Adobe will release Acrobat 3D next monday, according to this story on CNET.  While it certainly won't be cheap, it will likely be cheaper, easier to use and much more portable than a full CAD program.

"On Monday, the company is releasing Acrobat 3D, which allows a person to create a PDF (Portable

Document Format) file with embedded images from computer-aided design (CAD) applications.

Recipients of Acrobat 3D files need to upgrade to the latest version of Acrobat reader to view the

documents, the company said.

Adobe developed the 3D product specifically for manufacturing customers who regularly exchange CAD

files in the design process, said Rak Bhalla, senior marketing manager. Car manufacturers, for

example, share their product descriptions and designs with their suppliers to get bids for

component parts. "

Here is some more Tech News from around the web:

Tech Talk

• VoIP and the Leap of

Faith @ Designtechnica

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mystery is unveiled @ The Inquirer

Store: the experiment is showing signs of improvement @ Ars Technica

Video Editing: Cheap Software @ PCMech

Digital Home @ The TechZone