Google Offers Up Free 3D Drawing Tool

By Digital Trends Staff April 27, 2006

Google, which last month acquired a small start-up called @Last Software and their popular drawing software SketchUp, today announced via their company blog they were rebranding the software Google SketchUp and releasing it for free. SketchUp Pro 5, a commercial edition used by design professionals, will continue to be made available as well.

Google SketchUp, said the search company, is targeted towards those who want to build 3D models for use in Google Earth. It can also be used standalone. Simple tools built into the program allow one to create models of houses, sheds, decks, home additions and many more things. One can add textures and glass to models, design with

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A person typing on a MacBook Pro while sat on a wooden bench.

Whether it's engineering or game design, 3d modeling and CAD work has become very big in the past few years, especially with a lot of folks starting to do it at home for things like 3D printer files. Of course, not every laptop you pick up can handle doing that sort of work, so if you plan to do either, then going for a laptop that is fit for the job is important. To that end, we've collected our five favorite laptops across various price ranges and needs so that you can pick the perfect laptop for you.
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Buy the if you want the best overall laptop for 3D modeling.
Buy the if you want the best-performing laptop for 3D modeling.
Buy the if you want the best Apple laptop for 3D modeling.
Buy the if you want a thin, light, and portable laptop for 3D modeling.
Buy the if you want a budget-friendly 3D modeling laptop.