Now this I found positively encouraging..

[Steve Anderson]

Found on the BBC's website...

http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-19347120

A short quote from it...

The availability of cheap components, from microcontrollers such as Arduino and Raspberry Pi, coupled with the plethora of crowdsourcing models to allow the sharing of everything from ideas to funding, means that production can move out of the factory and into the home.

I might add that I'm no (known) relative of the quoted Chris Anderson.

Steve A.

Added later...although a 'dot.com' site, it's worth having a look at the Raspberry Pi pages..

http://makezine.com/

...from same site comes this, perfect for listening to the pirate (underground) radio stations of the 60s...

[Viewmaster]

Added later...although a 'dot.com' site, it's worth having a look at the Raspberry Pi pages..
http://makezine.com/

I see there is a Gooseberry board for £40, mentioned too (near bottom of page)........
http://blog.makezine.com/category/compu ... le/page/3/

Seems we are going through all the fruit.
O well, nothing to beat Apples !
Are there any vegetables yet?
I look forward to sausage,egg and chips.

[AncientBrit]

Well if Autodesk wants to sell to the masses I suggest it lowers the cost of Autocad to be affordable by the hobbyist (or 'Makers')


Graham

[Steve Anderson]

Well if Autodesk wants to sell to the masses I suggest it lowers the cost of Autocad to be affordable by the hobbyist (or 'Makers') Graham

Yes, that is a bone of contention I have with Autodesk, is the cost of their products.

I was working in the UK last year for a large broadcaster, they simply refuse to 'upgrade' their software as new releases come out. They're still using Win 2003 and Acad V11 (c.1995). The cost to them to 'upgrade' (I use the word loosely) all seats would simply cripple them.

There are places though where they have no option if they're going to keep up with their competitors. Graphics (usually Macs), Editing and Automation being just a few of the crucial applications.

The last time I looked the current version of AutoCad was around the five thousand pound mark...yes 5000 quid for a single disk and a pretty box. Even the cut-down 'Lite' version is just shy of a grand. It is good software, no argument there, and I can see the costs incurred in development, but heck!

So when you see pirated/hacked versions for sale at three quid you can't really blame some for doing it. I do not (of course) condone such activity.

Steve A.