Features:

Performance

• Open and save your drawings significantly faster (30 percent and 66 percent, respectively) when AutoCAD 2004 DWG data is located on a network drive.
  
• Drawing thumbnails - Quickly view and access drawings by previewing them first in Microsoft Windows Explorer.
  
• Open and save drawing files comprised of 3D solids faster using the new ASM binary format.

Tool Palettes

• New tool palettes include all of the functionality offered by modeless dialog boxes. Maintain easy access to too palette content while benefiting from the increased screen real estate offered by modeless dialog boxes.
  
• Custom Content - Tool palettes can be easily customized for storing frequently used blocks and hatches.
  
• Pre-assign tool properties such as layer, color, and scale. Properties are automatically applied as you insert content into your drawings.
  
• Save and share a tool palette by exporting it or importing it as a tool palette file.
  
• Tool palettes can automatically minimize until you pass your cursor over the titlebar.
  
• Apply variable levels of transparency to palettes

Design Center

• Updated DesignCenter feature includes some of the functionality offered by palettes, including autohide and docking.
  
• A new tab in the DesignCenter contains direct links to millions of symbols libraries and manufacturers' content on Autodesk.com - all in i-drop format.
  

Multiline Text (MTEXT) Enhancements

• Multiline Text Editor dialog box has been replaced by a new frameless editor, easily view, size, position, and edit text relative to nearby geometry.
  
• Apply style, font, and other text properties to characters and words within the text object.  Adjuct text appearance as needed using tools that are familiar from other text editing applications.
  
• Easily create paragraphs with tabs and indents.
  
• Retain tabs and formatting when copying and pasting text directly from Microsoft Word into the Mtext editor.
  

Drafting Enhancements

• Utilize AutoCAD Express Tools for additional functionality.
  
• Revision Cloud - Create free-form or convert an existing object into cloud shapes.
  
• Associative QDIM - The QDIM command can create true associative dimensions.
  
• Step through layout tabs by pressing the Ctrl Page up or Ctrl Page Down keys.
  
• The OLE page size limitation has been removed on systems using Microsoft Office XP with the latest service pack.
  

Presentation Graphics

• Specify color settings using true colors (24-bit color) with either the Hue, Saturation, and Luminance color model.
  
• Specify colors using third-party color books (such as PANTONE) or user-defined color books.
  
• Create presentation drawings directly in the AutoCAD application without the need for additional software.
  
• Print Shaded, 3d isometric views for presentation output with minimal steps.
  
• Changes to draworder are now permanently stored, including within reference files.
  

Minimum System Requirements

• Intel Pentium III or AMD K6-III PC, 500MHz minimum (800 Mhz recommended)
  
• 128MB RAM (minimum)
  
• Windows XP Professional, Windows XP Home, Windows Tablet PC, Windows 2000, Windows NT 4.0 with SP 6a or later
  
• 1024x768 VGA with True Color (minimum)- requires a Windows-supported display adapter.
  
• Windows video display driver
  
• 300MB free hard disk space and 75MB swap space
  
• Pointing device (mouse or digitizer with Wintab driver)
  
• Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0