This series explains connectivity options for CAD hardware. The first post covered network connections and USB. Now we'll discuss PCI, FireWire and eSATA.

Topics: Workstations, Accessories, Hardware, WiFi, Printers, Connectivity, CAD

Connectivity is a generic term that describes how a computer connects to other devices to transfer data back and forth. The term covers everything from networks to wireless to printer cables. Based on the nature of CAD work, some sort of connectivity options are going to be required. This series will cover the major areas of connectivity to help you decide the right ones for your situation.

Networking: Ethernet and Wireless

Topics: Workstations, Accessories, Hardware, WiFi, Printers, Connectivity, CAD

I was one of those CAD geeks who did the loop around my small office when AutoCAD WS was released. It is a sophisticated mobility tool that Autodesk was savvy enough to release for free. Now available on the App Store for Apple devices and native Macs as well as the Android Market for Android devices, it gives a massive scope to CAD users and facilities managers alike.

Topics: Workstations, Autodesk, Hardware, Facilities Management, AutoCAD, Mobile Workstations, Connectivity, Laptops, CAD

AutoCAD WS is a versatile app for viewing, editing and sharing CAD designs whether you’re in the office, at a construction site or anywhere in between. The barriers to entry for this Autodesk product are minimal as it is available for free as a browser-based web app and as a mobile app for iOS and Android.

Topics: Autodesk, AutoCAD, Mobile Workstations, Connectivity, CAD

We're talking about remote graphics in this series. We've outlined the potential benefits for CAD users, the reduced hardware costs and the security advantages. This post will wrap up this discussion with some details about sustainability as well as some final comments.

Topics: Workstations, Hardware, Graphics Card, Remote Graphics, GPU, Graphics Cards, AMD, Connectivity, Upgrade, CAD

We're talking about remote graphics in this series. We've outlined the potential benefits for CAD users and the reduced hardware costs, and now we're going talk about the benefits for the heavy-duty 3D users.

Topics: Workstations, Hardware, Graphics Card, Remote Graphics, GPU, Graphics Cards, AMD, Connectivity, Upgrade, CAD

We're talking about remote graphics in this series. We've outlined the potential benefits for CAD users, and now we're going to get more specific.

Topics: Workstations, Hardware, Graphics Card, Remote Graphics, GPU, Graphics Cards, AMD, Connectivity, Upgrade, CAD

There is a growing demand for portability, energy conversation and cost savings in the CAD world — hence the movement to small form factor devices use of the cloud for review and commenting. But there still remains the need for complex 3D graphics, security and high performance computation. Hence killer workstations and professional graphics cards like the FirePro or Quadro.

Topics: Workstations, Hardware, Graphics Card, Remote Graphics, GPU, Graphics Cards, AMD, Connectivity, Upgrade, CAD

So we established that you need an online backup system for your CAD data, then we gave you some suggestions for solutions if you are a freelancer or small business owner. But what if you work for (or own) a company that is a large CAD service provider?

Topics: Workstations, Hardware, Hard Drive, Connectivity, Backup System, CAD

So we established that you need an online backup system for your CAD data. So, where do you begin?

Topics: Workstations, Hardware, Hard Drive, Connectivity, Backup System, CAD