Gabriella_A Posted July 22, 2009 Share Posted July 22, 2009 Hallo to everyone... I need a new laptop for my freelance work of 3d visualizer... I have at home a 2 year old HP desktop... I was thinking of switching to mac... I read lot of threads on the power of the mac, on bootcamp and the real possibility of using max on a mac, on the very stable osx.... I have lot of friends that work in the grafic industry (2d almost) and they use only mac... I called the applecare and they said that I could have a network with pc and mac togheter... I am thinking of continue using max (with bootcamp) and start to try Cinema4d (some says that is similar to max) with vray, that I also use with max. I have to say that my work is principally 3d modeling in max(not too advanced) starting from a dwg and animations and rendering with vray. The last but not the least... A macbook pro is more convenient and more powerful than a Sony/Dell/Asus highend laptop... Jump in the mac world or not? what question... thanks for your opinions... and forgive my scholastic english Gabriella Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy Homeless Guy Posted July 22, 2009 Share Posted July 22, 2009 Unless you need a laptop for client meetings you will get more bang for the buck and more power overall from a desktop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gabriella_A Posted July 22, 2009 Author Share Posted July 22, 2009 Unless you need a laptop for client meetings you will get more bang for the buck and more power overall from a desktop. thanks for your relpy Travis... Now I strongly need a laptop. I'll move next month and will stay away from the office for about one month... probably I'll nedd to modify or start some nee jobs... moreover, I need a laptop to work at home.. I need moving from one room to another... If the work re-start in thae way I hope, I'll sure get anoter desktop. What about the idea of switching to the mac? It's a realistic option or too hard to make? GA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdwhitton Posted July 22, 2009 Share Posted July 22, 2009 Hi Gabriella we run Max 2009 on XP 32bit running on Mac's and rarely have any problems... my colleague runs her's on a MacBook and the only thing that happened from memory was that she had to get Leopard for some reason, a newer version of Bootcamp I think solved all that the only limitation is maybe the lack of RAM XP will address - never bothered with Vista, but Bootcamp doesn't support 64 bit XP so we never use Mental Ray, purely VRAY, 2 meg of RAM - lottsa Vray Proxies and then the keyboard has the odd thing with @ and ¨ (we're UK based) we're all networked, including a Mac absolutely fine, rock solid in fact you can also get a small program for XP called MacDrive which allows XP to see and write to the Mac disks, I think I even use one as a scratch disk for photoshop and an EFI utility (you'll have to google it) which when you reboot allows you to select Windows or Mac OS hope this helps... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gabriella_A Posted July 22, 2009 Author Share Posted July 22, 2009 Hi Gabriella we run Max 2009 on XP 32bit running on Mac's and rarely have any problems... ... Thanks a loT! That was what I wanted to listen The Apple phone assistance said that NOW bootcamp support XP 64 bit (perhaps its a newer version) and told me of the macdrive option... They said now that I can coohse at the start of the machine the OSX or the XP version. So you use in the same network pc and mac? Even in distribute renderings? thanks again Gabriella Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tamir Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 That was what I wanted to listen Gabriella This is usually the case when we ask for advise; we look for reassurance, not advise . One note though if I may; it is far more advisable to use Windows 7 as your Windows companion for Mac. We get very good results with this arrangement using a very demanding 3D app (MachStudio Pro) on a Mac Book Pro. We also get good results running Max in Windows 7 on our test workstation. Windows 7 is still in Beta, but the RC (release candidate) version is available for a free download here: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/download.aspx You can use the vista drivers and plug-ins for your 3D apps, they work with windows 7. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJLynn Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 So I have a Macbook Pro and have in the past used it with Bootcamp to run 3D software under XP. It does work. Also, in Max 2010 the support for running it on Bootcamp (but NOT under Parallels or VMWare) is now official. BUT. A Macbook Pro is NOT a more powerful Windows box than a PC notebook with the same specs. I maintain that it is a better designed notebook, which is or should be important to us as designers, but don't expect miracles. The best use of a Mac is for running OSX on, and OSX can handle Cinema4D, Vray, Maxwell, Maya, Sketchup, Creative Suite, Final Cut Studio and will soon have Rhino. But if you're tied to Autocad, Revit and/or Max you will not get the full advantages of having a Mac. The other advantage of a Mac is, of course, Apple, which is a good company for tech support and customer service particularly if you're near an Apple store. There's one in Rome but for right now that's it for Italy. They're planning on expanding to Milan, as described in this article, unless my Italian has completely failed me, but nothing on Naples - they must be scared of Vesuvius. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter M. Gruhn Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 The question "what operating system do I want to run" is an odd one. Most people don't primarily use their operating system. It's a support background. Sure, there's a lot of linux dweebs for whom compiling a new kernel and getting a window manager working is great fun, these people actually do "run an operating system." My reply is "what software do you want to run? What OS does it run on?" "Well, it's _possible_ that I can run AutoCAD on OSX." Two problems I have with that: No, you're running AutoCAD on Windows with an unnecessary layer of cruft between you and the sand, what's that buy you? what's that cost you? The other problem? 'Possible'! Never buy vapour. The whole "but Macs are good for visual people" argument is a marketting gimmick they've brainwashed the world into believing. Sprite has Lymon, Mercedes is well engineered, Britain has bad food, Mac are for graphics people... What means "is a better designed laptop"? Do we mean "looks cooler"? If so, what does that buy you? Does it mean it's easier to figure out how to turn off (My Mom doesn't know how to turn on her iMac and she's owned it for three years, but "It's more intuitive," isn't it?) Does it mean it breaks less, can be abused more, is more comfortable to type on....? What software do you use? What does it run on? