MacBook Pro using Solidworks CaD

[paolo-]

Hey Guys,

I ordered my rMBP and it is coming soon.

I just want some advice, in terms of what is the best accessories and protection for the laptop because i want to keep it in pristine condition and also how do i install windows 7 (which is going to be used for Solidworks CaD, since i have heard windows 8 or higher is not the best for using it. Also is there much difference with the microsoft word for mac and windows ? i am open for the best software's to help in me with university which i load easily.

please let me know guys

thanks

There are plenty of tutorials on how to bootcamp your mac out there. I wouldn't advise Parallels desktop or VMware. On my 2011 MBP SolidWorks was horrible compared to running it in bootcamp. There were some graphical issues, it wasn't very stable and slow. I'd advise windows 8.1 as it has better support for the hi-res screen of the rMBP - just check the software you're using to make sure it's compatible. SolidWorks 2014 is fully compatible.

As for Word, there's a mac version made by Microsoft, it's useable but lacks some of the functions of the Windows version. I'll suppose you're an engineering student and tell you you should really look into using LaTeX for your assignments though. You instantly get that sweet scientific journal credibility on top of properly laid out equation.

For accessories just get a good backpack with a padded laptop region. Also make sure the laptop doesn't touch the bottom of the bag as it might get damaged if you drop the bag. I'd forgo any kind of case, I've seen more harm than good come of those, on top of hiding a nice looking machine. For CAD use, get a good mouse. Maybe look into gaming mice with macro buttons to bring up often used functions (smart dimension anyone?).

Also, some friendly advice for university, please use proper capitalization and proof reading.

 

[guideme]

There are plenty of tutorials on how to bootcamp your mac out there. I wouldn't advise Parallels desktop or VMware. On my 2011 MBP SolidWorks was horrible compared to running it in bootcamp. There were some graphical issues, it wasn't very stable and slow. I'd advise windows 8.1 as it has better support for the hi-res screen of the rMBP - just check the software you're using to make sure it's compatible. SolidWorks 2014 is fully compatible.

As for Word, there's a mac version made by Microsoft, it's useable but lacks some of the functions of the Windows version. I'll suppose you're an engineering student and tell you you should really look into using LaTeX for your assignments though. You instantly get that sweet scientific journal credibility on top of properly laid out equation.

For accessories just get a good backpack with a padded laptop region. Also make sure the laptop doesn't touch the bottom of the bag as it might get damaged if you drop the bag. I'd forgo any kind of case, I've seen more harm than good come of those, on top of hiding a nice looking machine. For CAD use, get a good mouse. Maybe look into gaming mice with macro buttons to bring up often used functions (smart dimension anyone?).

Also, some friendly advice for university, please use proper capitalization and proof reading.

Firstly I'd like to say thank you for taking the time to write this reply as well as the advice too.

I have computer knowledge but not the best to a high extent so I guess YouTube videos will help me resolve the issue on installation for bootcamp windows. Do I need to buy windows 8.1 separately so I can use the license key? Initially I thought solidworks worked better on Windows 7?

LaTex I haven't come across that software but will look into it, just hope it can work well and better than Microsoft Word because I want to make sure I am able to actually use it on both Windows and Mac without having issues in terms of compability or broken pages (similar issue if you worked on word 2010 and 2014 certain things don't load because it is different)

Would you be able to recommend or even suggest a good gaming mouse, something you use? In terms of case I think I will go something more rugged and sturdy, seen a few online personally this one (http://www.gearzap.com/thule-gauntlet-macbook-pro-15-hard-case-black.html) and
mouse The Logitech Performance Mouse MX)

Let me what you think my friend and again thanks for the great assistance looking forward to more advice and tips ###

 

[guideme]

Microsoft Office for Mac is a complete joke.

To install Windows 7 or later on your retina MBP, you will need an ISO image of a 64-bit version of Windows. After obtaining the appropriate ISO image, open up Boot Camp Assistant and follow the instructions.

