MBP 2021 I9 for an engineering student (Bootcamp?)

[e.east]

Hello forum!

I am a life-long MacOS user, fully integrated and love the ecosystem. However, I will start my engineering university studies in September and stand on the verge of a difficult decision.
I will be often using windows-only software like Solidworks and other 3D modeling programs, programming etc.
So the question stands, do i upgrade to a brand spanking new I9 (obviously not the M1 due to Bootcamp) MBP 16'' or switch to a Windows laptop (Dell XPS 15'' in mind)?
I would probably still use MacOs 70% (text files, trading, casual browsing) and Windows 30% of the time.

What are the biggest drawbacks i could face while bootcamping? People have mentioned lagginess in Windows, excessive fan noise and temps.

My heart says Mac but my mind says Windows

 

[chrfr]

Hello forum!

I am a life-long MacOS user, fully integrated and love the ecosystem. However, I will start my engineering university studies in September and stand on the verge of a difficult decision.
I will be often using windows-only software like Solidworks and other 3D modeling programs, programming etc.
So the question stands, do i upgrade to a brand spanking new I9 (obviously not the M1 due to Bootcamp) MPB 16' or switch to a Windows laptop (Dell XPS 15'' in mind)?
I would probably still use MacOs 70% (text files, trading, casual browsing) and Windows 30% of the time.

What are the biggest drawbacks i could face while bootcamping? People have mentioned lagginess in Windows, excessive fan noise and temps.

My heart says Mac but my mind says Windows )

If your work involves using Windows only apps, you should get a Windows computer. The 16" MacBook Pro is nearly 2 years old now and is obviously about at the dead end of Intel Macs. It doesn't sound like there's anything Mac-specific in your non-work needs at all, so buying a Mac makes no sense for you.

 

[Chompineer]

I got through my civil degree with an Intel Mac, running bootcamp or parallels when needed. I also know plenty of engineers that did the same/still use Mac's now.

I would go for it. If you like Mac's, you like Mac's. An XPS is only going to make you realize how much you like Mac's (believe me, I've tried).

 

[arche3]

Get a top spec Lenovo think pad laptop. You have to separate work (pc) from personal life (mac). Use the best tools that work for each job.

 

[casperes1996]

I'll say this; Bootcamp runs great on my iMac. But every time I've tried it on a laptop, the battery dies too fast compared to macOS, heat is high and fans thus spin faster during tasks that generate way less heat and fan noise on macOS. - For that reason I recommend virtualisation when possible; VMWare or Parallels on laptops. If performance is crucial or too new a version of DirectX is require, Bootcamp will have to do, but it's not an ideal experience in my past goes with it. For some things though you may be able to create a Wine Bottle with it. Worked for me when I needed a chemistry program called ChemSketch, but rarely works for more complex and 3D apps so SolidWorks will likely have to be Bootcamp or virtualisation. If you need anything programming related though, it's basically all available for macOS or a docker Linux instance, so that's no concern.

That's the info I can offer. Whether to get a Mac or a PC based on that - do what you think is best. If the majority of the time will be with Windows only software, I'd recommend the Dell.

 

[Venderious]

Dell XPS 15 for your use-case.