Recommend Laptop - Architecture Student

[jyl]

For the PC/Mac heads, help me figure out which computer to get my son.

He's starting college in the fall, studying architecture. The arch dept has a recommended spec for the incoming student's computer: https://blogs.uoregon.edu/designtech/home/computer-purchasing/student-computer-purchasing/#architecture

"Students enrolled in the Department of Architecture (Architecture and Interior Architecture) are required to own a personal laptop computer, external monitor, and external mouse to assist with their studies. Laptops may be either a PC model from vendors such as Dell/Lenovo/Hewlett Packard or a MacBook Pro model from Apple. If an Apple computer is purchased, it is also required to purchase a Windows license and install it via Bootcamp as required software such as Revit and Rhino require Windows.

Similar to the specifications listed above, the minimum recommended laptop specs are:

15″ laptop screen size is strongly recommended.
Intel i5 Dual Core Processor or higher
16 GB of RAM or higher
256 GB SSD (Solid State Drive) Hard Drive or larger
3 year extended warranty
23″ or larger external monitor
Video Adapter for external monitor
Students are expected to have a functioning data backup service such as an external hard drive or cloud based backup service.

Students farther along in their degree programs may also benefit from purchasing a secondary desktop workstation. Please consult with your professors before doing so."

Thoughts? Recommendations?

I've been looking at the Apple Macbook Pro 15" and the Lenovo P1 but just started to think about this.

[porsche4life]

As much as I love my Mac, if the primary uses will be in windows based systems, I’d say get a windows machine. Something with an i7 and as much ram and HD as you are willing to pay for.

[wilnj]

I would look for something like a gamers spec. I5 is no where near fast enough for modeling software.

On an unrelated note, I’d ask him if he’s sure architecture is what he wants to do. A bachelors in architecture is a very specific education and it’s not for everyone, it wasn’t for me. He should really love it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Eric Coffey]

Originally Posted by porsche4life

As much as I love my Mac, if the primary uses will be in windows based systems, I’d say get a windows machine. Something with an i7 and as much ram and HD as you are willing to pay for.

+1

Sounds like the course software is Windows-based, which is probably indicative of the current state-of-the-industry as a whole. You don't want to be fussing with hardware/software/plug-in conflicts if you don't have to.

Personally, I am a big fan of Dell Precision laptops. They are geared more towards pro use and are typically more powerful, modular, and robust without a lot of gimmicky features or bloatware. Plenty of other options out there though.
As mentioned, I'd get the fastest Intel-based processor, with the most/fastest RAM, best GPU, and biggest/fastest SSD you can afford.

[95avblm3]

I’ve become a big fan of the Lenovo machines. I am a mechanical engineer and spend my days using 3D CAD (Pro/E/Creo and Solidworks, but mostly Creo). My work laptop is an HP, which works fine but a couple of years ago, I was working on a project where our customer provided laptop workstations that were all Lenovo’s. They did everything the HP’s did but were significantly lighter weight.

I’ve looked several times at upgrading my personal laptop (a Dell) to something more modern that would permit some side work and while I haven’t pulled the trigger, something ISV certified like a Lenovo P50/51/52 is the route I would go. I imagine architecture design software and design software like Rhino requires similar specs.

I’m a fan of Apple and am typing this on an iPad but a MacBook
Pro is not what I would choose... quite a price premium and you are still not escaping Microsoft... just doesn’t make sense to me.

[RWebb]

refurbed MacBook Pro 15"

16" screen is the latest rumor

Lenovo used to be the top Win laptop, but I brexited the WinPC world

[stomachmonkey]

There are zero issues running Windows under Bootcamp on a Mac.

In fact if you drop VM Fusion on it you can use the Bootcamp partition as virtual machine for those times you just need to get to Windows for something quick that’s not worth a reboot.

I would also avoid a gaming rig.

They are typically bulky / heavy and are not known for battery life. They are really designed to be desktops that are easier to move around.

The Dell XPS line is a very capable Windows PC that does a great job of blending performance with ergonomics. Feels a lot like a Mac Book Pro.

I have one for software development and it’s a nice bit o kit

[URY914]

If you buy the computer at the college book store many schools will offer free support and warranty. My wife works at a university and we bought our laptops this way.

[Sarc]

Working on the design side of things in the Architecture and Interior Design field, I fortunately have no use for Revit (and very little for AutoCad) and use my machine for Sketchup, Vray, and Adobe CS related tasks. Apart from one motherboard replacement, my 4 year old Dell M3800 has been a reliable beast that runs circles around many desktops.

I have found Macs the weaker option for modelling as well as ensuring a stable day-to-day operation and collaboration with college and client's various PC-based platforms...especially when a deadline is near. For some, the people in my crew that insist on Macs are the ones always having technical issues of some sort that causes dips in production or (worse) technical faults in front of the client. I tend to use the Mac for the initial client meetings (show) and the Dell when I have to get the job done (go). Other people's mileage may vary.

