Quote - ....Of course...Google HOPES you like the FREE version so much that you will BUY the PRO version- but, HEY, what a GREAT MARKETING CONCEPT!...(Wouldn't it be nice if other software was available like this?)

Yep, when you don't have to actually make a bottom-line with your 'free' product, then it's easy to wear a white hat. Just like Microsoft did with Explorer-- which ended up killing other great products like Netscape and Mosaic. In fact, look what MS has done to the software tools market, and so many other markets they've destroyed by giving away free product. It's a sweet deal, give it away free, get people hooked on it, then kill all your competition...the grand old Walmart way.

I've owned Sketchup since it was first released. It's a very nice product, and kudos to them for getting themselves purchased. Still, it's difficult for companies like e-on to give away and support free products, when their primary means of generating revenue is only through product sales. Same can't be said about Google.

BTW, Just in case you didn't know, this is pretty old news. Sketchup has been free since last May.

best,
Chipp