PC or MAC
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Hi guys,
Im in a crossroad of buying a new or refurb laptop. The thing is, I already locked my eye in a Dell Vostro 1510 or 1710. Its the cheapest bang for a buck laptop I could ever find with 256mb nvdia 8600 gs and gt respectively.
But my client is pushing me to go a new way which is a Mac. Ive been a pc for almost all my sketchup and cad life. Its not that i dont like macs but they told me that it could me more useful for my profession. Im looking into a macbook prosince its the only one that has a muscle for video since i really need it for sketchup for big projects.
Is there someone that could attest to this that using it in mac is better. Or if not, do I really need that much video muscle for a mac. Or its just the same for pc or laptop?
I would really need your advice on this.
But buttomline, whether its mac or dell, my reason for purchasing is for portable presentation, take home work and mobile sketching. I would still use my desktop for overall performance when im in my office.
Thanks in advance for all the reply.
tesmeko
keep sketching -
modelhead,
I didnt really mean it that way. My client just always telling me that he finds that most architects in China that he meets for presentation uses mac book pro.
My pc still rocks my office of course since i could still play hardcore games in it other than sketching real smooth.
sorry if i bothered anyone with my post. Just wanted to hear from the ones that used both platform and compared it.
the mac is just so expensive than dell.
tesmeko.
keep sketching -
Ask yourself if the software you're fluent in works any differently (or much quicker) on a Mac. You also need to consider, if it is any quicker on a Mac, if you're going to benefit from the speed. Sometimes software will perform better but if you're not a power user then it wouldn't make a difference (to your workflow) even if it did.
Keep in mind that, initially, there will be a period of reduced productivity until such time as you get used to the Mac. Also, some software will probably require new licences and other updates (most of the time they are not free) so you can get the Mac versions, some software might not even be portable to the Mac - could be that there are similar apps. It's not the end of the world though, there are applications that enables Mac users to run Windows software on the Mac OS.
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To Juju and Modelhead,
Thanks guys for your comments and opinions. With that and a little bit of research, I think Ill be sticking with PC (laptop) with a vostro 1510 or studio 15.
Im attahcing the both specs.
I think both have the same base form. So its just about the graphic cards.
Ill appreciate you opinion again on this.
Thanks again
Tesmeko
keep sketching
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Those machines differ in (stuff that matter to SU):
- processor specification, 1.8GHz 800 FSB (front side bus) vs 2.0GHz 667 FSB. Higher speed (GHz) CPU would benefit you more since the Intel C2D architecture copes very well with lower speed rated RAM.
- graphics card specification, it seems as though SU works better with nVidia graphics solutions than with AMD/ATi graphics solutions. Those graphics solutions aren't power houses, but should be powerful enough to handle intermediate level SU models.
- RAM specification. Having dual channel RAM isn't the same as having 2x RAM modules capable of dual channel operation configured in dual channel mode. Make sure you get 2x RAM modules capable of dual channel operation configured in dual channel mode, its faster. Performance difference between DDR2-667 and DDR2-800 modules isn't that much, almost negligible. 2GB is a good average these days, especially a necessity if you want to run Vista.
- I'd look into getting 7200 RPM hard drives if I were you, those 5400 RPM ones are slow.
The other stuff like the integrated video camera MP difference is up to you. Operating systems differ a bit as well, see if either is really what you want / need and whether or not they are 32 bit or 64 bit versions. SU doesn't benefit directly from a 64 bit OS at this point in time.
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There are a lot of great replies to your question already here, but I thought I'd add some additional anecdotal information to consider.
I have owned around 7 portables over the years and the single best I've ever owned has been my current Mac Book Pro. It's simply the highest quality portable that I've ever had. The second portable maker that I've loved has been Toshiba (having personally owned 2 and purchased 5 for staff). I did like the power of the old portable Dell I had 10 years ago, but it was heavy (I needed the demo speed) and really unfun to lug around. I have a Vostro class desktop at work and I don't like it much. 2 things aren't working on it (usb/line-in ports), the drive bay doors are downright stupid, it's badly designed, and cheaply made. Sure they're inexpensive, but if you're going to travel with it, I'd make sure that those Dells will survive the trip. Generally, I love Dells having purchased around 30 of them over the years (higher end models) and have had very little problems with them. I'm just not so sure about the Vostro line of Dells. If you haven't already I'd see what current customers are saying about them.
If you're moderately technically inclined you can set up the MacBookPro to dual boot, and or run windows virtually. I've been testing VMWare Fusion and it's really nice. SketchUp is pretty darn fast in a virtual window - and I can barely tell the difference between running SU virtually or running the Mac version while in Leopard. Plus, if need be, you can just boot the machine as a windows machine (I use XP).
In general, the reason I'm doing the switch is because I'm using more and more of Final Cut and Motion. I guess you have to ask yourself what software you currently own, and what direction you want to go and see where the financials come out at the end. With dual booting/or virtual windows you can still use windows based applications. But if you're not going to use the advantages that a mac might offer, you might be better sticking with windows. Juju brings up a good point that learning the Mac OS will require some ramp up time - it did for me - though I was up and going pretty quickly. I also like the benefit of knowing both of the OS' as I do more video/film presentation work and it has broadened my skill set considerably.
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I am on a Mac Pro but never boot MacosX.
Instead I use Vista.
The only reason I would want to use MacosX would be Final Cut Pro, as I think it is more intuitive than After effects.But I just can't see myself working in MacosX all the time.
As a matter of fact, I decided today to boot it again (2nd time in 3 months) just to fool around. I opened Garageband, played some piano tune and the system locked up after 2 minutes.
A spinning beach ball for some minutes and a non resposive screen after that. I had to do a hard reset.I think I'll stick to what I am familiar with as I can't see any benefit to Macos.
Probably, people that are used to Macos will have the exact same thing with their OS.I do love Apples hardware though. Never regretted the purchase of that Mac Pro for 1 minute.
Actually, the price for having 8 cores is very reasonable (when compared to other worksttions like HP or others).But if it wasn't for Bootcamp, I would never have bought it.
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Yikes, that's pretty strange. I haven't had many crashes like that, I've had some though. Macs are not perfect by any means, but no technology is.
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@monsterzero said:
Yikes, that's pretty strange. I haven't had many crashes like that, I've had some though. Macs are not perfect by any means, but no technology is.
Yeah, I am one of those guys that can make the software on a coffee machine crash just by pushing the buttons
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With a Mac you can have both OS via Booth Camp but with a PC its
just XP or Vista.I switched over to a MBP a year ago and haven't looked back. OSX
is not perfect but for me I have not run into ANY serious crashes
in the last year that has caused me to pull out my remaining hair.Mike
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