Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Best For... [CAD, Sketch Up, CS4 Standard etc.]
- Thread starter ukMB
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Maxed 15" MBP has my vote, powerful graphics, powerful CPU, a large screen to work with. The 17" is nice but weaker in the graphics department, but if your CAD software is entirely CPU bound then it might make a better option.
Do you need the portability? Is that why you're focusing on the laptops?
Do you need the portability? Is that why you're focusing on the laptops?
Does it have to be portable? Does it have to be a Mac? If it has to be a Mac, I'd get a 2.66 GHz iMac with lots of RAM and HD space. If it has to be portable, definitely get a MBP, though I don't think it necessarily has to be maxed out. Definitely get max RAM and lots of HD space, though I think a 2.8 GHz processor is overkill, a 2.53 GHz one would probably be enough.
Well, I guess an iMac is out of the question, which is what I would do. I would probably get the top of the line MBP with the 250 GB 7200 rpm HD (it costs less and with the $50 you save you could put the money to a nice external for extra room/backup).
Do you have $2500 dollars you can spend like that? If so, get the base line 2.53 GHz MBP; it costs the same amount and keeping info between two computers is a hassle. Besides, the CPU in the MBP I just suggested is more powerful than either the MB or the iMac you suggested.
Well, the bigger your cache, the better the computer runs (I think...that makes sense, right?). Also, in the MBP, you get more memory standard and a better graphics card. I say get the MBP if you can afford it.
It's on parents and the MBP is. Plus theres no extra money for upgrading! Will it run CAD, CS4 and Sketch Up fast?
Thanks
Well, as long as you have the Mac version of CAD, CS4 and Sketch Up it will run them fine and then some. That computer is very powerful (though I don't envy your parents for having to pay for that). This is probably off topic, I just would like to know; how old are you? Is this for college, or are you just a high school student? Not that there's anything wrong with being in high school, you should just realize that your future computer will last you for quite a few years.
I have a windows version of CAD which I will run through VMware. Mac CS4 and Sketch Up.
This computer is for 6th Form (A levels) and then a bit of uni (plan to do forensics)
Thanks
I advise NOT running CAD through VMware. Running a virtual desktop takes enough resources as it is, do you really want to be rendering without the full power of the computer? Run it through Boot Camp, it may be a little inconvenient, but you will be much happier with how it performs in CAD.
Okay thanks for that. Will use bootcamp, is that just XP (not using vista!) so no Mac OS?
Thanks
What are you talking about? Bootcamp alows for duel booting; if you set up Bootcamp, a portion of your HD is partitioned to create a section on which you install XP or Vista. By the way, don't be so quick to run away from Vista, it's not a bad OS now the computer you are hoping to buy will have no problem running it. As for OSX, the part of your HD that remains is untouched and still runs OSX; the best part is, once you install Windows, the side with OSX is unchanged, all of your files and settings remain intact.
EDIT: Never mind, I misunderstood you. No, Bootcamp does not allow for the OS's to run side by side, though Windows will run at native speed, which you will definitely want for CAD.
My know-how on this is quite shaky; in other words, I have no idea. I think 64 bit is better, but why I don't really know.
lol. I'll ask my dad he loves windows (pity him!)
Thanks
is Microsoft Office better than iWork?
Thanks
Well, Excel is much better than Numbers, simply because it has been around longer. I don't know about Pages vs. Word, I've heard that Pages is quite good, though I love Word (never used Pages). Now, Keynote of course is quite good and many will agree that it blows PP out of the water. Then again, some of the transitions do not work on a computer without Pages installed, even if it has been converted correctly. I would get Office, since it is the standard everywhere, even if it is a little more expensive. Get it from Amazon and get it at a discount.
What exactly do you mean by "both trails"? Do you mean to install both and see how they are? That's actually a good idea, though you'll still have to buy iWork, since only iLife is pre-installed on any Mac (unless you order it special, in which you still have to pay for iWork). Is that what you meant by the "MBP com[ing] with them still"?
Oh, yeah. iLife comes installed, a trial of iWork is available here, and a trial of Office comes on the computer.
P.S. Thanks for changing the title, Blue Velvet (if you're listening). I really hate unspecific thread titles.