Yesterday, I had three client meetings back to back. The first two were onsite and the third was at a hotel. During the second meeting I was given a plot of a 3D drawing for a film set on a project I’m working on. I noticed the figures in the drawing were Google SketchUp art, so I asked if the designer could email me the files.

At the next meeting I was able to open up my laptop, stick in the 3 UK modem and download the files. I had instant access to the 3D model throughout the meeting. Just being able to swoop around the model and check different points of view was a powerful aid to thinking.

I’m getting used to easy access to my files and data thanks to the ultraportable Macbook Air (it’s the low weight that I notice most) and the 3 UK modem. My habits are slowly changing. Increasingly I will take the laptop out with me slung into a small messenger bag.

I have to say that I am a total fan of SketchUp. It is an awesome package because it falls into the category of ‘creativity at the speed of thought.’

I hardly spent more than 30 minutes playing around with it before I was able to create useful models. My kids picked it up instantly and are already using it for writing stories and making animations.