My Mac v PC Dilemma
 

With the recent and potential changes in my life, I'm going to invest in a laptop to run the 3D modeling software I use at work. But what I can't decide is which direction to go. The Software (3D Studio Max) must run on a windows platform. At this time I'm not interested in learning a Mac based 3D modeling software, so this is a must meet critaria. So I'm looking at a Windows laptop. However, I can buy a nice new Macbook and partition the drives and run Windows 7 (or other) on one half and keep the other half Mac.

For a quick background...we have an all Mac home (two older Macbooks, an iMac desktop, airport wireless) but we both work PCs at work. I believe the Mac to be a better computer, but I'm not anti-PC like so many iFolk. So here are my thoughts...

Macbook Pros:
NEW computer means I'm set for a few more years of upgrades / new programs / etc.
Mac platform.
Would work in the "home office" flawlessly.
Built in tech support (my brother is a quiet computer genius and big Mac supporter).

Macbook Cons:
When it's all added up, $1000 to $1500 more than just getting a PC laptop. Total investment looking at over $3000.
Would have to sell my current Macbook (to help offset costs)...is this a big hassle?
Is there a risk that software may not work on the Macbook?

Windows Laptop Pros:
When all is added up, $1000 to $1500 less than getting a new Macbook.
No question on the running of software I need.
Having a "professional" computer and a "personal" computer might be a good thing (keep the family stuff on the personal and the work on the professional).
Would there be any other need for a Windows platform computer in the future?

Windows Laptop Cons:
Not a Mac :p
ANOTHER computer that will pretty much only be used for work and work-like functions...which means it could see little actual use...is that a good investment?

That's pretty much it in a nutshell. Would love your thoughts.

SmileWavy

Just set it up as dual boot.

If you don't want both partitions you can run a small 2.5 Firewire drive with Windows installed and boot from that.

FWIW: for quick tasks where rebooting is inconvenient I've run 3ds max in a virtual machine comfortably on a MacBook Pro.

As far as your old Mac laptop selling it will not be an issue and depending on how old it is you can expect to sell it for around 50% or more of original purchase price.

I assume the software that you are concerned about running is PPC chip based. There's no general answer to that. Should look at on a case by case basis.

3DS Max is the big one...but I'll also install AutoCAD. Everything else I use is either Mac compatible or Adobe software anyway.

I don't mind a reboot to get to Max. If I need that software it won't be a "quick need" anyway.

Any tips on "cleaning out" a computer to sell it? ..or should I leave on all the software I've got?

You need a good amount of power to run MAX, either that or a lot of time on your hands waiting for a render to complete. I don't know anyone running it on a MAC that's happy about it. Rendering even a 1k objects can take hours on a slow PC. You need CPU, memory and a 64 bit OS to make use out of it.

You will also get a lot more support on Windows as all the pros are normally on it. Houdini is a bit more MAC friendly if you like. Head on over to 3d-Palace the owner of that company is about the nicest guy around, "Cris" and he's pretty famous in the 3D world.

If you do decide on Apple.... there due for an update on all laptops with 640gb, better battery life, and faster processor, sometime this month? http://macdailynews.com/index.php/weblog/comments/24688/

The Macbook I'm looking at is the same or better than the laptop I'm using at work, so it should be fine. (??) Thanks for the tip on 3d-palace.

enzo, thanks for the heads up.

MAX does not run under OS X.

He'd be booting the Mac under Windows at which point it's no different than running on any other Intel chip based hardware.

mac pro laptops should upgrade to the new intel Ix chips SOON
the old core2dual chips are so 15 minutes ago now
these newer Ix chips will be much faster esp on complex programs

but why do you want a laptop for 3d programs
laptop tend to be slower and have less video then a desk top
less hd space and less memory too in short way less speed and room then a desktop
and at a higher price with less up grade options

I would build a i7 gigabyte motherboard desktop and haskintosh it
link to hackintosh page
InsanelyMac Forum -> OSx86 10.6 (Snow Leopard)

that way you get a new chiped box for about 1/3 to 1/2 the cost of a mac
but can run both mac 10.6 and windoz 7 FAST

best way to save info on a hard drive is pull it out and save it in a portable usb/e-sata or firewire connection box for your use
reinstall a blank hd in the computer to be sold and reload the O/S

Yes, I know. But MAC only offers the core 2 duo right now on the laptops, and the core 2 quad desktops are too expensive for what you get. Plus dual booting for a few apps is just a pain in the rear.

