Switching to Mac (Is it worth it?)

i use both os systems, i use my Mac for all of the design suite and some sketchup and my desktop pc for modeling and CAD. but when it comes to CAD for Mac the interface is somewhat confusing and uncomfortable to use. some things dont seem to work as well as the pc version. it is nice though being able to switch between both platforms and knowing somewhat of whats going on. but overall just playing around on the computer type stuff, i always choose my mac, much more user friendly imho.

Are you considering buying the new $2000+ Macbook with Retina? The one where you can’t remove the battery or service it if something goes wrong? A $500 pc can do Sketchup, Autocad, and Adobe programs just fine… I’m not saying that Macs are bad, I like Macs, just saying something that a $2000 machine is overkill for the kind of programs you want to use.

Yeah I’d stay away from the Retina for now. To replace the battery will cost you 200 bucks!

You can never go wrong with a Mac, but don’t rule out the pc just because you hear horror stories of crashes and viruses. Those problem were common with XP, but Windows 7 is very stable, and the upcoming 8 will probably be even better. People get viruses by downloading a file from a spam email or they go to a questionable website… it happens to Mac users too.

Have you been to the Microsoft Store? Try comparing, and if you decide to buy a PC, definitely get a Signature PC from them, they remove all the crapware and they provide great service like an Apple Store. 

If you have deeper pockets (not mac deep, though) you can look for what they are calling Ultrabooks. They are very thin and powerful laptops, similar to a Macbook Air, but with more functionality. I know Dell, Lenovo and Samsung make them, and I’m sure most other PC makers are or will make them. Prices on them shoudl be falling about now for back-to-school, the best time to buy a PC or laptop. These models have greater battery life and better portability than a typical desktop replacement laptop. Standard features are an LED backlit screen and SSD (solid state drive) hard drive, both sip power for better battery life. They also have special BIOS software and chipsets that adjust the power consumption of the processors to further save power. You can get up to 8 hours of battery life out of the newer models with the newer battery tech. Processors and memory are more than adequate to run all but the most intensive 3D rendering, but for CAD work and standard 3d modeling, they are more than powerful enough. Considering how my older desktop replacement laptop performs and the battery life with what equates to a car battery in it (12 cell), these new models are a HUGE improvement.

I’ve had far fewer problems with Macs than with PCs. I’m the CAD manager for a multi-disciplinary office with 70 machines.

Macs aren’t a panacea. They are undisputedly more expensive, and they do go wrong. Software compatibility is largely a thing of the past.

However, they are better made than almost any PC (definitely than any PC that is cheaper) and their customer satisfaction and support are better than virtually anyone else’s. These aren’t idle boasts, they are are statistics you can research yourself.

You pay for quality. You always have someone who will claim that macs aren’t worth the money, but strangely you never hear the same thing when people debate Hyundai vs Audi for example. This is the way you should think of your computer. Windows 7 is a good OS now, and Windows 8 is more modern looking than OS X. You still need to worry about viruses and malware though. You can’t ignore these things on the mac any more, it’s just not nearly as much of an issue though.

The retina MBP is fabulous, but horrendously expensive. However it will last you for years, and you won’t get the dreaded slowdown over the years that you get with PCs.

Don’t buy an Ultrabook. The MacBook Air is superior in almost every respect, and for equivalent specifications are usually actually cheaper. They are fast machines now. If you can live with a 13″ screen, or if you are happy to use an external monitor when you aren’t mobile, you may find it perfectly adequate for your needs. It also has the added bonus of fabulous battery life and wonderful portability.

If you want a desktop replacement machine for CAD and 3D, you may appreciate the power of the new retina MBP, but the price is eye-watering. Maybe better to get a discounted example of the model that has just been superseded. You don’t really need the retina display. You can even get them on eBay still eligible for an Applecare warranty.

As a grad student with a mac running bootcamp for the same programs as you, I highly recommend sticking with Mac.  Everyone in my class has had limited problems and there are multiple work arounds to share files if a problem does arise.  The only issue is what your budget is, as a comprable pc laptop will cost you much less but in my opinion has a myriad of issues.

Go for the mac and if you really don’ like it you can try bootcamp on it. My bootcamp/windows partition works better than must of my peers true pc’s do.