Autodesk launches its largest Beta program ever; AutoCAD Release 14 quality efforts expand.

SAN RAFAEL, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 10, 1997--Building on seven months of successfully testing the Alpha version of AutoCAD Release 14 software, Autodesk today announced the launch of its biggest and most thorough Beta test program ever, with plans to distribute over 16,000 pre-release copies to existing customers and third-party developers worldwide during the month of March.

"The extent and scope of this Beta program reflect the many process changes we've developed," said Robert Carr, vice president of the AutoCAD Market Group (AMG) at Autodesk. "Our team has opened up avenues that involve our customers and third-party developers as early as possible, and for as long as possible. Our goal is to design new products that delight customers on shipment. With AutoCAD Release 14, we've engineered quality from the start."

Approximately 100 customers and developers began testing the Alpha version of AutoCAD Release 14 in September 1996, with the number of testers growing to more than a 1,000 in February 1997. Many users believe the Alpha version is robust enough for production use.

"This is the most stable pre-release software that I have ever worked on," said AutoCAD Release 14 Alpha tester Mike Mulvey, RIBA, AIA. "Having been a DOS `diehard' for years, I finally made the switch to Windows NT over a year ago. It really is the OS of the future, and now AutoCAD is taking full advantage of NT's power."

The Alpha testing program is one component of a greatly expanded quality effort on the part of AMG, the Autodesk division responsible for developing AutoCAD software.

AMG has been focused on involving customers at every stage of product development, from product definition to testing. Many Alpha testers are impressed with the results of AMGs quality efforts. "To sum it up, this is by far the best release of AutoCAD I have ever used," said Shaan Hurley, an AutoCAD Release 14 Alpha tester and AutoCAD user since AutoCAD Release 11, from Oregon Iron Works, Oregon City, Oregon.

This rigorous product development planning process for AutoCAD Release 14 began with customer wish lists and included formal product validation and feature usability testing. Extensive automation testing, stress testing at customer "gunslinger" events, and designing real-world projects on Alpha software helped improve AutoCAD Release 14 software's stability at an early stage.

In addition to delighting customers with AutoCAD Release 14, over 700 developers worldwide have been testing the Alpha version of the AutoCAD Release 14 ObjectARX Software Developer Kit as early as September 1996. Autodesk developers are equally impressed with the quality and capabilities of the second-generation of object technology, ObjectARX. Autodesk has provided in-depth training to these developers, and a detailed porting guide to help them port their applications quickly and easily to AutoCAD Release 14.

The matters discussed in this news release contain forward looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. These include the timely development and acceptance of AutoCAD Release 14, the impact of competitive products and pricing, and the other risks detailed from time to time in Autodesk's SEC reports, including the report on Form 10-Q filed in December 1996.

Autodesk is the world's leading supplier of PC design and drafting software and multimedia tools. The company's 2D and 3D products and data management tools are used in many industries for architectural design, mechanical design, mapping, film and video production, video game development, and Web content development. Its Kinetix division is the leader in PC-based 3D modeling and animation software, providing a full range of products for digital media and design professionals. The fourth-largest PC software company in the world, Autodesk has three million customers in nearly 140 countries. Autodesk products are sold through Autodesk Systems Centers, dealers, and distributors worldwide. For more information on Autodesk, please call 415-507-5000, or type GO ADESK on CompuServe, or visit its World Wide Web site at http://www.autodesk.com. Kinetix can be reached by calling 800-879-4233, or through its World Wide Web site at http://www.ktx.com. Autodesk shares are traded on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol ADSK. -0-

Autodesk, the Autodesk logo, and AutoCAD are registered trademarks and Kinetix and ObjectARX are trademarks of Autodesk, Inc. CompuServe is a registered trademark of H&R Block. Windows NT is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation. All other brand names, product names or trademarks belong to their respective holders.

CONTACT: Autodesk, Inc.

Jennifer Reidy, 415/507-6536

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