MBP to architecture?

Hi all, I was thinking about buying a macbook pro 11 to use at college, but I'm not pretty sure it's the best option. I'm doing Architecture, so I need a laptop to run autocad and some 3D programs. What do you think? Mac or PC ?

 

AutoCAD 2011 is available for Mac and PC. That said I was told that the Mac version is nowhere as good as the PC version. It seems to be buggy and lack some of the features available on the PC version.

Mac laptops used to shipped with both Mac OS X and Windows. Assuming that they still ship with Windows you can install the PC version of AutoCAD in the Windows partition.

 

AutoCAD 2011 for Mac OS X has a large portion of basic and 3D drafting features but it still isn't nearly as in-depth as the PC version. There are other drafting programs for OS X but you will have to go through the list of software that you need to run, do a 3 second Google search, and see if they offer a Mac version of the programs that you need. Otherwise there is absolutely no point in getting a Mac especially if you are going to run Windows the majority of the time.

P.S. Macs have never, ever, ever, ever shipped (from Apple or in brick and mortar store) with Windows on them. All Intel Macs have the ability to work with Windows but Apple never shipped them with Windows pre-installed. Instead Apple offers a utility called bootcamp that lets you install Windows directly on any Intel Mac.

 

Everyone talks about AutoCad 2011... what about 2012? I thought it was just recently released... is it better?

 

AutoCAD 2012 for Mac came out two days ago, that is not nearly enough time to go through it all and compare to AutoCAD 2011. 2012 came out in March for Windows but it didn't hit Mac until August 19th.

 

Thank you all very much! I think that a PC will be better than, cause I not only need Autocad but another programs that may run better at windows. As Kornchild said, there is no point buying a mac to use windows the majority of time. Thank you all again!

 

I assumed that they were sipped with Windows since those I saw had both Mac OS and Win XP installed. Good to know they don't.

I know that this is not relevant to the thread, If someone wants Windows in his Macintosh laptop do they need to buy a licence for Windows? or is the licence included with the laptop?

thanks

 

you have to get a licence. Technically you are supposed to get the retail version, but MS does not seem to care if you get an OEM copy. however getting Technet keys from E-bay can cause you alot of grief.

 

My sister is in the same boat right now as well. Not only will the PC version run better, it will be cheaper and come with far superior hardware. The difference is SO much in favor of PC it is a no brainer. She liked the way the Apple's looked, but then reality set in and Power, reliability, price, warranty, the fact that Apples have the worst thermal design in manufacturing history came into play and the PC version won, and was $500 cheaper... not sure why people buy MACS really -- considering the software is based off of freeBSD.

The obvious choice is a PC, hands down.

I am really not trying to be a .. here but my sister was going through the same ordeal, and it was obvious the Apple was an aesthetic machine only with no 'upside'.

 

Yes you are.

 

I didn't know the PC version of AutoCAD came with hardware... and hardware superior to any Mac? wow, what a deal!

thats very subjective and depends on what models your looking at... so all of that besides reliability may be true, depending on the user who is buying. All of that can also be false for some people. You and your sisters situation isn't the same for everyone in the world.

that is entirely untrue. Just because you do not like the thermal design, its definitely not the worst in history. People always think something they experienced has to be the worst... do more research and you'll find out more info. I've personally owned other brands of laptops which ran much hotter and throttled the CPUs all the time... from big brand names like Dell and HP. Most people barely push their laptops, so they have no clue how bad the thermal design is. While Macs might get hot, they are safe and keep themselves cool enough. If yours is not, get Apple to fix it.

The problem with it being $500 cheaper.. is that its much cheaper, not just more inexpensive.

because you are very ignorant of Mac OS X

have fun with your PC then... ignorance is sometimes blissful. If you somehow believe that statement is true, then have fun with it...

 

I don't want to go down the line of what's better; a PC or a Mac, but I sincerely believe that an architectural student is better off with a PC because:

1- Most software used by architects and taught in architectural schools are Windows based; e.g. AutoCAD, Microstation, ArchiCAD, 3DS MAX.
2- A Mac laptop can be up to 200 to £300 more expensive than a PC laptop with a similar configuration.
3- With a Mac one still need to spend more money to get a Windows Licence.

I would recommend a business laptop over a consumer one if you can afford the cost. Business laptops have a better build quality and thus should last longer. If you can afford it get one with a professional graphics card such as the ATI/AMD FireGL, or an nVidia Quadro NVS or Quadro FX. Quadro NVS are usually cheaper than the Quadro FX. If you can't get a business laptop go for a consumer one with a good gaming card. I would stay away from laptop with integrated intel graphics card as they are sluggish.

If you have a tight budget you should opt for a laptop with an AMD Llano APU. Their graphics card is good and their four cores will help keep rendering times to a minimum.

 

Troller is being a troll. I didn't realize that the Windows devoted still surfed in the Apple and OS X forums.

 

In your position, there is no doubt. You need a tool that is compatible with CAD software and runs it as well as possible with as few hitches as possible, and that should really be your only priority. Today, you need windows for that, and OS X isn't something you have time for. The other guy forgot that there are all sorts of other types of people with different priorities, and there are other classes of software that work extremely well with OS X. Those people, similarly, may find that they don't have time to deal with windows. The fact that Mac OS X is gaining popularity is driving software compatibility up, and that is why you are starting to see mac versions of autocad software.

 

I don't have anything against Apple laptops and other products but the fact that they are overpriced. Also I don't like the fact that AFAIK Apple laptops' CPU are soldered and cannot be upgraded.

I've used Mac OS a few times, and Linux a few times, and bottom line they are just operating systems just like Windows. They are no better nor worse than Windows. There are a few things that they do better than Windows and other things that they do worse.

If one want to buy a Mac who am I to tell them not to do it? it is their money after all. All I'm saying is it doesn't make sense right now to buy a Mac to do architectural work since most architectural practices and schools use PC and Windows based applications. It would have been different if the OP was considering buying a Mac laptop for graphics design

It is easy for AutoDesk to port their software to Mac as they have the resources to do it. Autodesk is a rich company. Unfortunately, most other companies don't have the resources and can't afford the luxury to develop or port their software to other OS. If they could, that would give us a wider choice regarding what computer to by (Mac or PC or something else) and what OS to use.

... Why Apple doesn't consider licencing Mac OS to none Apple computers? after all modern Apple computers use the same hardware as PC ! ...