Free Draftsight is going the way of the dodo ( or the subscription model).. and 3 suggested Alternatives.

fusion360 is free to a hobbyist great but if you have a 32 bit system its a no go

I had early versions of Google sketchup I could import and export DWG, DXF STL and a lot of different files. as well as extensions for doing different things like a spline etc. When the computer crashed programs I spent years building up are gone and now unavailable.

the companies now have you right were they want you $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ and you pay and pay if you want to play
 
Dave & Donnie
You are both correct in your comments about cad being a part of your hobby, and being the hobby. It can also be your job and your hobby.
There are lots of free 3D and 2D packages out there that are for the hobbyist, perfect and not to difficult to use, (they may also have limitations being free).
but unless you are designing the space shuttle you do not need a mid to high end cad package.
I use solidworks 2019 as work and as a hobby, also use nano cad for work, and have access to most mid, high end cad packages and most of them I have tough myself , and spend a fair bit of time training others.
 
fusion360 is free to a hobbyist great but if you have a 32 bit system its a no go

I had early versions of Google sketchup I could import and export DWG, DXF STL and a lot of different files. as well as extensions for doing different things like a spline etc. When the computer crashed programs I spent years building up are gone and now unavailable.

the companies now have you right were they want you $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ and you pay and pay if you want to play
I feel for you with the loss of all your files, I know what it is like, mine died about 2 weeks ago lost 1.5 TB worth of software, files, photos, and all my ship research, books, emails etc etc. Some was backed up but a lot was not.
I am viewing it as an opportunity (new project) to do all the gathering of stuff again, If I dont it is very depressing, losing 20 plus years of data.
I hope you can recover most of what you lost.
 
all my data files are backed up 3 times one on a second hard drive and twice on external drives.

the problem is you can not back up the actual programs because they are installed from on line sources. if you crash its all gone. Some of those programs were older versions and the new versions wont run on an older computer.

freeware VS paid programs
it is true many full programs include a lot of extras the average hobby guy does not need. Many times it comes down to import and exporting files.

actually my system has a 25 year old computer still running a plotter and programs like photoshop 6 and autocad v12 the system is windows 2000 16 bit next I have a Dell studio with high end graphic card for video editing, photoshop and 3D and CAD. that runs on windows 7 32 bit next is the laptop pretty new running on windows 10 64 bit. used to go on line that way if it gets corrupt I can just clean it off and start again nothing lost. Well right now it is running Fusion 360. I am now looking for another computer running windows 7 64 bit. Then I can network the 2 windows 7 computers because windows 10 will not network to windows 7.

I try to keep my main work station off line because it will corrupt itself from constant "updates"
 
CAD design, I do not think will become a big part of the hobby of model shipbuilding because it is just not worth the time and money getting involved with it. It will play a big part in the business part of the hobby for 3D printing, laser cutting and CNC milling but as far as the hobby guy I don't think so.

I have been using CAD programs for many years and I can pick up a new program and in a short time learn how to use it. This is because most all CAD software is basically the same. if you never used CAD and are starting from scratch it is a steep learning curve.

for a business

these CAD and 3D programs will cost you over $1,000.00 per year some cost less some more. As a business you have to figure that cost into your business. The programs will never be "paid off" like in the old days where you can buy the CD outright, now you rent the privilege of using it.
 
anyone heavy in computer graphics, 3D modeling CAD drafting and photoshop really needs to build a fail safe system. Software continues to evolve and what once ran on a computer will not run on a newer system computer and drivers continue to change making what you did a year ago obsolete. you have to keep updating and buying new software. it is a madding marry-go-round.
the cutting edge of computers and model ship building is really a CUTTING edge. If you do invest in software and computers and do come up with new and innovative ideas you most likely won't see a return on the investment of time and money because as soon as it hits the market it will be copied or pirated or someone will take it and run with it.
 
Just as a note of interest. Microsoft will no longer be supporting the Windows 7 operating system as of January (if I remember correctly) of 2020.

