CompuServe Messages

Chuck: Very good point and one that I had not completely considered. I do, however, also call for a significant reduction in the cost of AutoCAD to make it more of a mass-market product. I think there is a very big market out there for CAD that hasn't taken the plunge yet because of the cost. These are the people who buy a copy of these $39.95 CAD programs and then find they're useless. They're also the people who will probably buy AutoCAD LT in droves, but wouldn't it be nice if they bought AutoCAD instead and tapped into the power that all the additional add-on software can bring. A mass market approach would require more of a mass marketing mentality in terms of advertising, store displays, and so on. But you are absolutely right. Someone at the store still needs to be able to demonstrate the products, explain the benefits, doing the seminars, providing the training, etc. So, there is still a very real need for that portion of the dealer's services and that's probably where most of your money is now made. So, if AutoCAD were mass marketed, the margins would become even worse. There would be no money in AutoCAD sales for the dealers, but there would be a lot more copies of AutoCAD out there which would equate to a lot more users to be demonstrated to and trained. And it would be the really good dealers that were able to make this jump to pure AutoCAD consulting the would reap the rewards. So, it could still work. I don't actually think the dealer channel is going to go away. And I don't think Autodesk will mess with the pricing structure they now have in place. They almost made the BOLD MOVE with LT, but wimped out at the last minute. But I really think they should make some bold moves. Not doing so risks their future as much as maintaining the status quo. And yes, I am the one that received AutoSurf R2, AutoCAD ADE, AutoVision, and 3D Studio R3 in a three week period. Each and every one of them, so I know exactly what you mean. David