Boot Camp Assistant will image an empty USB stick for you with the ISO, as well putting Boot Camp drivers in it.

i see thank you for that information. do i need to purchase windows completely to have it installed on the MBP?? and i think i will have run on windows in bootcamp rather than the mac also. i will purchase also new usb considering rMBP does not have a cd drive. i cant wait till it arrives to test it out.

id like to ask what is the reasonable space recommend for windows when using the bootcamp, i just wish i had more money and could have got a 1tb flash drive , although i have a external 1tb hdd.

i want to ensure that the rMBP stays clean as well as not loaded with crap and to insure i am able to load softwares from usb or hdd.

 

[yjchua95]

i see thank you for that information. do i need to purchase windows completely to have it installed on the MBP?? and i think i will have run on windows in bootcamp rather than the mac also. i will purchase also new usb considering rMBP does not have a cd drive. i cant wait till it arrives to test it out.

id like to ask what is the reasonable space recommend for windows when using the bootcamp, i just wish i had more money and could have got a 1tb flash drive , although i have a external 1tb hdd.

i want to ensure that the rMBP stays clean as well as not loaded with crap and to insure i am able to load softwares from usb or hdd.

You'll need to purchase a license of Windows legally.

Personally I would recommend Windows 8.1, because of HiDPI support. Windows 7 doesn't really support it.

If you have a Thunderbolt drive, you can install Boot Camp on the external drive. It won't work over a USB external drive though.

I would recommend partitioning 128GB for Boot Camp.

 

[guideme]

You'll need to purchase a license of Windows legally.

Personally I would recommend Windows 8.1, because of HiDPI support. Windows 7 doesn't really support it.

If you have a Thunderbolt drive, you can install Boot Camp on the external drive. It won't work over a USB external drive though.

I would recommend partitioning 128GB for Boot Camp.

so you reckon windows 8.1 will work better with Solidworks than windows 7 ultimate??

I dont have a thunderbolt drive, however i looking into purchasing one and was wondering if the LaCie Rugged Thunderbolt drive a good option to go for or does it not matter as much?

thanks

 

[Samuelsan2001]

It's not about windows version with software

so you reckon windows 8.1 will work better with Solidworks than windows 7 ultimate??

I dont have a thunderbolt drive, however i looking into purchasing one and was wondering if the LaCie Rugged Thunderbolt drive a good option to go for or does it not matter as much?

thanks

The previous answer to use windows 8.1 is not about how well the OS works with the software but about how well it works with the hi resolution screen. I'm sure windows 7 or 8 will work well with the software but it took until windows 8.1 to sort out the scaling on retina quality screens.

 

[paolo-]

Firstly I'd like to say thank you for taking the time to write this reply as well as the advice too.

I have computer knowledge but not the best to a high extent so I guess YouTube videos will help me resolve the issue on installation for bootcamp windows. Do I need to buy windows 8.1 separately so I can use the license key? Initially I thought solidworks worked better on Windows 7?

LaTex I haven't come across that software but will look into it, just hope it can work well and better than Microsoft Word because I want to make sure I am able to actually use it on both Windows and Mac without having issues in terms of compability or broken pages (similar issue if you worked on word 2010 and 2014 certain things don't load because it is different)

Would you be able to recommend or even suggest a good gaming mouse, something you use? In terms of case I think I will go something more rugged and sturdy, seen a few online personally this one (http://www.gearzap.com/thule-gauntlet-macbook-pro-15-hard-case-black.html) and
mouse The Logitech Performance Mouse MX)

Let me what you think my friend and again thanks for the great assistance looking forward to more advice and tips ###

Yes you'll need to buy Windows 8.1 though it might be available free through your university with MSDN. The latest version of SolidWorks should be fine with 8.1 "SolidWorks 2014 Service Pack 1.0 and later now support Microsoft Windows 8.1."

LaTeX is the nerdy way most researcher put together documents. LaTeX is actually a markup language. You write your document using commands in plain text. IE you write your stuff as plain text and add some stuff to help the software figure out what you're writing. Then the program takes your instructions and spits out a .pdf file. So when starting a new section in your assignment, you don't put a double space then switch font and weight then space then switch back font and weight, you'd simply do something like this:

\section{New Really Interesting Section}
Then you'd just write the stuff you want to talk about here. LaTeX handles 
math quite nicely once you get used to it. So I'll show you a simple 
equation and actually refer to it right here (\eqref{awesomeEquation}).

\begin{equation}
\frac{1}{2} = \sqrt{\frac{1}{4}}
\label{awesomeEquation}
\end{equation}

Will give you the attached image by default.

