Disclosure

Personal, Employment, Software and Hardware

This page contains the disclosure statement for my blog. Also see the Privacy Policy for important information relating to your visit here.

NOTE: Recent (~1 year) content updates in Italics, but there have been format changes to better suit my current, Ghost, platform

General Statement

All content is my personal opinion at the time of posting and I do not retrospectively edit posts should my opinion change. I do not accept any liability, direct or indirect, for any loss or damage which may directly or indirectly result from any advice, opinion, information, representation, or omission whether negligent or otherwise, contained on this site.

Employer

Everything here is personal opinion and is not read or approved by my current employer before it is posted.

Since August 9 2022 I'm Design Systems Manager for LDE (Land Development Engineering) Ltd, based in Auckland. The role includes managing Autodesk AEC, BricsCAD, GIS, and other related applications for a combined Civil, Structural and Geotech team based in offices throughout the North & upper South Island.
From October 2021 I spent ~10 months cycling New Zealand, see Time Out NZ 2021 - 2022
On Sept 24th, 2021, I left my “Retail Design Chapter Member” role at The Warehouse Group.
- This blog was started, on TypePad, when I worked for The Warehouse Limited (1997-2015) which later became part of "The Warehouse Group Ltd" where I also worked from 2016-2021. This historic disclaimer applies to some content created during those periods:
  - CAD content from TWL & TWG was used in posts with permission and the following conditions:
  - All rights and copyright to that content (marked with Logo or CAD Icon (right) and/or in posts tagged "The Warehouse Group Ltd") remains with The Warehouse Group Limited.
  - The Warehouse Group Limited does not accept any liability, direct or indirect, for any loss or damage which may directly or indirectly result from any advice, opinion, information, representation, or omission whether negligent or otherwise, contained on this site.

ActiveWords

I own an ActiveWords Plus subscription and am friends with ActiveWords co-founder Buzz Bruggeman.

Advertising

Any profit from my blogs is donated to charities of my choice. Some goes to the RobiNZ Blog Kiva Team but I also make one off donations to specific causes.
- Also see the TypePad entry below regarding historic hosting costs.
In May 2012 RobiNZ CAD Blog joined the TenLinks Extended Advertising Media (TEAM) program. I ended this association in September 2015 as removed all display advertising from all my blogs. My historic posts may have residual Amazon Associates adverts/links but I do not post current associate links.

Autodesk

Current software and participation

I own, on subscription, an Autodesk AEC Collection license which includes AutoCAD, Revit, Civil 3D, Recap, Navisworks and Autodesk Construction Cloud Docs plus supporting applications.
- I have previously owned (in order of upgrade): Autosketch, AutoCAD LT, Architectural Desktop + Viz, AutoCAD Revit Architecture Suite + 3ds Max Design & Building Design Suite Premium Licenses.
I participate in the Customer Feedback (Alpha/Beta Previews) for some Autodesk Products (AutoCAD, Civil 3D, Revit) and Cloud Services both as myself and on behalf of my current employer.

Autodesk University Las Vegas

AU 2004: Attended with some TWL subsidy (conference fee)
AU 2005: Attended at own expense
AU 2006: Attended on an Autodesk Scholarship courtesy of the AutoCAD Platform group
AU 2007: Attended at own expense but on TWL time.
AU 2009: Attended courtesy of TWL (thanks Matt!)
AU 2010: Attended partially at own expense. I booked for AU & Flights in September but in late October Autodesk invited me as "Media" and refunded the conference fee.
AU 2011: Attended partially at own expense. Autodesk invited me as "Media" covering the 3-day conference fee, 3 nights' accommodation. I am paying for flights, additional accommodation, and all other expenses.
AU 2017: Attended at own expense but on TWL time.

