Life without a Home PC

As you may have noticed, this blog has been quiet for a few months. I did not intend to ignore it for so long but it happened.

Towards the end of September I started having a few issues with my trusty small old red Acer laptop/Netbook, finally leading to it's untimely death in early October. At that point my intentions were good: I have a smartphone, I have a mobile OS tablet, do I really need a laptop too? I decided to give up the tether of the laptop and join the brave new world of truly mobile devices.

Turns out I am more than just a passive user of the Internet: I have a regular and consistent need to create content for work, family, friends, colleagues and followers of my various postings. Mobile Apps from my app stores, free or not, were not good enough for my needs, with the familiar limitations that varied from limited text formatting options to not having access to my work files to edit and return intact:

• My personal Google Docs files (Google's offering is already slow on a good computer with great internet connection) have become pointless on a smartphone, horrible to use on the tablet.
• Windows Live version of Google Docs? Dead.
• Excel, Word, DWG file use? Lots of viewers and markup tools (and for a small fortune an editor for the Microsoft products), but for the time it takes, for example, to markup a DWG in AutoCADWS I could have fixed it in AutoCAD/LT myself.  Same with DOC, XLS and the other half dozen file types I work with all the time.

My need to edit files live and in person, not through workarounds and use of other sites, are not served by these modern mobile device tools. I soon discovered that Smartphones and MobileOS Tablets are useless for creating meaningful work-centric documents. Well, for me anyway. And it took me almost three months to realize I was not just "old and past it" but that these tools are just not good enough for content creation and editing (even though I am typing this post on the now utterly annoying Blogger App for iPhone and I will have to fix later using the 'real' Blogger online program on a borrowed computer before publishing online).

I am now seeking a new laptop, one with not so cheap requirements: screen no larger than 12.5", good quality SSD hard drive, some form of SD or MicroSD card slot, HDMI port, 4-hour plus battery life, i5 mobile processor minimum, 4Gig of RAM and Windows 7. Ultralight is also a major requirement, so I am willing to give up having a built-in DVD drive (I have two externals from my last laptop). I gave the Apple lineup some serious review time and energy, but ultimately rejected them for three reasons: I hate iTunes with a passion (I use 3rd party music tools for organizing my entertainment files and managing my iPod, and cloud services by others for created content), I don't like being locked into one source of buying content/apps, and I really don't like using the feature hobbled AutoCAD/LT for MAC for work (Debbie Downer time).

I've narrowed my new selection down to two devices (HP, DELL, and Toshiba's desktop pricing for ultraportable units eliminated them being considered almost immediately): both of my choices are available at two different Computer stores in my area so I will test drive them before I make a final decision. This will be a gift to myself at this gift giving time of year.

I will soon be able to use 'real' applications once again to create content, and work when needed, not just observe and consume content created by others. Brave new mobile world indeed.

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Life without a Home PC

Tweets this week: backlog of two weeks posts

Below is a summary of topics we covered this and last week's on Twitter. We cover new and not often used commands and variables, and additional information from around the AutoCAD world. Note the October 15 deadline for new software purchase offer below:

• User's Guide: Modify a Block Attribute Definition http://dld.bz/as7Ew
• ATTREQ command controls whether INSERT uses default attribute settings during insertion of blocks.
• RT Carl Bass: United States Supreme Court rules in Autodesk's favor http://www.howardrice.com/7419
• User's Guide: Define Block Attributes information explained in HELP http://dld.bz/as7DG
• RT Lynn Allen: Don't forget that #Autodesk software is free to students and educators www.autodesk.com/education Check it out!
• RT R.K. McSwain: AutoCAD linetypes Pt 1 & 2 http://cadpanacea.com/node/326 and http://cadpanacea.com/node/327
• ATTMULTI command controls whether multiline attributes can be created http://tinyurl.com/3d8e4o9
• LT2012 Tip: ARRAYTYPE commnd specifies the default array type http://tinyurl.com/3geyogy
• RT @cad_notes: 10 days to Work better with AutoCAD. A list of task to improve your productivity. http://j.mp/naTynt
• APPLYGLOBALOPACITIES command applies transparency settings to all palettes http://tinyurl.com/3z9k8wh
• User's Guide: Create Annotative Blocks and Attributes, the better way to add info to multiple scale viewports: http://ow.ly/1xVrnG
• ANNOTATIVEDWG specifies whether or not the drawing will behave as an annotative block when inserted into another drawing http://tinyurl.com/3pjk4t7
• ADJUST controls the fade, contrast and monochrome settings of the selected underlay (DWF, DWFx, PDF, or DGN), or Images http://tinyurl.com/3c228hv
• ADDSELECTED command creates a new object based on the object type and general properties of a selected object http://tinyurl.com/3vbq69l
• DWF, DWFx, and PDF file passwords are case sensitive but DWG file passwords are not: ensure all match the DWG password and all uppercase.
• Heidi Hewett: Thinking about moving to the latest Autodesk software? Get 0% financing in N. America until 10/15. http://bit.ly/ndMC6n
• RT Shaan Hurley: You asked for it, you got it. Autodesk Design Review for Apple mobile devices now on the Apple App store FREE. http://yfrog.com/hw9eelj
• LT2012 tip: 3DCONFIG command sets hardware acceleration on or off and provides a method to check for driver updates http://tinyurl.com/3l8esxy

We post daily on the topic of AutoCAD/LT and features/abilities of interest to users:

you can find us at http://twitter.com/LTisACAD 

Get Twitter updates via Text Message (SMS) by texting FOLLOW LTISACAD to 40404 in the United States. To stop SMS updates, simply text UNFOLLOW LTISACAD to the same number.

Catch a listing of all our twitter postings HERE: http://ltisacad.blogspot.com/search?q=tweets+this+week ◦

Tweets this week: backlog of two weeks posts

Tweets this week

Below is a summary of topics we covered this week on Twitter. This week we cover linking, archiving sheetsets and underlays.

• DIMANGULAR Command Creates an angular dimension: http://ow.ly/1wVkMS  Note: You can create baseline and continued angular dimensions relative to existing angular dimensions. Baseline and continued angular dimensions are limited to 180 degrees or less. To obtain baseline and continued angular dimensions larger than 180 degrees, use grip editing to stretch the location of the extension line of an existing baseline or continued dimension.
• DATALINK Command Displays the Data Link dialog box: http://goo.gl/DmXgf  Note: Microsoft Excel must be installed to use Microsoft Excel data links. To link to the XLSX filetype, Microsoft Excel 2007 must be installed.
• BOUNDARY Command creates a region or a polyline from an enclosed area: http://ow.ly/1wVkxX
• BATTORDER command specifies the order of attributes for a block: http://ow.ly/1wVksK Note: If a multiple-line attribute makes a round trip to an earlier release of AutoCAD LT, the differences between these two types of attributes might result in truncating very long lines of text and loss of formatting. However, before any characters are truncated, AutoCAD LT displays a dialog box that lets you cancel the operation.
• ATTACH command Inserts an external reference, image, or underlay (DWF, DWFx, PDF, or DGN files) in the current drawing: ow.ly/1wViNN Note: Although underlay files are reproductions of their source drawing, they are not as precise as drawing files. Underlays may show slight discrepancies in precision.
• BASE command sets the insertion base point for the current drawing: http://ow.ly/1wVkbo
• LT2012 Tip - ARCHIVE command packages the current sheet set files for archive: http://ow.ly/1wVjIR and http://goo.gl/1tT5r

We post daily on the topic of AutoCAD/LT and features/abilities of interest to users:
you can find us at http://twitter.com/LTisACAD
Get Twitter updates via Text Message (SMS) by texting FOLLOW LTISACAD to 40404 in the United States. To stop SMS updates, simply text UNFOLLOW LTISACAD to the same number.

Catch a listing of all our twitter postings HERE: http://ltisacad.blogspot.com/search?q=tweets+this+week

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Tweets this week

Tweets this week: commands and variables

Below is a summary of topics we covered this week on Twitter. This week we are adding links at the end of each tweet topic that take you to AutoCAD/LT's Online help files for additional information and tips. Feel free to give us feedback on this new approach to command tips and tricks.