I must say, I am not a very big fan of the subscription based software model that most have gone to now. I liked going to the store, buying the disk, and installing the program and not have to worry about renewing a subscription every year. I'm still using Photoshop 7 and AutoCAD 2008 and probably will until that computer dies (WindowsXP). :)

I recently installed nanoCAD on my laptop to see how close it is to AutoCAD. So far, for what I do (basic 2D drawings), its just as good. I'm a big fan of the command prompt they both have.
 
you hit the nail right on the head it is the "stop supporting" thing, many people still use windows 7 sure they say well just UPGRADE to windows 10
sure then none of the software you have on your computer will run in windows 10 so now what?
 
you hit the nail right on the head it is the "stop supporting" thing, many people still use windows 7 sure they say well just UPGRADE to windows 10
sure then none of the software you have on your computer will run in windows 10 so now what?
I had no issues with any of my softwares with Windows 10
 
I am not the only one seeing what is going on comments from a friend

there are some software you can not even save your work on YOUR computer you have to upload it to a cloud.

many software will not run unless you are connected to the internet. No connection no use of the software


I have had continuing problems with computers crashing, and taking my software with them.
I am having that problem right now with my last copy of Solidworks (they allow you to load it twice, and one computer has died already).
The trend is for software manufacturers to force you to use programs on the cloud.
I still use a 2D CAD program with a perpetual license that allows the owner to load it without having to connect to the internet, and I have had to reload it multiple times over the years as computers fail.
Reloading Solidworks is going to require connecting to the internet, they will not allow me to reload it, since I have loaded it twice.
I paid my money (lots of it), and I need to be able to use my software.
In the last few years I have been storing all my data on SanDisk flash drives, and have not stored anything on any hard drive.
A hard drive failure does not affect me other than the software problem I mention above, and I always have a spare computer standing by and ready to use for 2D CAD work.

I guess the hardware/software industry is migrating towards the cloud.
I have been buying used computers that run Windows 7, and I don't plan on using any computers beyond that version.
I only connect one machine to the net, and that is for email.
I assume that any computer connected to the net will get hacked at some point by someone, and so I don't store anything on that computer.
When my email computer starts to have problems, I restore it to the original factory settings, and wipe out any problems/viruses/spyware.

big brother appears to have gotten involved in some extremely nefarious stuff (shades of 1984),
Social justice warriors seem to have infected many large companies, especially the tech companies, like a cancer.
It didn't use to be that way.

I can remember a time when people did the right thing because that was the right thing to do.
The internet has been weaponized these days, and is used to censor what we read, throw elections, and in general allow big tech companies act as giant out-of-control social engineering firms that they control
 
I had no issues with any of my softwares with Windows 10

it all depends on what software you are using windows 10 is a 64 bit nothing with a 32bit will run on it. Yes these older software many people bought and expect to use but it well not run on "upgraded Operation Systems" so that program you paid $700.00 for is now useless unless you find an older OS system and good luck finding drivers and support for it.

there is nothing wrong with old software I still have an old old version of Auto CAD works just fine for what I need. BUT finding a computer and OS that will run it.

it comes down to being forced to upgrade
 
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once you really get into 3D modeling and CAD work you do realize these free programs are so watered down and missing a lot you are really limited to what can be done.

so what will happen is private innovation, hobby level and small businesses are being strangled by big software companies. You can not afford to dabble in it. Small mom and pop business will not be able to afford the ransom fees to use the software, and you can not buy it outright.
you get 2 or 3 downloads then your cut off sorry your computer crashed BUT you got to pay up AGAIN and AGAIN
 
when I crashed a few weeks ago I lost a big part of my 3D modeling software that I paid for now I can not get it back
I need an upgraded computer, up grade the operating system, then redo and pay again to use everything I had

or go rouge underground and off the grid. use outdated computers, operating systems and software that are on CD you can load and reload over and over.

it is not the files I can create STL 3D files for printing on old software no problem these files are still good to go. it comes down to who controls the software that is the problem

there is something very wrong with this entire system
 
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once you really get into 3D modeling and CAD work you do realize these free programs are so watered down and missing a lot you are really limited to what can be done.

so what will happen is private innovation, hobby level and small businesses are being strangled by big software companies. You can not afford to dabble in it. Small mom and pop business will not be able to afford the ransom fees to use the software, and you can not buy it outright.
you get 2 or 3 downloads then your cut off sorry your computer crashed BUT you got to pay up AGAIN and AGAIN
Agree, this sort business model that they are going down is the excuse and part of the reason why piracy is so popular.
 
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all my data files are backed up 3 times one on a second hard drive and twice on external drives.

the problem is you can not back up the actual programs because they are installed from on line sources. if you crash its all gone. Some of those programs were older versions and the new versions wont run on an older computer.
The solution backing up your operation system and other software is to clone the hard drive this gives you a backup off your "C" drive. if your drive fails you unplug it and plug in the clone and keep working as if nothing happened, but it is only as good as at the time you did the clone.
 
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