Briefing on BIM in Seoul: Travel & Accommodation provided by Autodesk Building Solutions Division, Asia Pacific
AutoCAD 2010 Launch Event in San Francisco Feb 2009. Travel & Event Accommodation provided by Autodesk AutoCAD Platform Division.
AutoCAD 2014 Blogger Day in San Francisco March 2014. Travel & Event Accommodation provided by Autodesk AutoCAD Division. I paid for additional accommodation to extend the trip for a holiday & to attend a blog related non-Autodesk event.
BiLT ANZ 2018: Attended representing AUGI. Conference fee, accommodation, and contribution to travel costs provided.

Autodesk Customer/Blogger associations

MyFeedback Beta: I have participated in Autodesk AutoCAD/Revit/Viz/Max/DWF platform beta/previews since 2003.
AEC Blogger Council: In June 2015 I was invited to participate in the AEC Blogger Council. This gives access to media resources and web meetings for AEC Platform related news. There is no remuneration or obligation to post.
AutoCAD Blogger Council: In May 2011 I was invited to participate in the AutoCAD Blogger Council. This gives access to media resources and web meetings for AutoCAD related news. There is no remuneration or obligation to post.
Autodesk Labs Customer Council: In October 2011 I was invited to participate in the Autodesk Labs Customer Council. This gives access to media resources and web meetings for AutoCAD related news. There is no remuneration or obligation to post.
AutoCAD Connected Desktop Customer Council: Invited to participate in 2012, now disbanded.

Revit User Group Auckland

I'm Treasurer for, and regularly attend, Revit User Group Auckland (RUGAKL)

Corel

CorelDraw

I've used CorelDRAW since r3. I've owned CorelDRAW 4, 6, 7, 9, 12 2018 and now the current CorelDRAW on subscription.

Mindmanager (was Mindjet)

I purchased MindManager X5 Pro.
I received a MindManager 7 Pro upgrade & T-Shirt courtesy of Mindjet after beta testing that release
I purchased JCV Gantt, the special bundle offer, after Mindjet acquired it
I received a MindManager 8 Pro upgrade courtesy of Mindjet after beta testing that release
Upgraded to MindManager 9 with software assurance which, renewed annually, keeps my MindManager current.
I currently use MindManager on subscription.

Hardware

Mine

Computers

I have a serviceable, but aging, PB Technologies desktop machine running Windows 10, i5 processor, 8GB ram, NVIDIA Quadro P5000.
- I won the NVIDIA Quadro P5000 graphics card in a random draw as the result of tweeting about the NVIDIA booth at Autodesk University 2017.
- Have chosen to extend its life to the +1-year Microsoft Windows 10 extension as it does not qualify for Windows 11. I will probably change it to Zorin OS (Linux) after that as the hardware is perfectly fine for its purpose. Looking at you unsustainable Microsoft...

I mostly blog from my Microsoft Surface Book 2 Hybrid Windows Tablet/Laptop. It has i7 processor, 16GB ram, 512GB SSD, NVIDIA GTX 1060 Graphics & 10-point touch & pen screen, and Windows 11. It was purchased new retail from Noel Leeming (owned by The Warehouse Group so with Staff Discount)
I have a Microsoft Surface Go Hybrid Windows Tablet for travel use. It has a Pentium Gold Processor, 128GB SSD, 8GB Ram, Pen and Keyboard Cover. It was purchased new retail from Noel Leeming (owned by The Warehouse Group so with Staff Discount)
- Have chosen to extend its life to the +1-year Microsoft Windows 10 extension as it does not qualify for Windows 11.
- I will probably change it to Zorin OS (Linux) after that as the hardware is perfectly fit for purpose. Looking at you unsustainable Microsoft....

Phone

My primary phone is a Samsung S21 Ultra purchased new retail from Noel Leeming (owned by The Warehouse Group so with Staff Discount)
- It is currently on One.nz (formerly Vodafone) network with Starlink not enabled (that took some doing).
I have a Samsung A15 on 2Degrees prepaid for emergency backup and 'potentially risky' situations (travel etc) but rarely use it.

