Conidering a switch from MP --> MBP (Maya Modelling) - need to be more mobile.

fluidedge · Sep 21, 2009, 05:45 AM

Hi

I'm well out of the loop with mac laptops these days and wondered if anyone has done what i'm considering. I'm a 3D artist working primarily with Maya and modo but I use windows (my plugins are all for windows 64 bit and maya for mac is a train wreck of an app anyway

)

So i'm using windows 80% of the time but i still need os x for shake and final cut.

I have a mp at the moment but am finding myself tethered to the desk all the time and feel i need to be more mobile.

Now the one problem is rendering power. I have moved into modelling more and away from simulation and rendering recently so I don't really need the raw power a MP gives me to crunch numbers; I'd only miss it when I need to actually render my work.

I'm wondering if selling the MP is a mistake, but at the moment being young and free (

) I feel i need to be a bit more mobile. Has anyone made the same decision recently and regretted it or are happy with it?

Full of Win · Sep 21, 2009, 06:03 AM

Do you think you will get what its worth? I'd bet you will miss it when you need it. When you do render, you will soon think to yourself - if all my cores were going on my MacPro, this would be done in 30 minutes, but now its going to take 3 hours.

I tried to do this by going from an iMac to a MacBook, and did not like it.

With all that said - what the hell do I know.

J&JPolangin · Sep 21, 2009, 06:06 AM

...how much power do you have access to (what model MP)?

That would give us a better idea if a current MBP would suit your needs...

fluidedge · Sep 21, 2009, 06:32 AM

sorry i should have been more clear!

Mac Pro (Jan 2008)
2.8GHz Single Quad Core chip
2GB RAM
ATI 2600
Airport Card
320GB Drive (and others but i have an external raid drive for those)

(basically the base spec with an Airport card thrown in)

J&JPolangin · Sep 21, 2009, 08:34 AM

...I wouldn't, you'll miss the power if you sell it... the current MBP's are too much of a step backwards from what you have until a major notebook architecture change comes about first...

jdechko · Sep 21, 2009, 03:03 PM

I'm assuming that you need the funds from the sale of the MP to buy the MBP?

Otherwise, why not try to pick up a cheap UMBP off of craigslist or go with a refurbished model?

fluidedge · Sep 21, 2009, 03:05 PM

im looking to sell the MP to fund the MBP. I reckon i could swap my MP for a 15" 2.66GHz model.

Sep 21, 2009, 05:45 AM	#1
fluidedge macrumors 65816 Join Date: Nov 2007	Conidering a switch from MP --> MBP (Maya Modelling) - need to be more mobile. Hi I'm well out of the loop with mac laptops these days and wondered if anyone has done what i'm considering. I'm a 3D artist working primarily with Maya and modo but I use windows (my plugins are all for windows 64 bit and maya for mac is a train wreck of an app anyway ) So i'm using windows 80% of the time but i still need os x for shake and final cut. I have a mp at the moment but am finding myself tethered to the desk all the time and feel i need to be more mobile. Now the one problem is rendering power. I have moved into modelling more and away from simulation and rendering recently so I don't really need the raw power a MP gives me to crunch numbers; I'd only miss it when I need to actually render my work. I'm wondering if selling the MP is a mistake, but at the moment being young and free ( ) I feel i need to be a bit more mobile. Has anyone made the same decision recently and regretted it or are happy with it?

Sep 21, 2009, 06:03 AM	#2
Full of Win macrumors 6502a Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: standing by for the Go Signal	Do you think you will get what its worth? I'd bet you will miss it when you need it. When you do render, you will soon think to yourself - if all my cores were going on my MacPro, this would be done in 30 minutes, but now its going to take 3 hours. I tried to do this by going from an iMac to a MacBook, and did not like it. With all that said - what the hell do I know. __________________ I am against trillion dollar deficits, a collapsing dollar, enemies list, letting terrorist in the US, prizes awarded without merit, and leaders with delusions of Godhood

Sep 21, 2009, 06:06 AM	#3
J&JPolangin macrumors 68000 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Japan...at the waters edge...	...how much power do you have access to (what model MP)? That would give us a better idea if a current MBP would suit your needs... __________________ 20" iMac w/ 4GB RAM & HP2009m dual display, S.D.B AEBS, iPod Touch 16GB G1 2.0 Ghz Nvidia 9400M whitebook 4GB RAM & WD 320GB HDD PC's: Dell Dimension 8100 2.0Ghz P4 w/ 2GB RAM, eeePC 1000H

Sep 21, 2009, 08:34 AM	#5
J&JPolangin macrumors 68000 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Japan...at the waters edge...	...I wouldn't, you'll miss the power if you sell it... the current MBP's are too much of a step backwards from what you have until a major notebook architecture change comes about first... __________________ 20" iMac w/ 4GB RAM & HP2009m dual display, S.D.B AEBS, iPod Touch 16GB G1 2.0 Ghz Nvidia 9400M whitebook 4GB RAM & WD 320GB HDD PC's: Dell Dimension 8100 2.0Ghz P4 w/ 2GB RAM, eeePC 1000H

Sep 21, 2009, 03:03 PM	#6
jdechko macrumors 68020 Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Seattle, WA	I'm assuming that you need the funds from the sale of the MP to buy the MBP? Otherwise, why not try to pick up a cheap UMBP off of craigslist or go with a refurbished model? __________________ 8GB iPhone 3G

Sep 21, 2009, 06:32 AM	#4
fluidedge Thread Starter macrumors 65816 Join Date: Nov 2007	sorry i should have been more clear! Mac Pro (Jan 2008) 2.8GHz Single Quad Core chip 2GB RAM ATI 2600 Airport Card 320GB Drive (and others but i have an external raid drive for those) (basically the base spec with an Airport card thrown in)

Sep 21, 2009, 03:05 PM	#7
fluidedge Thread Starter macrumors 65816 Join Date: Nov 2007	im looking to sell the MP to fund the MBP. I reckon i could swap my MP for a 15" 2.66GHz model.

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