I agree for Layout. But there is also many things to do with SketchUp, with years of Trimble minor updates, cosmetic updates, and time to time questionable improvements that are not really
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The point is the model. SU is successful because of the original pricing model. Free for basic (and not online), and the pro version for a modest fee (also os not online) that had more modest upgrade fees (if you wanted to pay for the upgrade). No bit and switch.
No subscriptions. Free local app. Modest Pro and modest upgrade.
For free users, consider AutoDesk Fusion; free for non-commercial use, and apparently free for start-ups as well. Or AutoDesk TinkerCAD (online only).
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Yes, Adobe’s buy and kill of Aldus Freehand was another example of building a virtual monopoly.
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So in summary there are many different kinds of Sketchup users
- For some professional users the new subscription plan represents fair value (especially for those professionals using it regularly and deriving a good rate of $ return directly attributable to SU)
- For some professional users the new subscription plan represents poor value (especially those professionals using it occasionally and/or not deriving a high rate of $ return directly attributable to SU)
- For a whole host of other users like Indie designers, Hobbyists, Retiree / pensioners, artists etc… the pro version is highly desirable but the costs are becoming prohibitive. (…and these users derive limited or no $ return directly attributable to SU)
- For international users the value proposition varies significantly depending upon local currency exchange considerations - it many parts of the world the new pricing structure is genuinely prohibitive (and it is unclear whether there are any regional concession options available).
Also,
- Some people are philosophically against subscription models for software
- Some people feel that the subscription options presently available do not represent fair value anyway (since there is a perceived lack of new feature and some feel this has been the case for some years)
- Some people are concerned that their existing files may become ‘lock-ed’ up at some stage either sooner or later - there’s significant uncertainty about this.
- Some feel if they have paid for a Pro-version already it is unfortunate and seems unfair that maintenance and upgrade options are being cut off
- Some feel there really should be options for perpetual licensing well into the future.
- The longer term and loyal client base is feel uncertainty about where they stand and SU’s longer term business aspirations. Does SU actually ‘care’ or is it just about business?
There is no doubt a range of other key points I probably missed here.
In conclusion it really seems that the new pricing structure is acceptable for some users as is, yet for other users, it does not align well for many with: user aspirations and expectations; philosophy and values; sense of fairness and value for money; user financial circumstances that prohibit adoption.
I am sure many users would be very interested to get a SketchUp response to these points.
- Are there any other options and alternatives that could be provided for your diverse user base? (especially users that have been around for some years and have older pro-versions)
- Would there be merit in offering some kind of lower tier subscription and/or perpetual licensing options for people who are either in the: ‘occasional pro-user’; ‘indie/freelance /hobbyist user’; or, ’ those deriving only a limited-moderate financial return from use of SU’?
This thread seems a good forum for having a broader discussion with the very diverse user base of SU. Alternatively, a new and inclusive Forum could be established to hash out other ideas and options. Alternatively, it’s business just business as usual and some of us just need to get over it and start looking around NOW for other options and alternatives. kind regards. R
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The key improvement and new tools in SketchUp updates from v1 to 2020 :
SketchUp 2 (2002)
- new Cuting Plane tool
- new Auto-fold
- new Component and alignment options
- first Mac version
- export to 3DS, import bitmap images
SketchUp 3 (2003)
- new smooth rendering of curves, tool to smooth lines
- new transparency material
- new annotation and cotation tool
- improved inference (tangent and equidistant recognition)
- new Scene tools (named pages at that time)
- new export EPS, PDF, VRML
SketchUp 4 (2004)
- new sandbox tools
- new projection option for image and texture, for example with sandbox work
- new follow-me tool
- new face intersection function (first boolean like possibilities)
- new “face-me” option to component
- improved inference with the possibility to lock direction, alignment
- improved 3D view with the possibility to change the angle of view
- new Ruby scripting
- important improvement : the possibility to change textures on face
SketchUp 5 (2005)
- free update ?