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gabriella_A Posted July 23, 2009 Author Share Posted July 23, 2009 So I have a Macbook Pro and have in the past used it with Bootcamp to run 3D software under XP. It does work. Also, in Max 2010 the support for running it on Bootcamp (but NOT under Parallels or VMWare) is now official. BUT. A Macbook Pro is NOT a more powerful Windows box than a PC notebook with the same specs. They're planning on expanding to Milan, as described in this article, unless my Italian has completely failed me, but nothing on Naples - they must be scared of Vesuvius. Thanks for your reply, AJLynn... I was thinking of using bootcamp. I read that often Parallels or Fusion give memory problems with software that require lot of sistem resources... The option of using Windows 7 could be good... but I am very scared by a program, (an operating sistem!) , in beta testing... I'm not tied in particulary with any program... I use max for my 3d/rendering work.. But I see people that do the same with cinema4d... and the licence is less pricey I know that a MAC is comparable with a good PC... but I see that, for the laptop ones, THE MAC are best engineered and less expensive, with almost the same components. I know that they are nicer than a pc, but it is not very important to me. I am thinking to switch totally, from pc to mac... also my husband, that work with me, and that works in the flash/internet ambient wants to do the jump... I know that should be more logic use the OSX and the mac compatible programs , I only want to know if I can easyly work with bootcamp, XP (or W7) and max for a transition period (don't know how long) without loosing power and without having real work problems... ah... I don't live more in Naples I stay there only 1/2 month every year.. I live in Milan... no Vesuvius, but no sea, either thanks again Gabriella Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJLynn Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 I know that a MAC is comparable with a good PC... but I see that, for the laptop ones, THE MAC are best engineered and less expensive, with almost the same components. I know that they are nicer than a pc, but it is not very important to me. Now there's a comment you don't see every day. Are the Mac laptops really cheaper in Italy? I don't know the market there... What means "is a better designed laptop"? It means it's a better designed laptop. Industrial design is a design field just like architecture and Apple is better at it than any of the major PC makers. If this is not important, none of us have jobs. Well, okay, so it's also true that none of us have jobs, but I meant in a good year Apples look better, are better engineered and better constructed than a piece of crap cheap ass Dell or HP made out of plastic. They have similar qualities to a building I might be trying to get a client to build, when their other option is a worse building designed by an idiot but cheaper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gabriella_A Posted July 23, 2009 Author Share Posted July 23, 2009 Now there's a comment you don't see every day. Are the Mac laptops really cheaper in Italy? I don't know the market there... Well... let me show to you what I have find in these days.. so you can make your remarks... a DELL precision M4400 Precision M4400 : Intel Core 2 Duo T9600 (2.8GHz,1066MHz,6MB) S Base Option : 512MB Discrete nVidia FX1700M Graphics Card (with 512MB dedicated memory) Display : 15.4in Widescreen WUXGA (1920X1200) with Dual CCFL 1 S Memory : 4096MB (2x2048) 800MHz DDR2 Dual Channel 1 S Disco rigido : 250GB Serial ATA(7.200rpm)con Free Fall Sensor 1800 euro plus VAT (20%) ____ a DELL XPS 1730 (less performant than the PRECISION, with cheaper components) Processore Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T9500 (2,60 GHz, FSB 800 MHz ,cache L2 6 MB) LCD: SchermoTFT UltraSharp™ WUXGA (1920x1200) da 17" con TrueLife™ e webcam 2.0MP Memory 4096MB 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM (2x2GB) Disco rigido: 320GB Free Fall Sensor (7200RPM) Hard Drive Scheda grafica: Dual SLI™ 512MB nVidia® GeForce™ 9800GTgraphics card euro 1930 plus vat (20%) ------------------------------------- SANTECH (an Italian reseller of barebone CLEVO...) SANTECH N48 CPU Intel Core 2 Duo P9700 2.80 GHz (DC, 6Mb, 25W, 64bit) RAM 4 Gb DDR III 1.066MHz (2x2.048Mb) HARD DISK 320 Gb 7200RPM Buffer 16Mb S.ATA II 300 HD MEMORY Non desidero questa opzione DISPLAY 15,4" WSXGA+ 1.680x1.050 NO-Glare IPS VGA NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260M 1 Gb GDDR3 dedicati euro 1613 puls VAT (20%) --------------------------------- MACBookpro Intel Core 2 Duo a 2,8GHz -Disco rigido Serial ATA 500GB (7200 giri/min) -MacBook Pro 17-inch Hi-Resolution Antiglare Widescreen Display NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT 512 mb euro 1892 plus VAT (20%) ... with these prices I nealry see that the macbook is the best value for money... Am I right or I'm making some mistakes? Gabriella Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJLynn Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 Oh I see, you're comparing the Mac to the higher end PCs. Between those, easy choice, get the Mac. Budget a bit more because you'll need a Windows disc if you don't have one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gabriella_A Posted July 23, 2009 Author Share Posted July 23, 2009 THanks again, Andrew... It seems that I'll be a mac user in the next few days One tecnical question... In the apple site they wrote that the mac have two graphic processors, a NVIDIA GeForce 9400M + 9600M GT with 512MB why they use two different graphics cards? One is for the 2d and the other for the3d? ...I never see a similar configuration with a PC ... thanks again GA PS Yes, I have two windows licence ready to be used for... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJLynn Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 It's a new thing, PCs don't have it yet. Basically, the 9600 is faster but the 9400 uses less power. You can switch between them depending on what you want to be doing. Both are fully function GPUs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BVI Posted July 26, 2009 Share Posted July 26, 2009 has anybody used an 8-core Mac Pro with Bootcamp and MAX, vs say an i7. Im keen to know about the speed of the Mac etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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