Interesting, I see many posts promoting their own ssytems, but nothing for Linux or UNIX systems. It appears I must wait for someone to put some common sense in their heads and develop something that we all can use. I moved from Microsoft to Linus (unix) for a very good reason, Microsoft is far too susceptible to attack by cyber-terrorists. I suggest you take a look at http://www.us-cert.gov/ and http://www.cert.org/ and make up your own minds. I, long ago, became troubles with my microsoft 2000pro failing me due to malware attacks, thus, I use PCLinuxOS2007 (have not yet seen fit to upgrade to PCLinuxOS 2009 or 2010 as yet). Until developers see fit to develop useful drafting and design systems for Linux and/or Unix, I will depend on my hand drawn sketches and a complete word description as I did when I wrote "scope of Work" when working in the industry. I was a Principle Mechanical Designer with Parsons Engineering Corporation, Power and Petrochemical Division (SIP), in Houston, Texas. I retired April 1, 1998, hand have been volunteering my knowledge and experience within Sustainability Engineering ever since. When I did work, I found all CAD systems used by industry (Autodesk being the primary) to be a rip-off for industry. Greed is way beyond reason. For my current work please see http://chtank.org/. It seems software developers are more interested in an income to become the new Aristocracy rather tahn the survival of humanity.

 

nothing quite beats AutoCAD in 2D drafting. wide acceptabilty has ensured that any other CAD package that is not compatible with dwg format is doomed

I found ProgeCAD Smart to be the easiest to adapt to - accpets all of autoCAD's commands - major plus IMO

also has a more feature-rich commercial version ProgeCAD, though not tried it out myself

There is also Solidedge 2D

 

according to me AUTOCAD 2010 is one of the best 2D mechanical design software...

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If you do basic Mechanical design, you might want to try Solid Edge 2D Drafting from Siemens PLM Software. It's free, just register at the Siemens PLM website. Not as powerfull as Autocad 2011, but if you compare it to AutoCAD LT wich costs over 1000 euro/dollar ...
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i think CADKEY is still the easiest and fastest for 2D

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what is CADKEY can u plz tell....even DASSAULT has good 2D softwares, m workin their...

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CADKEY is an AUTODESK product for 2D design, which is work in both the DOS and UNIX. So easy to use, because it has some feature that make drawing, just like a skeching tools in the 3d software such as Solidworks or Cimatron. I work faster with this one.

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my experience Auto cad is best for 2D application ( Ex : drawing detailing )

catia - used for surface & sheet metal design application (ex: car outer body)
Pro-e - used for 3D models application (ex: product deign)
UG - only manufacturing application (ex:casting, molding, machining)

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Sorry, but incorrect. CADKEY was at one point (not sure if it is true anymore) AutoCAD's closest COMPETITOR. CADKEY is not and never has been an AUTODESK product. CADKEY was bought by KuboTek a few years back and can be used for 2D or 3D drafting/modeling. CADKEY had 3D capabilities for drafting (not solid modeling) back in the early '90s maybe even earlier. AutoCAD LT is AUTODESK's 2D only vs the full version of AutoCAD that can do 3D as well. AutoCAD is the industry standard for a long time for drafting. There used to be a UNIX version of AutoCAD, all I can find now is PC and Mac (but Mac is UNIX based so...).

 

Cadkey was a 3D wireframe modeler from day one, back when AutoCAD was strictly 2D, late 1980s. Cadkey's 2D drafting functions were never that strong though they were very easy to use, 3D modeling was its strong point. It was sold to Kubotek a few years ago and was the basis for Kubotek's KeyCreator product, which was one of the first (and IMHO still the best) 3D "direct" (meaning non parametric / history based) modelers. Unfortunately Cadkey Inc. suffered from a run of very bad management decisions and lost their place to the "wonder twins" SWX and SE.

Except perhaps for things like fabric design or electrical design, I can't imagine why anybody would want to use a 2D CAD system. I'd rather work on the board than use 2D CAD. You need 2D capabilities to make drawings from your 3D models, of course, but virtually all 3D CAD systems have built in drafting capabilities.

I had to laugh when around 2000 magazine ads were pushing, "it's time to move to 3D." It was time for that in 1990! I was doing 100% 3D modeling in 1990 with Cadkey on a 286 with 512KB (not MB!) RAM and 20MB hard drive, and life was good!