- Faster application, until x2
- First Mac version with intel processor
- improved “walk tool” with collision detection
- improved Push-pull with CTRL/Option
- new Outliner palet
- improved material with alpha canal
- improved sandbox
- new Google Earth extension !
SketchUp 6 (2007)
New version since Google bought SketchUp
- new Layout application (beta) !! (burn Autocad licence)
- new Photo Match
- new 3D text tool
- improved cotation tool (to fit with Layout beta)
- improved useful copy in place
- improved faces intersection
- new Styles palet
- new Google 3D Warehouse !!
- new StyleBuilder app
My first work with Layout
SketchUp 7 (2008)
- updates from any version for 99$
- More fast and intuitive SketchUp, improved inference
- improved edge behavior that cut automatically
- improved 3D warehouse access from Component palet
- Layout improved stabilized, faster
- Layout improved drawing quality, new vector rendering
- new Dynamic components
- improvement : new credit tag to component
- new custom templates in SketchUp
- new function to generate reports
- new and improved curves and lines in Layout, with editable path
- new Layout manipulator
- new export images function in Layout
- new in-place group edit in Layout
- improved text in Layout
- new explode function in Layout, to transform SketchUp drawing into Layout drawing (vectors)
SketchUp 7.1 (2009)
- free update !
- new 3D engine for large/detailed models !!
- new Google Street view
- improved “nearby models” from 3D warehouse
- import/export Collada and KMZ files (google earth)
- new Dimension tool in Layout !!!
- new snap to sketchUp model in Layout
- improved freehand tool in Layout
- new lists in Layout, improved grids, improved Copy/Paste
SketchUp 8 (2011)
- Trimble buy SketchUp during Maintenance SU8 release 4
- new solid concept, and new boolean operations
- improvement Match Photo’s opacity, background photo
- new Export DWG from Layout
- improvement : shadow bug corrected
SketchUp 2013
- new Extension warehouse
- improvement Copies in Layout
- new image-based pattern in Layout
SketchUp 2014
- I don’t see the key improvements. I suppose there is the classifier and IFC export.
SketchUp 2015
- improvement 64 bits application
- improvement Rotated rectangle method added
- improvement, more arc tool methods added
- new auto-text label in Layout
- labels improved in Layout
SketchUp 2016
- generate report improved
- enhanced inferencing and tool improvements
SketchUp 2017
- persistent ID
- create tables in Layout and insert data from files
- dimensions improvements
- offset tool in Layout
SketchUp 2018
- improved attributes called “advanced” (?)
- new filled section cut
- new scaled vector drawings in Layout
- new groups in Layout
- drawing improved in Layout
- improvement : multi viewport dimensioning
SketchUp 2019
- improvement : dashed lines in SketchUp
- improvement : customizable unit settings
- bad idea : Send to LayOut button in large set palet and other button not often used (they make the interface full of icons)
SketchUp 2020
- improvement grips that are interesting in some case, questionable in other
- improvement : button addition in Layout to change reference on selected viewport
- improvement : controlled SketchUp’s layers from Layout
- Outliner improvement
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Well at least I get something for subscription instead of a " a promise to earn my business". I also gained the entire AutoCAD vertical product line (mech, civil, map, elec and mep) in addition to the arch product I already had. Vehicle tracking was a nice addition that I got to use a few times recently that saved a ton of time instead of doing some parking studies by hand. It’s also fun having 3D Max to play with but I digress…
Edit: Oops forgot to included that I also get free access to ALL of my CAD vendor’s online training courses and login’s for EVERY license on my account (8 total).
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I think going back to version one misses the point, regardless the point.
It would be good to see what it cost since then or really since Trimble took over, as well as changes to the way folks can use it (web vs download app).
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I have this information, I determine it :
Compared to Trimble forced subscription to 299$ / year :
-
Trimble SketchUp is +71% more expansive (license + updates on 5 years) than LastSoftware SketchUp who invent SketchUp
-
Trimble SketchUp is +136% !! more expansive (license Pro + updates on 5 years) than Google SketchUp.
On ten years, Trimble is two times more expansive than Rhino + Grasshopper + updates license.
