Apr 2007
Quick and simple 3d models with Google SketchUp
17/04/07 04:46 Filed in: Graphics
When I needed to make some simple 3d models of
objects I started looking for some cheap (free)
software to use. I know there is blender, art of
illusion, wings 3d and a few others
but they really seemed a little bit much for my
simple needs. Then I came across the free
SketchUp 6 software from
Google.
Although the interface was not always obvious on what it was doing or could do, I found everything I needed searching through their online help or by watching their training videos. The only downside is that the free version can only export to the proprietary SKP or KMZ file format.
Google does offer a free viewer software for Windows and supposedly the latest version of Blender can import the KMZ file and then export it into another format. Otherwise you need to pay $100's for the Professional version of SketchUp to allow export in a few 3d formats (3ds, DWG, OBJ and more) or buy the Deep Exploration Standard Edition from Right Hemisphere. Deep Exploration additionally allow you to export the native SketchUp format to MANY other 3d formats while allowing some okay 3d manipulation as well. Unfortunately this also costs $100's.
Regardless, I found the quick manipulation of objects in SketchUp to be easy to learn and useful for creating quick visualizations.
Although the interface was not always obvious on what it was doing or could do, I found everything I needed searching through their online help or by watching their training videos. The only downside is that the free version can only export to the proprietary SKP or KMZ file format.
Google does offer a free viewer software for Windows and supposedly the latest version of Blender can import the KMZ file and then export it into another format. Otherwise you need to pay $100's for the Professional version of SketchUp to allow export in a few 3d formats (3ds, DWG, OBJ and more) or buy the Deep Exploration Standard Edition from Right Hemisphere. Deep Exploration additionally allow you to export the native SketchUp format to MANY other 3d formats while allowing some okay 3d manipulation as well. Unfortunately this also costs $100's.
Regardless, I found the quick manipulation of objects in SketchUp to be easy to learn and useful for creating quick visualizations.
Upgrading 700Mhz ibook hard drive is hard!
15/04/07 13:42 Filed in: Apple
This is incredibly hard to do. With my Dell laptop it
is 1 screw and a removable drawer. With the ibook it
is 20 pages of instructions and about 1.5-2 hours of
work (PDF). There were so many
screws and thin metal panels that it would be
pretty easy to mess up too. Fortunately, since I
was not planning on using the ibook again (I
just wanted to extract the hard drive) it was a
bit less stressful but I would not recommend
doing this yourself. Pay Apple to do it and be
sure it is done right or upgrade your Mac.
Even an ibook can start smoking.
11/04/07 01:21 Filed in: Apple
After a couple of great years with our G3 ibook, one
day the screen stayed black and soon smoke started
coming out of it. Hopefully the hard disk is okay but
what really scared me is that this computer is often
plugged in for long periods of time being charged. I
had assumed that it had been approved as a non-fire
hazard but looking on Google there seems to be many
other examples of ibooks burning up (along with other
laptops).
How much of a fire hazard are these laptop computers? Can I really leave them charging when noone is at home. I can easily see where airlines would want to ban them if they are a fire hazard, I mean if smokers cannot light up who would want a lithium battery melt down ocurring in the seat next to them.
How much of a fire hazard are these laptop computers? Can I really leave them charging when noone is at home. I can easily see where airlines would want to ban them if they are a fire hazard, I mean if smokers cannot light up who would want a lithium battery melt down ocurring in the seat next to them.