A note about AutoCAD versions

The version of AutoCAD being used in our class will be AutoCAD 2010. The version available for download from Autodesk's website (www.autodesk.com) will be AutoCAD 2011, unless they offer back-versions for download which it's likely they don't.
This is not a problem. The course will teach you the BASICS of AutoCAD. These basics are applicable to any version of AutoCAD. So if any of you have an older version of the program at home or work, don't worry you won't be learning things you can't use - however, the interface will be slightly different. I would suggest that if you have access to an older version, you let me know during class so I can point out things that might be different and/or help you customize the interface to more closely resemble the version you are using.
AutoCAD 2010 and 2011 are similar in appearance and have the same basic interface and file format - so if you download 2011 for use at home you can work on your school projects without saving back to a previous version format.

UPDATE: Purchase does have AutoCAD 2011 installed on their computer terminals so the version we use in class is the latest version and will be the same version as the one you download.

The Autocad Screen

Above is a screen capture of the basic AutoCAD Screen. Click on the image to view larger.

Get AutoCAD for Students - for FREE

If you are interested in AutoCAD, you should head over to Autodesk's Website and sign up for your free student version of AutoCAD. You need to check the system requirements prior to downloading and you need to register with the site and read the terms of agreement. I am pretty sure that all your output from the program has a watermark so you can't use it for commercial purposes, but that's fine for our class - the important thing is logging time on the program, which will increase your skills.

Welcome

Welcome all students to the Introduction to AutoCAD course at Purchase College. I will be posting course review material, links, tips and tricks, etc on this blog both prior to the start of class and during class. I hope this will be a good resource for you to come to and a place to ask questions and get answers outside of class.
I look forward to seeing you all in the fall!