Seeing the LT

AutoCAD LT is one of the best deals around, a shining example of the old 80/20
rule: roughly 80 percent of the capabilities of AutoCAD for roughly 20 percent
of the money. (Actually, with recent price creep, it’s now more like a 70/30
rule!) Like AutoCAD, AutoCAD LT runs on mainstream Windows computers and doesn’t require any additional hardware devices. With AutoCAD LT, you
can be a player in the world of AutoCAD, the world’s leading CAD program, for
a comparatively low starting cost.
AutoCAD LT is a very close cousin to AutoCAD. Autodesk creates AutoCAD
LT by starting with the AutoCAD program, taking out a few features to justify
charging a lower price, and adding a couple of features to enhance ease
of use versus full AutoCAD. As a result, AutoCAD LT looks and works much
like AutoCAD. The drawing areas, Ribbons, and Application Menu of the two
programs are nearly identical. (LT is missing a few Ribbon tabs, panels, and
commands.)
In fact, the major difference between the programs has nothing to do with the
programs themselves. The major difference is that AutoCAD LT lacks support
for several customization and programming languages that are used to
develop AutoCAD add-ons. So almost none of the add-on programs or utilities
offered by Autodesk and others are available to LT users.
AutoCAD LT also has only limited 3D support. You can view and edit 3D
objects in AutoCAD LT, so you can work with drawings created in AutoCAD
that contain 3D objects. However, you can’t create true 3D objects in LT.
Although you may hear claims that AutoCAD LT is easier to master and
use than AutoCAD, the truth is that they’re about equally difficult (or easy,
depending on your NQ [nerd quotient]). The LT learning curve doesn’t differ
significantly from that of AutoCAD. AutoCAD was originally designed for maximum
power and then modified somewhat to improve ease of use. AutoCAD
LT shares this same heritage.
Fortunately, the minimal differences between LT and AutoCAD mean that
after you climb that learning curve, you have the same great view. You have
almost the full range of the AutoCAD 2D drafting tools, and you can exchange
DWG files with AutoCAD users without data loss.