The software then takes these instructions and will spit you out a nicely typeset document based on a style sheet you use (lots of great presets exist). LaTeX also handles bibliographies nicely. Images and code snippets are also nice as you refer to the file on your computer. So if you have a classic assignment with code that generate some graphs, you can edit your code as you need and the document will automatically use the current version of the file and the graphs it creates.

I guess I could go on with this but have a look at sharelatex.com it's a free cloud service which integrates a collaborative editor with a nice way of seeing the .pdf version of your work as you go. I'm aware it seems like the nerdiest thing ever but once you get used to it a bit it turns out to be a fast and simple way to get awesome looking documents.

 

[guideme]

Yes you'll need to buy Windows 8.1 though it might be available free through your university with MSDN. The latest version of SolidWorks should be fine with 8.1 "SolidWorks 2014 Service Pack 1.0 and later now support Microsoft Windows 8.1."

LaTeX is the nerdy way most researcher put together documents. LaTeX is actually a markup language. You write your document using commands in plain text. IE you write your stuff as plain text and add some stuff to help the software figure out what you're writing. Then the program takes your instructions and spits out a .pdf file. So when starting a new section in your assignment, you don't put a double space then switch font and weight then space then switch back font and weight, you'd simply do something like this:

\section{New Really Interesting Section}
Then you'd just write the stuff you want to talk about here. LaTeX handles 
math quite nicely once you get used to it. So I'll show you a simple 
equation and actually refer to it right here (\eqref{awesomeEquation}).

\begin{equation}
\frac{1}{2} = \sqrt{\frac{1}{4}}
\label{awesomeEquation}
\end{equation}

Will give you the attached image by default.

The software then takes these instructions and will spit you out a nicely typeset document based on a style sheet you use (lots of great presets exist). LaTeX also handles bibliographies nicely. Images and code snippets are also nice as you refer to the file on your computer. So if you have a classic assignment with code that generate some graphs, you can edit your code as you need and the document will automatically use the current version of the file and the graphs it creates.

I guess I could go on with this but have a look at sharelatex.com it's a free cloud service which integrates a collaborative editor with a nice way of seeing the .pdf version of your work as you go. I'm aware it seems like the nerdiest thing ever but once you get used to it a bit it turns out to be a fast and simple way to get awesome looking documents.

1. get windows 8.1 from the uni and then use it with bootcamp i take it because it is the way forward and better than parallels would you say.
2. get microsoft word from uni as well the latest one (windows to install it on windows 8.1)
3. install student solidworks 2014
4. any suggestion which is the best anti virus?
ESET Cyber Security and Intego Mac Internet Security X8 and Sophos anti virus
between all the 3 anti virus software which is the best out of them all?

i think i know what i am going to be doing this weekend then haha, i am still a newbie to this and have a lot to learn and frankly this is very interesting and id like to know where to start from the basics of course you mentioned the website but also any other source of information which may also contribute towards gaining more knowledge.

Sir i'd like to thank you for this knowledge you have shared and looking forward to further knowledge and guidance too
thank you soo much for welcoming me to the community as a first time macbook user from windows still getting used it

 

[guideme]

Best anti virus for my new rMBP

ESET Cyber Security and Intego Mac Internet Security X8 and Sophos anti virus and bitdefender for mac and avira
between all the 5 anti virus software which is the best out of them all?

 

[Patrickaaron]

i run solid works via bootcamp... its ok but if its your main reason for having the computer then just build a pc.

 

[Gav Mack]

Done a few boot camp installs with MacBook Pro for solid works and they work pretty good, though 3 new Mac pro 6,1 systems this year using solid works and 3dsmax have certainly won a client of mine well and truly over. The first one was quickly followed by the other two.

They were 6 core beasts with 1tb ssd and d700 gpu and 32gb ram but they were knocked out at just how quietly and quickly they got on with their work booting 8.1 pro, when they were used to z series and precision workstations sounding like hovercraft.