On a brief sidebar, its unfortunate that the curriculum (and most Arch curriculums today) is integrating Revit/Cad so soon in the educational process. If he is an analytical nuts and bolts kind of person that will have a career on the technical side of things I suppose that’s fine, but the first couple of years should be used for teaching the basics; critical thinking, problem solving, hand sketching, presentation skills, business principles, that sort of thing.

I can’t imagine spending my first year of arch school immersed in Revit/Cad. Dreadful.

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by jyl

256 GB SSD (Solid State Drive) Hard Drive or larger............

Lenovo P1 but just started to think about this.

I've used a Lenovo for AutoCad for a long time but when I upgraded to a SS drive a couple of years ago I went for a Asus X556u, it's fast and runs quite and cool. The only feature missing that I wanted is back-lit keys but I don't work in the dark anyway. I HDMI port to a larger monitor screen.

The gaming laptops were not true SSD at the time (hybrids) and really heated up, plus heavy as a rock.

The AutoCad forums were full of issues attempting to run any kind of "overlay" operating system and Macs were the worst offenders.

https://blogs.uoregon.edu/designtech/home/computer-purchasing/student-computer-purchasing/#architecture

You may obtain the recommended hardware and software from wherever you wish, but we have made an effort to ensure that you get the best deal available by purchasing your computer from the UO Duck Store or directly from Apple or Dell.

I do not know the Dell line up but it sounds like they are steering you there, could be a good thing to run with the pack.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Yea Autodesk products are the industry standard and in particular Revit only runs on Windows (I run it under Parallels but boot camp is an option too).

For a student, why spend $3500-$4000 on a MacBook Pro when you can get a really good, top-of-the-lone Windows laptop for half that?

I love apple products but they really have become terribly overpriced and not that much better than the competition. They’re what Microsoft used to be at this point. I’d go with the pc and if he wants a MacBook Pro, say he can get it after graduating and nailing down a good job.

[VincentVega]

For a student, why spend $3500-$4000 on a MacBook Pro when you can get a really good, top-of-the-lone Windows laptop for half that?

x10

plus they use windows software, just get a windows machine. Very happy here with Acer and HP stuff, ram is cheap these days. SSD drive adds some $$ but the requirement isnt big. Thousands of options, after a quick search

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIAA0S8XP0928&Description=laptop%20ssd&cm_re=laptop_ssd-_-9SIAA0S8XP0928-_-Product

1k, wait a few months and get whats on sale. Dont sweat it.

[jrj3rd]

I would recommend you talk to the University store before you buy, When my kids went to college the School Tech store beat almost everybody's prices and offered great service. When my daughter's machine crapped out she handed it to them and they handled all the warranty repairs with the manufacturer, and handed her a computer to use while hers was out. I don't know of any normal stores would that would do that. Also software was much cheaper through them.

[LWJ]

I bought a Lenovo second hand on eBay recently. I think $350. I7. 16 gig. 1 T SSD. No warranty.

I took a risk for my eldest kid. It is a screamer.

It is my fourth Lenovo from eBay. All have and still are excellent.

Bought them used. All others had a warranty. My tightwad tendencies have been fulfilled.

[fanaudical]

I like the Dell Precision Mobile Workstations for CAD/engineering stuff. A little pricey, but hold up well for several years.

[93nav]

Like others have said, check out the university's bookstore or tech center. It has been a few years, but I was able to purchase a laptop thru my university, and if there were any problems, they would handle for free.

[jyl]

Are the PC laptop workstations still pretty user upgradeable? Or are they soldering stuff too?

[jyl]

Are PC laptop workstations pretty upgradeable? Or are things soldered and proprietary?

[John Rogers]

Since I just retired from teaching, web design, databases and business apps most all the students have their laptop by the time I get them. Most all are happy except the Apple folks when they find out they have to run an Oracle database which means a "modern" version of Windows. The Oracle database is free but software like "Parallels" which is $80 and many schools will expel a student for running pirate software. So I tell them to use their tax refund or a chunk of their VA payment and buy the most powerful graphics or gaming laptop they can find and if it is one of Dell's super laptop's they can be several thousand. As noted try eBay but try to be able to see it run.


For an external monitor I say to buy a flat screen maybe 36 inch or so but to make sure it will run with a PC and fill the screen as some can not handle the high resolution. I use a 36 inch Vizio I bought two years ago during a sale at Walmart for $129. As noted he needs a mouse and Logitech is pretty much the standard and their wireless models work great.

[lgb240]

Originally Posted by wilnj

I would look for something like a gamers spec. I5 is no where near fast enough for modeling software.

On an unrelated note, I’d ask him if he’s sure architecture is what he wants to do. A bachelors in architecture is a very specific education and it’s not for everyone, it wasn’t for me. He should really love it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

This x10
Also limits job opportunities