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Lynda.com is, again, a wonderful resource. Pick any of the "AutoCAD 20XX Essentials" courses for the version you'll be working with and you should be good for the basics.

I've been using AutoCAD on and off again for ~10 years and first started learning it back in high school and learned most of what I know now either on the job or taking taught classes. However, my boss had to learn AutoCAD by herself and used these and has told me they're very helpful to learn, she refers to Shrock's little reference guide book from time to time still. That Shrock is pretty much the standard when it comes to AutoCAD teaching material, or so I'm told. I've looked at the book and it seemed easy to follow and informative and should give you a good grasp of the basics.

Same thing goes for AutoCAD though: use the tutorials to learn the basics but the real learning and knowledge comes from either doing real projects for a job or trying to emulate one. Real life is the best teacher, always. You'll run into all sorts of weird edge cases that really make you get under the hood and learn.

AutoCAD is easier to use, believe it or not, imo, because it tries a lot less to "help" you do things. It really is a blank canvas and allows you to do whatever you want. That's also what makes it challenging to use though for people who are used to Revit and all of the "hand holding" it tries to do for you. Revit is very good at what it does but outside of that it's rough. AutoCAD is OK for a lot more things but you have to do a lot more of the work yourself (for example, the differences between how Revit and AutoCAD do dimensions and scaling, layouts vs views, that sort of thign). Anyways, enough of my ramblings, good luck!

My company recently expanded with a structural department and while I have 10 years experience with Revit, I had minimal structural experience. I have used the Ascent books in the past and purchased a couple copies for my structural department. I really like this book as it really takes you step by step through all the building blocks of putting together a structural model.

Ascent Structural Fundamentals

Its a bit on the pricey side ($90) but well worth the value.

Lynda.com is another great resource for Revit video lessons (and other topics). And if you subscribe you also get LinkedIn premiere or whatever its called which could be helpful in your job search.

I have the logitech G602 and I really like it. It's lagless wireless, with 8 additional buttons other than the most standard 3. It's all super customizable, like the Logitech interface someone else commented.

You can run it with one or two AA batteries depending on what your weight preference is. Also right inside the battery compartment to put the little USB reciever when it's not in your computer.

Best part is it's only 36 bucks on Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00E4MQODC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_NyyQBb0JRK1MK

Hi, you meant this right? I wanted to get this but hesitated many times.

BTW, I use a SP4 i5 majorly for tether shooting and some office work (remotely) and been looking for a good surface case, can you recommend any? Looking at this UAG CASE

Thanks

If you need to know how to build Revit families, get this book: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0983860009?pc_redir=1411907592&robot_redir=1 And check Autodesk's website for free webinars.
If you already know how to model in 3D, that is a great start. Revit requires some funny work-arounds, and parameters are important. Modeling in Revit and modeling well in Revit are different animals. Just takes practice.

Gaming laptops offer the best performance per dollar IMO. The one you have speced is only a 14" monitor, that is going to be super tight with Revit, I would want at least 15.6" if not 17" (you also get a numpad with 17".

https://smile.amazon.com/MSI-GL63-8RC-068-Performance-i7-8750H/dp/B07CCPSBB9/ref=sr_1_13?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1536244515&sr=1-13&keywords=msi+gaming+laptop+16gb

Something like that is what I would go for. Do note that you will not get full performance on battery, you need to be plugged in.

As someone who works with Families, I would almost say you could do a whole course just on that aspect of the program. I find Zirbes book the best guide; http://www.amazon.com/Revit-Family-Standards-Practices-Version-ebook/dp/B004QGYUNC

Here's what we use, a Netgear NAS with 6 slots and added 4 4tb drives.. We chose this specific model because Egnyte makes an app fort that lets you have a local version of your cloud storage on the NAS.
We've had it for about 8 months and it's worked great in an office of 8. I think the total ended up being around $1600 (nas and hard drives).

You might be interested in this ebook that has recently been released (I have no affiliation with the author) which may help you: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07VYBCR1X?tag=b3da0b-21

Linked-in Learning (formerly Lynda.com) has some pretty good Revit tutorials.

https://www.linkedin.com/learning/learning-revit-2020

https://www.linkedin.com/learning/revit-2020-essential-training-for-structure-imperial

https://www.linkedin.com/learning/revit-structural-families

As far as learning Revit for Structural specialty I've found that the Ascent series of Revit training books have been invaluable for learning \ reinforcing the basics and getting to the advanced level.

https://www.amazon.com/Autodesk-Revit-2019-Fundamentals-Authorized/dp/1947456407

https://www.amazon.com/Autodesk-Management-Template-Family-Creation/dp/194745658X

(Links are for Imperial versions, but Metric are available.)

My firm basically refuses to hire Engineers that don't have at least a familiarity with Revit, so getting started in school should give you a leg-up.

"Mastering Revit MEP 201x" is a very good book. I have a copy on my desk, I refer to it often.

https://www.amazon.com/Mastering-Autodesk-Revit-MEP-2016/dp/1119059372

Amazon has the Kindle version available.

Exploring Autodesk Revit 2019 for Structure, 9th Edition

Logitech G700s

For me, it's just the right amount of buttons, and the fact that it has on-board memory (so your settings are saved on the MOUSE), has made it a staple for me. I'm actually considering buying a second one just in case this one fails at some point and it is no longer in stock...

I've tried a few with more buttons (like having a num pad on the thumb) but i found I was not able to hit them quickly and accurately 100% of the time.

All the buttons on the G700s are very distinguished.

Get this:

BIM Manager's Handbook

https://www.amazon.com/BIM-Managers-Handbook-Professionals-Architecture/dp/1118982428

Try out this book:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004QGYUNC?cache=15f7a50ad47944e45bd7443329d4432d&pi=SY200_QL40&qid=1414348753&sr=1-1#ref=mp_s_a_1_1
This guy knows his stuff, I've taken a couple of his classes at AU, and he's been working in Revit since long before Autodesk bought the company.

You should have no problem with a budget of 1000. You can get a very nice laptop for 1000, which would run Revit well for years


The main thing to look for in a laptop is graphics. Dedicated graphics. Look for a slightly outdated (last years model) gaming or mobile workstation type laptop.

Amazon had an Asus "rog" that I myself was looking at getting a few days ago, retailing for 999.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00MMMMMX2/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1421478903&sr=8-1&dpPl=1&dpID=41pgEAuPT5L&ref=plSrch&pi=AC_SX200_QL40

So this would be the top of your budget, but work back from here, find similar machines.

NO integrated graphics.