If you post the Toshiba laptop model number, we can help determine whether it has a graphics chip-set for which drivers can be updated to the newer OpenGL version used by Sketchup.
BUT... before you buy an expensive upgrade to Sketchup, please read the following !
Sketchup version 8 (32-Bit) continues to be the fastest working release still supported by the largest set of plugin Ruby scripts, and which is adequate for use with all but extremely large 3D models (...which may be too complex for use in FS anyway
), while also continuing to support most older graphics chip-sets via an earlier version of OpenGL.
And,
Sketchup version 8 is the only version allowed to be used for commercial purposes without special licensing fees.
FYI: Those wishing to use a newer and/or 64-bit Sketchup NON-PRO version can
still utilize imported geo-located aerial imagery from external sources via various "work-arounds" (...one of which is detailed below).
NOTE:
IMHO, Aerial imagery sources now used by Sketchup no longer provide the prior consistent quality of Google Maps / Earth.
Thus, the recently compelled innovation of various "work-arounds" may actually result in an enhanced quality of the aerial imagery that one is using in Sketchup without paying for an upgrade to the Pro version just to get IMHO,
'inferior' quality aerial imagery background images.
BTW: Maps and/or aerial imagery displayed in most online Satellite imagery map viewers are typically in a non-distorted display format (aka "Spherical Web Mercator / WGS84" projection), and can be directly used for 'background' images in SBuilder, ADE, Sketchup etc., as well as for texturing "flat" 3D Ground Polygons (aka "G-Polys").
CAVEAT: Such web tile server / map viewer satellite imagery should NOT be used for source files submitted directly to Resample as terrain land class textures without first re-projecting such imagery to Geographic (Lat-Lon) / WGS84 GIS format.
Such imagery should also NOT be commercially distributed without permission from the imagery licensor.
Also, be aware that such tiles of "UTM-type," / 'Mercator' projected web tile server / map viewer satellite imagery are
not accurate for Geographic coordinate positioning for points located
outside a 1-Kilometer distance from the Sketchup "
Origin of Axes".
Work-around:
To use any Sketchup 8 version to Geo-locate 3D models / import aerial imagery 'background' images:
Google Earth (aka "GE"): <
uses stand-alone desktop application >:
1.) Set user eye-point camera in
top-down view:
2.) Log geographic coordinates for a
corner of a building
3.) Take measurements for the
longest dimension of the building end-to-end
4.) File > Save > Save image (s
ave a *.JPG file to disk)
Sketchup (version 8-M3 or newer):
1.)
Sketchup Menu > Camera > Parallel View
2.)
Sketchup Menu > Camera > Standard Views > Top
3.)
Sketchup Menu > Windows > Model Info > Geolocation > click [Set Manual Location...] button
a.) In [
Set Manual Location...] dialog, enter logged Google info; fill in
every dialog box field
4.) In Sketchup work-space, position Rectangle Tool at "
Origin of Axes"
a.) Draw a face on the ground with the Rectangle Tool; set the longest building side dimension to match the end-to-end size in Google Earth
5.)
Sketchup Menu > File Import > 'tick'
"Use Image As..." Texture; 'select' {
filename.JPG} and click [Import] button
a.) Left Mouse click to apply the imported texture image onto the lower Left corner of the rectangular face within the context of that 'grouped' object
b.) Left Mouse 'click-hold' / drag to upper right to map image at proper end-to-end size ...as a "Material"
6.) Left Mouse click to 'Select' on-ground Face mapped with aerial imagery 'Material'
a.) Right Mouse click >
Context Menu > Texture > Position
(1) Align texture image of lower Left building roof-top corner over same exact position on 3D model
(2) Set
Red pin on
lower Left building roof-top corner
(3) Set
Green pin on
lower Right building roof-top corner; drag pin to position 'Material' for proper
end-to-end size matching Google Earth
(4) Set
Blue pin on
upper Left building roof-top corner; drag pin to position 'Material' for proper Height / Left vertical alignment
(5) Set
Yellow pin on
upper Right building roof-top corner; drag pin to position 'Material' for proper Top / Right vertical alignment
(6) Right Mouse click >
Context Menu > Done
(7) Left Mouse double-click to 'Select' on-ground Face mapped with aerial imagery 'Material' and all its Edges
(8) Right Mouse click >
Context Menu > Make Group
(9) Right Mouse click >
Context Menu > Lock
You should now have a properly Geo-located aerial imagery background; this may be traced over to create a Face that can then be 'extruded' into a 3D model "primitive" in Sketchup.
Additional options include use of the "
Historical Imagery" (clock icon) in Google Earth to view different dates of aerial imagery which may be better than the current default displayed.
Also, one may import aerial imagery downloaded / screen-captured in a non-distorted display format from various web map tile servers besides Google Maps / Google Earth via web pages and/or GIS applications to access and utilize other sources for better imagery of various project locations.
PS: Google Earth "Street View" imagery may also be saved as *.JPG files for import into Sketchup as 'textures', which when mapped onto a vertical Face of a 3D model, are regarded as "Materials".
Let us know if you require additional help with implementing this work-around.
GaryGB