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Nice summary!
It sure looks to me like Trimble no longer has much use for a tremendous number of users. I do wonder if that is going to come back to bite them. I suppose we’ll know in two or three years.
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I know it’s neither here nor there with this discussion but I am looking forward to a time in the not-too-distant future in which cryptocurrency, smart contracts, micro-payments are a day-to-day reality and software as a service can be billed by the nanosecond at rates that are fair for every user. Of course, by the time that happens, a hundred other things will have changed in technology and society and my dream will seem rather quaint and shortsighted in retrospect. That’s all.
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Prove that trimble don’t care. I mentioned in my last post that there were bugs, But nobody said. Oh please lets us know so we can fix them.
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It is will be fixed if you pay your forced subscription licence 
Not rushing to Trimble defense but… Don’t you think that’s a bit forced? This is a forum that some Trimble / SketchUp Team members attend on whatever schedule. Who could be scanning for the mention of a bug in some random thread? Make a report about the specific bug to Trimble or post in the forum area for “Bugs”. And you may also find someone has an answer or fix for it.
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Yes, it’s the same on the TwinMotion Community forums. Lots of people post about issues and occasionally an Epic customer support person will chime in but its a Community Forum (Just like it says at the top of this page)
File an actual bug report and they (Epic) are on it (to their credit).
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My motto is “cheap is good, free is better.” I’m still running Sketchup 7 (!) because I have all the plugins I could possibly need, a huge library of components and models I’ve collected, and it’s the last free version that imports AutoCAD files. I usually download the latest free version of Sketchup if I need to use the 3D Warehouse; I currently have 2017 loaded. I use Kerkythea 2008 for both renderings and animations. Freeware and it works great. The only bummer is that I can’t access topography from Google Earth anymore, but there are workarounds for that. I use DraftSight instead of AutoCAD–the commands are exactly the same and, although it sadly went over to subscription this year, it’s still only a quarter the price of AutoCAD LT.
My clients are small architecture and engineering firms that need the occasional rendering job.I’m semi-retired now, but back in the day, it used to pay the bills.
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There’s a man with a budget in mind and the creativity to make it happen. Thanks for sharing.
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The subscription model bothers me especially since I will have to switch from classic a license. With that said I think the move is premature for SketchUp. Yes there have some added features but not enough to justify twice the cost in my mind. If they stated that they were going to come out with a new layout that addresses all the woes that frequently come up on this forum then I might be more accepting. Seems like we are at the same capabilities with more cost. Not a conversation I want to have with my boss right now.
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Subscription is great for new users who don’t want to make a bigger initial investment of a full price product, so it’s a cheaper price of entry and cost is spread out more evenly.
But that doesnt help SketchUp’s user base where most customers already own Pro anyway. If you haven’t ugpraded to Pro by now, chances are you never will - right?
Monthly Pro subs would actually make way more sense since a lot of people would then work in Free/Shop and purchase Pro when required for complex outputs. $30/month would be fantastic!
What did Autodesk or Adobe do when they took away the perpetual licenses - did they offer big or incentives discounts for existing users to migrate to subscription? Eg a license owner could convert a
their software into 3 full years of subs? (rather than just 0.5 years or a small discount)
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I agree with you. The problem is forced subscription, and forced updates fee for disappointed new features
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A roadmap or ‘statement of intent’ would help people decide if subscription is good value for them in the long term, or not.
The biggest new feature of recent releases has been SketchUp for Schools. I imagine that absorbed an epic amount of development budget. Based on some of the past feature announcements, I’m a little worried that SketchUp might be trying to cater to a different market than what I care about as an AEC design pro.
Incidentally our firm will go from 18 licenses on M&S to about 5 subscription licenses. We have a number of staff who don’t use it much -just a few times a year tomodel a few details or to collaborate on larger projects when required. So next year Trimble will actually earn less money from us 
Those staff won’t be getting 2020/2021 subscription, because a bit too pricey. There was also an incentive to keep the M&S licenses active or they expire.
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