Hey whats this DWGgateway

I am not one to usually compain about somthing, but i read this on the
Solidworks Site, which is about the DWGgateway software.




"....No longer must AutoCAD users upgrade just to continue sharing
standard 2D design data with colleagues and business partners. The
DWGgateway ensures that AutoCAD users can work efficiently with
colleagues, customers, partners, and suppliers without facing annoying
"incompatible version" messages...... "

Now why can't we have the same features eg: able to save as 2004 ?

 

Now why can't we have the same features eg: able to save as 2004 ?

Backward compatibility is relatively easy when all you are talking about is
data entities / geometry (a point's a point, line's a line, etc.). When
the functions that create the data entities are considered the problem is
apparent (that's assuming there are in fact new functions in the newer
release). That's the gist of it, anyway, and it does present real
problems. Fact-o-the-matter is it can be done; witness the $20k + cross
platform feature enabled translators. When they can't duplicate a feature
they create a non-parametric surface (simplified, generalized, hearsay
explanation). If there's a market, there's a way....