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Did you write to them and tell them that? Here is the address:
http://www.solidworks.com/pages/company/SolidWorksOfficeWorldwide.html

There are already plenty of ways to put "3D on the Web".

• Shockwave. Like Flash, but has a full 3D engine. Some versions even had the Havok physics engine. Never became as popular as Flash, but there are some good casual games in it.
• VRML. It works now. In 1997, few PCs had enough graphics hardware to run VRML well. Now they do. Nobody uses it any more, but it wasn't a bad idea. It was just too early.
• X3D, or "Web3D". This is simply VRML in XML syntax. The XML crowd took over VRML and tried to turn it into a spinning-logo system. Nobody uses this, and the transition killed VRML.
• Java 3D. (Well, Sun screwed that up, but it can still be run.)
• SolidWorks Viewer. Like Adobe Acrobat for engineers. Making a model requires expensive SolidWorks, but the 3D viewer is free. Widely used by people who make real stuff.

Why don't you go ahead and buy the Windows version of the game, since we all know you dual-boot, no matter how much you will claim not to in order to keep your geek cred.

Not only do I not dual-boot, but I don't even play games. I'm not a geek, I'm a computer user. Are you a mechanic because you drive a car?

I stress that we need to write to the gave devs because promoting Linux software in general, not just games, is good for Linux users. I personally need Solidworks to run on Linux. Right now I waste half my cpu cycles and memory running VirtualBox to use it. If you feel like writing to Solidworks instead of Blizzard, please be my guest, you will help me out a lot:
http://www.solidworks.com/pages/company/SolidWorksOfficeWorldwide.html (requires registration)

There are a few (one at least, I don't have the magazine in front of me). The one I can see in my head but can't remember the name of retails for $600 for a single user and the professional version is over a grand. Closed source but works on Linux.

You aren't looking.

My industry, and therefore me, is married to Solidworks. And that means that I'm married to whatever OS Solidworks runs on. Please, write to these guys and help me get out of this mess:
http://www.solidworks.com/pages/company/SolidWorksOfficeWorldwide.html

While I'm all for open source and regarding hardware drivers I wouldn't want it any other way, let's not forget that open source does not have to be pushed around at the application level at the expense of usability. Professional-level applications are critical for the use and expansion of Linux, and proprietary software vendors should be encouraged to develop their software for Linux, not alienated by being badgered to give away their source code. Currently, there is a heated discussion on the Debian list regarding PCB and CAD software availability. One camp (me) is encouraging users to write to software houses and to request that they port their software to Linux, with the other camp rejecting all contact with proprietary software vendors unless it is a demand for the source code. Currently, myself and other engineers cannot use Linux at work because we must run proprietary engineering software, such as Solidworks in my case. For those who want to help, please write to these companies and let them know that we are interested in their software on Linux:

Intuit (Quicken, Quickbooks) http://www.intuit.com/contact/ (requires registration)

Adobe (Photoshop, Flash CS3 Professional, Captivate, Dreamweaver, Studio) http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/mmform/index.cfm?name=wishform

Sony (Vegas Studio) http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/corporate/contacts.asp

Autodesk (Autocad) http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/index?siteID=123112&id=1073074

SolidWorks http://www.solidworks.com/pages/company/SolidWorksOfficeWorldwide.html (requires registration)

Sage (Act!) http://www.act.com/company/contactus/

Nuance (Dragon Naturally Speaking) http://www.nuance.com/help/contact/

hardin-soft (BM-Win Plus (mailing address correction software)) http://www.hardin-soft.com//forms/feedback.html

Daz (Bryce (3D modeling and animation)) http://www.daz3d.com/i.x/support/rnlogin/-/?p_sid=vOwOJN6j&p_accessibility=&p_redirect=&p_lva=&p_sp=&p_li=&p_next_page=std_alp.php (requires registration)

