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

[fluidedge]

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]

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]

...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]

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]

...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]

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]

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