From Windows to Mac?

[Ray]

I have 3ds Max Design 2010, formerly on subscription. I'm thinking of getting a Macbook Pro. How do I get the Mac version (if there is one) or do I need to run both OS's?

[plastic]

I have 3ds Max Design 2010, formerly on subscription. I'm thinking of getting a Macbook Pro. How do I get the Mac version (if there is one) or do I need to run both OS's?

 

There is no Mac version of 3dsmax.

[AJLynn]

What you'd want to do in this case is install Bootcamp, which partitions the hard drive, installs Windows (you need a Windows install disc, see Apple site for requirements) and lets you choose the OS when you boot. This isn't very convenient, and while you're in Windows you lose a lot of the advantages of the Mac's Mac-ness, which is why a lot of Max users choose high spec Windows boxes instead.

[Ray]

What you'd want to do in this case is install Bootcamp, which partitions the hard drive, installs Windows (you need a Windows install disc, see Apple site for requirements) and lets you choose the OS when you boot. This isn't very convenient, and while you're in Windows you lose a lot of the advantages of the Mac's Mac-ness, which is why a lot of Max users choose high spec Windows boxes instead.

 

I was afraid that's what it was going to take.

 

Thanks for the replies.

[JamesL]

You'd do a lot better running Windows via Parallels (http://www.parallels.com/) - it virtualizes windows within the OSX interface.

 

It's also Autodesks preferred way to run on a Mac: -

 

http://www.parallels.com/uk/news/id,20267

http://www.parallels.com/uk/news/id,22328

http://usa.autodesk.com/products/mac-compatible-products

 

Hope that helps - it's really a lot simpler than Bootcamp, and integrates into OSX much better.

[AJLynn]

Yeah, Parallels is very convenient but it's not good for resource intensive software. You split the RAM between Windows and OSX, Windows doesn't get the video card and Windows can't run the CPU as quickly.

 

For example, my Mac is an i5 dual core with 8GB and a Geforce 330M. I have Parallels (running Windows 7 64, with 3GB assigned and 3D acceleration turned on) but not Bootcamp - but I know from experience that if you run Cinebench 11.5 on a Mac under OSX and Bootcamp you get roughly the same scores (because in Bootcamp Windows has full use of the hardware, same as on a regular PC).

 

In OSX, my Cinebench scores are:

OpenGL: 14.34

Multithreaded Rendering: 2.10

 

In Paralleles:

OpenGL: 2.36

Multithreaded Rendering: 1.57

 

If I wanted Max to be usable I'd definitely want Bootcamp.