ArenaNet (Guild wars): http://www.arena.net/contact.php

Ironclad Games (Sins of a Solar Empire) http://www.ironcladgames.com/contact.html

Blizzard Entertainment (World of Warcraft) http://us.blizzard.com/support/webform-us.xml?gameId=0

Firzxis (Civilization IV) http://www.firaxis.com/support/

Electronic Arts (lots of games) http://www.info.ea.com/company/company_prlist.php

My personal problem is that I need Solidworks, so for emphasis I'll repeat their address here:
http://www.solidworks.com/pages/company/SolidWorksOfficeWorldwide.html

Please write to these companies and let them know that we need their products on Linux. Copy the list and write to one company a week. Thanks.

While I'm all for open source and regarding hardware drivers I wouldn't want it any other way, let's not forget that open source does not have to be pushed around at the application level at the expense of usability. Professional-level applications are critical for the use and expansion of Linux, and proprietary software vendors should be encouraged to develop their software for Linux, not alienated by being badgered to give away their source code. Currently, there is a heated discussion on the Debian list regarding PCB and CAD software availability. One camp (me) is encouraging users to write to software houses and to request that they port their software to Linux, with the other camp rejecting all contact with proprietary software vendors unless it is a demand for the source code. Currently, myself and other engineers cannot use Linux at work because we must run proprietary engineering software, such as Solidworks in my case. For those who want to help, please write to these companies and let them know that we are interested in their software on Linux:

Intuit (Quicken, Quickbooks) http://www.intuit.com/contact/ (requires registration)

Adobe (Photoshop, Flash CS3 Professional, Captivate, Dreamweaver, Studio) http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/mmform/index.cfm?name=wishform

Sony (Vegas Studio) http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/corporate/contacts.asp

Autodesk (Autocad) http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/index?siteID=123112&id=1073074

SolidWorks http://www.solidworks.com/pages/company/SolidWorksOfficeWorldwide.html (requires registration)

Sage (Act!) http://www.act.com/company/contactus/

Nuance (Dragon Naturally Speaking) http://www.nuance.com/help/contact/

hardin-soft (BM-Win Plus (mailing address correction software)) http://www.hardin-soft.com//forms/feedback.html

Daz (Bryce (3D modeling and animation)) http://www.daz3d.com/i.x/support/rnlogin/-/?p_sid=vOwOJN6j&p_accessibility=&p_redirect=&p_lva=&p_sp=&p_li=&p_next_page=std_alp.php (requires registration)

ArenaNet (Guild wars): http://www.arena.net/contact.php

Ironclad Games (Sins of a Solar Empire) http://www.ironcladgames.com/contact.html

Blizzard Entertainment (World of Warcraft) http://us.blizzard.com/support/webform-us.xml?gameId=0

Firzxis (Civilization IV) http://www.firaxis.com/support/

Electronic Arts (lots of games) http://www.info.ea.com/company/company_prlist.php

My personal problem is that I need Solidworks, so for emphasis I'll repeat their address here:
http://www.solidworks.com/pages/company/SolidWorksOfficeWorldwide.html

Please write to these companies and let them know that we need their products on Linux. Copy the list and write to one company a week. Thanks.

http://www.nextengine.com/todd/decimation/deci-stu dy-2x.jpg
http://www.solidworks.com/swexpress/pages/feb06/im ages/fig1.jpg

Ok, First think that goes through my mind when I see these pictures... How did he get his head on this little platform ?

I wonder what is the turnover rate among new employees at Next Engine ?

Prototyping of small intricate devices can be quite expensive. Especially if you want to design it for commercial viability. For designing the case, you'll want a high end 3d modeling software package like SolidWorks. You will idealy want it to be designed to be viable for rapid injection molding, though for a first prototype it isn't neccessary. You will want to design the case around what your electrical engineers can do with your board. Once you have a design, look into stereolythography for the rapid prototyping. It's expensive, but for a one shot deal, you cant beat the price for what you get. Be warned, the resin used in SLA is brittle. I think someone makes special screws for it though.