Watch: Samsung Galaxy Active2 Watch
Cycling:
- Bikes: Giant Talon (2014) and Trance (2021) Alloy Mountain Bike, Trek SL-5 and Avanti Giro (2015) Carbon Gravel Bikes, Tern BYB P8 Folding Bike.
- Cycliq Front and Rear Camera/Lights
- Garmin Edge 1050 Cycle Computer
- Tailfin, Aeroe, Tern & Topeak racks/panniers/bags used for different bikes over the years (still have & use all)
Audio/Video:
- Sony: TV, Home Theatre/Hi-Fi, and portable gear
- Bose Quiet Comfort Headphones & Revolve Speaker
- Shokz (were Aftershokz) Bone-Conducting Headphones

Work

PC: ASUS ROG Strix G17 PC
Phone: I use my own primary phone with a second LDE One.nz sim.

Microsoft

Windows

I have used Windows since 3.1, currently have a mix of Windows 10/11 devices and was a Nokia/Windows Phone fan before they ceased to be.

Office

I now maintain a current Office 365 Home Premium subscription and use OneDrive for my cloud data.
In 2013 won a year subscription to Office Home Premium 365 from Microsoft NZ in a Twitter Q&A competition:

We have our Tuesday #Office winner! Congrats @robincapper - You've won a copy of #Office365 Home Premium! DM us and we'll get it to you!— Microsoft NZ (@MicrosoftNZ) February 5, 2013

I have owned/used Microsoft Office since the late 1990s. I upgraded from Office 1995, to 2000, to Office 2007. Then upgraded that to 2010 because I missed the Ribbon in Outlook!

MediaMonkey + OneDrive

I still prefer files on devices for music and have a MediaMonkey Gold (Lifetime) licence to organize my music/video on PC and Android phone, using OneDrive, because it is awesome. The nightmare that is/was iTunes drove me away from iPhone as soon as there was a viable smartphone alternative.

I have YouTube Music, as part of paid YouTube Premium, but don't subscribe to any other streaming services. I still prefer to buy media, downloads, from artists I regularly listen to.

TechSmith

I was given a complimentary personal Camtasia & SnagIt 8 license after meeting Betsy at AU 2006.
I purchased the SnagIt 9, 10, 11 upgrades and now maintain a current SnagIt subscription.

TypePad (until October 2025):

From October 2025 TypePad will close, the following applies until then:

I'm a TypePad user, pro account, and contributed to the TypePad Customer Advisory Board (TPCAB) when it was active, until late 2008.

TypePad Hosting & RobiNZ Blog Kiva Team

TypePad refunded the hosting costs for my blog as a reward for TPCAB activity. Despite several requests/reminders since the retirement of the TPCAB they declined to resume charging, so the hosting remained free:
- Rather than profit from their generosity I decided to pay it forward.
- At least the hosting value, often more, is donated to Kiva under the RobiNZ Blog Lending Team, funding micro finance loans around the world.
  - I will continue commitment this after TypePad closes even though future platforms will not be free.
  - All Kiva repayments are re-loaned, minus a small donation (typically 5% of loan value) to Kiva for their loan service costs. My top-ups cover that, offset the few non-repayments (~2%), and slowly grows the base fund.
  - Since 2009 this has resulted (@September 2025) in ~2000 loans across 82 countries, ~us$49,000 in total funded from a base fund of ~us$2,500 being reinvested on repayment. The team impact page will report current statistics.

Ghost Evaluation

I migrated my TypePad Blogs (via WordPress as no direct import) to a paid Ghost subscription in late September 2025, prior to the TypePad closedown. I am also evaluating (with a paid subscription) WordPress as a final home.

WordPress Evaluation

I migrated my TypePad Blogs to a paid WordPress in late September 2025, prior to the TypePad closedown. I am also evaluating (with a paid subscription) Ghost as a final home.

Zorin OS

I've evaluated Zorin OS as an alternative to Windows 10 (for devices that are not Windows 11 compatibile) and found it worked well. I own one license of Zorin OS Pro.