• LT2012 Tip- 3DCONFIG command sets hardware acceleration on or off and provides a method to check for driver updates: http://ow.ly/1wVjCk
• AUTOPUBLISH Publishes drawings to DWF, DWFx, or PDF files automatically to a specified location: http://ow.ly/1wVjxy
• AutoCADLT retweet: Sheet Set Manager Video Series http://ltunlimited.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/09/sheet-set-manager-video-series.html
• User's Guide - Create Angular Dimensions http://ow.ly/1x8B7N
• ATTSYNC updates block references with new and changed attributes from a specified block definition: http://ow.ly/1wVjuL
• ATTIPEDIT command changes the textual content of an attribute within a block: http://ow.ly/1wVjpj
• Microsoft unveils Windows 8 software http://bit.ly/ni64Qd
• ERHIGHLIGHT Controls reference names or objects highlighting when selected in the XREF palette or drawing window http://ow.ly/1wViWq
• ATTACH command Inserts an external reference, image, or underlay (DWF, DWFx, PDF, or DGN files) in the current drawing: http://ow.ly/1wViPy

We post daily on the topic of AutoCAD/LT and features/abilities of interest to users:

you can find us at http://twitter.com/LTisACAD 

 

Get Twitter updates via Text Message (SMS) by texting FOLLOW LTISACAD to 40404 in the United States. To stop SMS updates, simply text UNFOLLOW LTISACAD to the same number.

Catch a listing of all our twitter postings HERE: http://ltisacad.blogspot.com/search?q=tweets+this+week ◦

Tweets this week: commands and variables

Tweets this week: how well do you know HELP in LT?

Below is a summary of topics we covered these last two weeks on Twitter, including many well written pages from HELP available to you in LT and other sources.

• Kate Morrical: Dimension Across Viewports http://bit.ly/oK6hvm
• User's Guide - Use Windows Cut, Copy, and Paste: ow.ly/1wD1Gk
• User's Guide - Correct Mistakes: ow.ly/1wD1Ew
• User's Guide - Modify Complex Objects: ow.ly/1wD1AX
• LT2012 Patch #1 adds two new commands: ARRAYCLASSIC for the old dialog; SNAPGRIDLEGACY for access to snap with no command active.
• AutoCAD LT 2012 Service Pack 1 available now: ow.ly/1wMt3e
• User's Guide: Trim or Extend Objects: ow.ly/1wD1vF
• User's Guide - Break and Join Objects: ow.ly/1wD1ob
• User's Guide: Resize or Reshape Objects ow.ly/1wD1hX
• HPBACKGROUNDCOLOR variable controls the background color for hatch patterns.
• HPCOLOR variable, saved inside each drawing, Specifies a default COLOR for new hatches and fills.
• HPLAYER variable, saved inside each drawing, Specifies a default other layer for new hatches and fills instead of the Current Layer.
• Vladimir Michl: New CAD tip- How to convert an existing hatch to associative? bit.ly/o0K36g
• Not a user of Layer Filters? Try this simple quirky workaround using prefixed names “@EFinkelstein @tenlinksnews bit.ly/opZhcs”
• Use MATCHPROP to match up scale factors, annotation scales and layer settings between viewports cadalyst.com/video
• Right click on the Layer drop-down to add to the Quick Access toolbar in AutoCAD/LT: yfrog.com/h6d6nvj CUI command to change the width.
• Kean Walmsley: Increasing the size of AutoCADs command line history: Ever been frustrated when scrolling up in the AutoCAD.
• RENAME command and it's many abilities: http://ow.ly/1wmIiZ

We post daily on the topic of AutoCAD/LT and features/abilities of interest to users:
you can find us at http://twitter.com/LTisACAD
Get Twitter updates via Text Message (SMS) by texting FOLLOW LTISACAD to 40404 in the United States. To stop SMS updates, simply text UNFOLLOW LTISACAD to the same number.

Catch a listing of all our twitter postings HERE: http://ltisacad.blogspot.com/search?q=tweets+this+week ◦

Tweets this week: how well do you know HELP in LT?