions well for 2D drawings.

Types of things I'd be looking to draw would be woodworking plans, floorplans, and other home project plans. Basically, a simple grid-based drafting program.

Not that I mind paying, but I'm sure there's something available for free that would suit my needs. I'm just trying to avoid having to download them and try them all out if someone can make a rec based on experience.

Edited to add: The smaller the learning curve, the better. I'm not looking to become an AutoCAD expert, just want to crank out some drawings without breaking out the drafting board and T-square.

 

[Mr. Vker]

I work for an Autodesk Reseller. AutoCAD LT is the most basic form offered. It can be bought through Amazon safely. (Other higher functioning products must be bought through a reseller.) LT goes for about $900.00.

However, have you looked at Google Sketchup? Might be just what you need:
http://sketchup.google.com/intl/en/product/index.html

 

[Kal]

I've been using AutoCad LT for years and it's nice. Now running 2009 64 bit version, but if you can get the 2000 version, that is more simple to use.

 

[Mr. Vker]

I've been using AutoCad LT for years and it's nice. Now running 2009 64 bit version, but if you can get the 2000 version, that is more simple to use.

LT is a great tool. However, I will offer a little caution about buying the 2000 release. It is very difficult to SAFELY buy a version older than current release. It is against Autodesk policy to sell a license to someone else. Retail outlets and resellers generally only have the current version available. I would be wary of buying anything but 2012 (the current release). You could have serious trouble activating it after install. Plus, any product more than three years old is not supported by Autodesk. Currently, Autodesk is not supporting 2008 or older releases.

 

[Elan]

Thanks for the replies.

I did download Google SketchUp. Seems pretty nice, with a shallow learning curve. It is easy to use, and it appears that there are some extensions that I can add (snap grid) to get it to do what I want.

AutoCAD is too sophisticated for my needs. I'd spend more time learning to use it than I would using it. I just need basic grid-based 2D drafting with the ability to do some simple orthographic and isometric projections, etc.

 

[zinger1457]

I've used Microsoft Visio to do woodworking plans, floor/wall tile layouts, room layouts, etc. It's basic but will probably do what you're looking for.

 

[Sea Six]

I've been using AutoCAD since 1986. Very good program, maybe overkill for you, depending on your needs. I use it in a professional environment, so I can justify the complexity.

 

[Kal]

LT is a great tool. However, I will offer a little caution about buying the 2000 release...

I originally had LT 1997, then got LT 2000. As I reinstalled LT on Windows XP, then on Windows 7 it seems to me that I had to do LT 1997 first, then use that as a basis to install LT 2000. I tried to install it on my Win 7-64 bit machine and it wouldn't run so I had to go to LT 2009 (64-bit). Of course the 64-bit version doesn't run on a 32-bit machine so I had to get LT 2009 (32-bit) in order to have the software on all machines.

I also have Visio but AutoCad and Visio are really very different and are not reasonably compatible. AutoCad is the industry standard so it's nice to be able to use it on a wide basis. It's still a PIA to use tho.