VERDICT: Builds on the free Google SketchUp with enhanced export options and a new dedicated presentation application.

Based on the impressive feature set of the free Google SketchUp (see separate review), the obvious question is: what more does the commercial Google SketchUp Pro 6 offer to justify its price?

At first sight the answer is: not a lot. In fact there is really only one difference between the two SketchUp versions but it’s fundamental: export options. If you want to be able to use the models that you’ve created as part of larger 3D modelling workflows, then you’ll almost certainly need SketchUp Pro to be able to export to a format that other applications can understand such as XSI, VRML, FBX, 3DS and OBJ. The same is true if you want to convert your models to accurate 2D technical drawings where you’ll need SketchUp Pro’s ability to export to vector-based formats such as DXF, DWG, EPS and PDF. And again you’ll need SketchUp Pro if you want to output your flythroughs as AVI videos.
Apart from these export capabilities the two versions of SketchUp are identical, but Google has further differentiated its commercial Pro release by adding a new support program. LayOut (beta) provides a page-based environment in which you build up presentations based on placed models which you can annotate and embellish with a range of text and shape tools before printing, outputting to PDF, or presenting directly onscreen.
The big advantage of using LayOut, rather than assembling exported bitmaps in a page layout program, is that the placed SketchUp models remain live. This means that changes to the original model are immediately reflected in the presentation. More powerfully, it also means that you can quickly select a different scene and view, set an accurate scale, change the line weight, colour set and overall style of display, control shadows, add fog and set the output resolution and all from within LayOut. Double-click on the placed model and you can even orbit and reposition your scene in situ in real time.
LayOut, like SketchUp itself, is innovative and easy to use, but Google emphasizes that this is a beta version for good reason as it regularly crashed on our test system. Until LayOut is stable, this means that professional users are effectively being asked to pay SketchUp Pro’s full price just for its export capabilities. It might seem steep when so much power is given away for free, especially for loyal longterm users – a potential criticism that Google has neatly avoided by making this latest release a free upgrade for existing SketchUp customers.
For many new users though upgrading to the Pro release will eventually prove a price worth paying. The free Google SketchUp is a great program for creatively exploring 3D ideas – when you want to take them further, Google SketchUp Pro is the natural solution.

EASE OF USE 4/6
FEATURES 5/6
VALUE FOR MONEY 4/6
OVERALL 4/6