@Last Software Inc. has released SketchUp v5, a new version of their 3D design software for Mac OS X. The new version incorporates new features, expands its components library and more. It costs US$495, and upgrades cost $95. System requirements call for Mac OS X v10.3 or higher, G4/400MHz or faster with 128MB RAM, 80MB hard disk space, QuickTime 5.0 or later and OpenGL-compliant graphics card.
SketchUp 5 adds The Sandbox, a collection of new terrain tools which helps users model terrain and similar organic shapes like roads, building pads and parking lots. The components library has been expanded from 145 to more than 3,000 objects, providing objects like windows, doors, cars and desks and organic objects like people and animals.
“Snappy Dialogs” is a new feature that keeps settings panels together. Improved file support includes 3DS and DEM file import support and OBJ, FBX and XSI export support. 3DS and VRML export has been added, and DWG and DXF files are now handled using DWGDirect file libraries.