Hi -
I started using Web SketchUp to design stuff as a hobby. It would be cool to have a SU model of my entire house!
My latest project is to build a pergola. I have only entered a little part of the existing structure, and it is so slow that it is not really usable. I guess a desktop version — not an iPad — would be better, but the cost of Pro Annual is simply not justifiable for a hobby. $33 per month? That’s a lot of beer money.
The Go Annual is cheaper but it’s only for iPad and Web. I don’t use iPad, and Web is already proven to be infeasibly slow.
So what I would like to ask is this: would a hobbyist level desktop version be a possibility? Ideally with a one-off price, updates cost extra, perhaps reduced functionality. I’d be interested in knowing more if you ever do that.
And now I’m off to see if there’s anything else available that’s an alternative to SketchUp, which is not what either of us wants.
Thanks.
As a fellow hobbyist, i do know the feeling … wanting to model your home.
As long as you do not use it commercially, you could try the last free standalone version Sketchup17Make. You will need to search the internet (or this forum / cnet) for a download option, since it is not offerred on the official trimble/sketchup websites.
It might also get ultimate slow after a while and some basic features like “Add location” where disabled (to push people to pro?), but you can use alternatives, like cadmapper if needed.
Also remember that not every extension will work, some require pro or disabled features.
Hope this helps you out hobbying your house (improvements)!
In my experience is usually faster than the web version (if you mean performances, considering that it runs locally and it’s not dependent on internet and browser bottlenecks) and it’s definitely faster to use (if you mean general workflow, considering better UX and plugins).
True, but most of remember that on the web version NONE of them will work.
By the way, most extension will still work on 2017.
1 Like
I largely agree. It is possible that my antique workstation laptop is causing the program to slow down after modeling for a while. I don’t know exactly when, but I have never had this problem before in all the years I have been using it. I don’t remember after which version it was, but after that release (Pro 20? 22? 24?), something changed in my SketchUp 17 makeup that made it extremely s l o w.
But anyway, I’d rather be able to model slowly than not at all.
I just wanted to mention this in advance to prevent complaints about potential performance issues and the use or lack of use of certain extensions later on.
It’s probably just coincidence, each version of Sketchup is (or at least it should be) completely independent.
On my PC I currently have 2026 Studio, 2021 Pro and 2017 Make and there’s no performance issue in make 2017.
Maybe it’s something related to a particular plugin you installed in 2017? Did you try to run it without plugins?
Could be one or more extensions, but most are disabled when i do not need to use them.
Could also be my multitasking while running multiple programs, websites, movies, sandwhiches, games, video editors, cafee latte, photo editors, 3d modelling in 17 22 and or 26, ai generating, candy, etc 