For what I do, a laptop is fine. And I like the portability, especially if I do freelance design.

To all...my brother agrees to wait another 30 days or so for the new chips. Fine with me...less spending now. Although I'm starting to feel a sense of urgency to get this done. I've never been this uncomfortable with a job situation before... :(

Hmm, so no one was running Max on core 2 duo laptops at all?

Hardware always gets better. The fact is your software will not run any worse than it does today if a new chip comes out tomorrow. If you have knowledge of upgraded hardware on the horizon then it may pay to wait.

I always have two machines.

Built out desktop for when I'm in the office and buy a new laptop every 12-18 months.

I don't expect my laptop to perform as well as my desktop and I also don't use them the same way.

Beat me to it. I'm waiting for the update to drive down to Oregon and pick up a new one for my wife!

Oh yeah, no sales tax in OR. Hmmm...Julie and I will likely be out there in June...

Just got the email.

The new i5/i7 boxes are out.

Some./many apps load/run faster on the Windows/Mac partition. See if your software is one of those that do.

If the product is solid, the Windoz machine, at less upfront cost, might be a no-brainer. Remember to compare apples with apples (no pun intended).

Sherwood

I think the previous posts are made by people with a hell of a lot more knowledge about computers than I have. January 3rd, I bought a MacBook Pro.

Folks, in general, this computer is "night and day" better than my last PC, a Sony Vaio K35 laptop.

NOW: As to OS vs Windows XP- I personally prefer the way that XP handles my files. I had arranged my files from general to specific, and knew exactly where they were. The new Mac wants me to put my photo files into some sort of grandiose "photo album", which is a PAIN IN THE ASS to use! My Windows, I had pictures by year and then subject. I could click on the subject folder and bring up decent-sized thumbnails of each picture. Then I could open one, and then close it and I would be back at the same thumbnail page. With the Mac, if I don't want to navigate a maze of folders, then I have to open my pictures in "Finder" and then I get barely-visible thumbnails.

Hello? So much for the vaunted OS for being easier with files!

-What I have noticed is that this thing is like a 997 GT3 compared to an '85 VW Golf for smooth and quick operation. This computer is AWESOMELY fast! Everything takes place instantly, nothing slows it down. I rebuilt my failed Vaio K35, and keep it at home for gaming use. It is nothing other than "clunky" for most tasks! That, and the cooling fan on that thing is probably not stage-3 compliant for jet engine noise~

N!

Norm.
I'm old school and not that up to speed as well. That is, I'm only on Mac 10.5, not the latest Snow Leopard version. Even then, after opening a drive or folder window, you can select from several icon options of file/folder views, one of which is a thumbnail view for photo files. If you don't see it in your default file window, from the top menu, select "View" > "Customize Tool Bar" or something like that.

You don't have to adhere to Mac's iPhoto default storage setting. Unless you want iPhoto to have auto. access to all in it's "library", you can store your photo files anywhere you want. I'm sure sharper users can set up a Mac to provide easier photo access.

Sherwood

Every application on every operating system will have a default for storing files. It has to. But that does not mean you can't change it.
So I assume it's iPhoto you don't like?

Launch it and go to Preferences. In the Advanced Tab deselect Copy Items to the iPhoto Library. Most cameras will show up as a Hard Drive in the Finder. Just copy the files to whatever location you desire and structure the folders in a manner that makes sense to you.

As far as the preview, I assume you are browsing the Finder in Column view so when you click on an item it gives you a small preview window in the column to the right.

Try this, navigate a an item, photo, pdf, word doc.... pretty much anything. Click it once, hit the spacebar. You can navigate up and down in the folder structure using the u/d arrow keys as well as navigate further into or out of the directory structure using l/r arrow keys.

Just need to take some time to set it up the way you want it. Put another way the OS is operating in its default state which may not work for everyone but it won't prevent you from adjusting it to suit your needs/preferences.

Yep...looks like I may be shopping soon!

Old school? I've been using these things since 1985 :) Still thinking about how I can back up some old 400K disks to pull disk images and use them with an emulator.

A 13in MBP is almost sure to be in our future. May upgrade the hard drive to 500GB or so sometime later and get an external housing to put the stock one in... still undecided. This computer will replace her 2006/2007ish HP and probably my 8-year old dual G4 and we both have massive music and photo albums. I'm hoping there are OS X drivers around for her old POS inkjet.

Anyone know if XP 64 will load up in Boot Camp? Pretty sure the Core 2 Duo is a 64-bit processor...