It is also quite expensive (several k$), so you are unlikely to use it unless your line of work involves mechanical design.

Actually, in the Solidworks eDrawings EULA, it states you are not allowed to use the software to develop nuclear, or other weapons of mass destruction. I wonder if Sun's said something similar. http://www.solidworks.com/pages/programs/eDrawings /e2_license.html

For those of you asking about Open Source-friendly CAD software, check out:

www.varicad.de

Also, check out:

http://www.fourmilab.ch/autofile/www/subsubsection 2_85_0_5_10.html

where they state on their page:

"AutoCAD as an open system
    With the re-architecting of the internals of AutoCAD anticipated for Release 12 (the OOPS project), Autodesk will be in a position to take a bold step which, if successful, may ensure the preeminence of AutoCAD for the next quarter century, greatly accelerate the pace of AutoCAD development, and establish a new paradigm for the relationship between a PC software vendor and its customers which our competitors will find difficult to emulate.

I'm talking about making the source code for AutoCAD available, and before you stop reading, let me explain the reasons for such a move as well as the means I've come up with for testing the concept without incurring any substantial risk."

See:

http://www.defcar.es/

(Click on English, if you can't read Espan~ol)

As for shipbuilding, check out Defcar. Some of their software still runs on Win95. If that is so, then how hard can it be to just run the stuff in WINE, CrossOver, or something else?

For those using SolidWorks, and are worried about staying within license counts, see:

http://www.solidworks.com/pages/partners/PartnerDe tails.html?ID=488&ProductID=317

But, if major corporations (and, in their free time, aspiring Linux sysadmins) actually take VariCAD for a spin and add it to their portfolios or resumes, then maybe hiring managers will be keen to hire people who actually have user experience with VariCAD. Hopefully VariCAD gets enough activity and paying customers to enable them to add those few extra enticing pieces people don't see in VariCAD.

I am sure VariCAD can integrate with Star Office and OpenOffice.org, and maybe even other word processing suites/apps.

But, to expect AutoCAD to weaken ms' posterior probiscus is probably folly. Maybe AutoCAD LIKES the pelvic torsion and gyration?

DS

To be honest, if you know what you're doing with computers, there's no reason to stick with Windows on your desktop in a Windows environment.

No reason? I'll give you a few that apply in my office:

Rockwell Software

Wonderware

GE Fanuc

PI

AutoCAD

SolidWorks

If we can't use those tools, we go out of business. Plain and simple.

Moderators, please consider such things before moderating blanket statements like the parent up to +5. There are a lot of workstations out there that aren't just Word/Excel/Access/Outlook/IE boxes. When you start using dedicated software packages like the stuff I've described above, you're using Windows, and you don't have a choice (PI being a partial exception, you can get the server for Unix but many client tools are Windows-only). Does that suck? Yeah, kinda. But that's the reality, and wishing it were different doesn't change it.

Other apps that use windowed GL:
Max
VNS
Blender
Wings 3D
Solidworks
And those are just off the top of my head. ALL of them will take a massive performance hit from this maneuver by MicroShaft. Direct3D will still suck as an API, DirectX will still suck, and even worse, even though OpenGL will be supported, it'll be frozen at 1.4. There go all your shaders and anything nice you might want to use in OpenGL 2.0 except in a full-screen app (read: games. MS ain't dumb enough to alienate their gamers, but they may just force the professionals to *nix).
But hey, they're MS. Now be a good little consumer and bend over.

When I have kids I will be more zealous about them wasting their lives in front of a video game when they can be learning Solidworks and building real robots.

"Virtually no one will see a benefit from being able to use more than 4gb of ram."

i will! i use solidworks...

http://www.solidworks.com/

I think this is a wonderful method of stress testing. You get virtually free testing, and they enjoy doing it.