How long is it going to take before autocad and 3ds max become mac compatible? I'm planning on buying a Powermac G5 but don't want to spend tons of money on new software. I know that my adobe creative suite can easily be transported from my pc to mac, but i'm not sure about autodesk products. Virtuall pc works terrible with 3ds max so that is out of the question.
I don't think the first intel-based macs are supposed to ship until 2007 and they probably won't release an intel desktop until 2008, from what I've heard. Makes you wonder why they announced it so early and ran the risk of diluting sales for the next three years.
Sorry, I had to say it. Do yourself a favor. If you can't part with your Mac but need to use the other software, buy a cheap Dell worksation (make sure you spend on the gfx card and system ram) to do your cad work. This is what most Macaholics I know do.
I've considered it myself, because to this day I don't understand why the PC industry can't outdo Apple on their price/gfx capabilities or their weight to price ratio.
I'm not fond of the Mac OS so I wish they'd concentrate on industrial design and cross platform shareware (which they are quite good at) then trying to compete with Microsoft. Windows may have it's bugs, but I think that has more to do with Microsofts coding policies than bad design. From what I've read their coders are given free reign which results in very chaotic, inefficient code. Apple is a bit more facist and what results is simple, bug free program code.
Sorry for heading off track, but I thought I owed you more than my previous smart ass remark.
i would not surprised if apple's ultimate goal in switching to intel powered machines is, down the road, to take on microsoft head-to-head. maybe after microsoft's next release of windows "vista" is seen to be the buggy and bloated monstrosity that it surely will be, apple will release a version of their OS that can run on any dell, hp, gateway, etc.
i'm not a pc or windows hater though. i run both platforms and using the pc can be a nice escape from macland. windows is definitely easier for the end user to control almost every aspect of the expereince but i also think that's part of it's downfall for the average joe who doesn't know anything about computers. now that windows, apple, and linux will all be competing on the same intel-based playing field, it will be interesting to see how that competition changes things, i hope for the better.
Actually, the reviews have been pretty nice for Vista. We'll see. I still have seen no reason to upgrade to XP on this machine (it's W2000), although my other machines have XP Pro.
I know Sony will be taking on Microsoft with it's CELL chip, which has the potentail to completely change the market place. It's interesting seeing how Sony will not spec anything Microsoft and avoids making anything compatible. Teamed with IBM and others, they have a good chance.
They will most likely be using a Linux based operating system.
Apple and Intel, eh? I doubt it. Intel relies too much on MS powered machines. Someone like Sony, I can see, as they don't need MS.
My guess is that they are tired of having less than 5% of the market, so they'll be making apples that can run MS operating systems. This is what I've read and seems reasonable.
Fine with me, the only thing I don't like about Apples is the operating system (no, I don't like windows too much, but I really don't like OS X). They are pretty and could compete in the upper end niche/gaming markets (with co.'s like Voodoo).
I'd consider buying one, as they are very well made.
I do hope you can run everything on everything, soon, so everyone will be able to choose what they want in hardware and software. Competition is good.
I can't understand why any arch office, or architect, would pay for Apples. Overhead is typically so low and computer updates so rare, that it's a HUGE waste of money! You can get a Dell with significantly faster componenets for such a savings, not to mention support and compatibility.
For other markets, I can see why you'd want one, but not architecture.
Trace, you do know apple is planning on switching to using all intel chips within the next few years, right? From your post I can't tell.
I'd be curious to hear what specifically you dislike about Mac OS? A lot of people I've heard say they don't like it are just not used to it. Contrary to what you say, I know a good number of people who would flock to buy Mac OS, myself included, and run it on thier Dells, Gateways, etc.
As for sony, they've never gone very far with their other silly proprietary technologies like the memory stick or the mini disc, so I doubt the CELL chip is going to perform much better. I don't think anybody is going to make a dent in microsoft's market share without competing on their terms. people won't turn away from windows until they know they won't have to give up other existing hardware and software. i think apple recognizes this and that's why they're making the move to intel-based machines.
As for why apples in an architecture office...I didn't make the choice in my office and agree with many of your points except the point that a cheap pc would offer better support and compatibilty. It is not difficult or expensive to support our macs. They are not prone to mechanical failures and are not plagued by the viruses and spyware that cause so many headaches in windows. We have no problems with compatibility either. We can't run autocad of course, but have no problem creating and receiving .dwg files. Just about every other piece of software we use has mac and pc versions so there are no issues there. In my office, they have been using macs since the 80's, my boss loves them, and the costs of switching platforms (buying all new software and hardware all at once, plus retraining of employees, plus the time needed to migrate projects, standards, files, etc.) would probably be more than just sticking with the macs.
I DO have a dell to run Autocadd and 3ds, which i've replaced the fan twice, upgraded the ram to 2.5 ghz and have to keep the side open with a large desktop fan blowing on it at all times.
My old G5 smoked animations and I never heard a peep from it. Although it was pricey, I find myself "tweaking" my pc more than I actually work on it. And when you bill out at $X dollars an hour, that can be expensive.
I wonder, with Apples switch to Intel processors, what changes lie ahead. I would imagine that Apple is doing pretty much everything in their power to resolve the compatibility issues with industry standard software like AutoCAD. They pretty much have to, unless they are planning to head more into gadgets thatn PCs.
we'll see about the CELL chip, but so far the specs blow away anything by AMD and Intel. With IBM, Sony, and I forget who else design them/making them, I am fairly confident they'll make an impact. IBM has plenty of experience making chips.
It's aimed at the games market, not PC market, but as anyone can see, the next generation or so will blur if not eliminate the distinctions. This is where Sony (via Playstation) wants to kill MS, and they could possibly do it. A cheap PC with crazy power, no need for windows, and the support ( = r & d $$) via games to keep it going sounds pretty compelling to me.
All this is going to be interesting, Apple's on Intel, PCs without Windows, etc.
Cell is not a workstation chip. Software has to be specially written to take anything like advantage of the Cell's parallel structure. One company has announced it will make Cell-based rack-mount servers, but this would be for web- and database-serving, and totally unsuited for 3D modelling, CAD or image manipulation. Running ordinary, unoptimised code on the Cell is very slow.
Last I heard, developers were complaining that the Cell was hard to write for because software had to be manually threaded.
Cell is 80% Sony hype. They hyped the PS2 'Emotion Engine' the same way.
Oct 8, 05 8:28 pm ·
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When is autocad/3ds max going to be mac compatible?
How long is it going to take before autocad and 3ds max become mac compatible? I'm planning on buying a Powermac G5 but don't want to spend tons of money on new software. I know that my adobe creative suite can easily be transported from my pc to mac, but i'm not sure about autodesk products. Virtuall pc works terrible with 3ds max so that is out of the question.
Dont buy a mac if you want autocadd or Max. The rewrite wont happen anytime soon my friend.
I don't think the first intel-based macs are supposed to ship until 2007 and they probably won't release an intel desktop until 2008, from what I've heard. Makes you wonder why they announced it so early and ran the risk of diluting sales for the next three years.
When Mac users start buying PCs
that's what i did
i actually really like my HP laptop and it was 1/2 the price of a powerbook
and i can right-click and scroll, dammit
on a mac now and right clicking and scrolling just fine...been doing so for almost 10 years...will that misconception EVER die?
Sorry, I had to say it. Do yourself a favor. If you can't part with your Mac but need to use the other software, buy a cheap Dell worksation (make sure you spend on the gfx card and system ram) to do your cad work. This is what most Macaholics I know do.
I've considered it myself, because to this day I don't understand why the PC industry can't outdo Apple on their price/gfx capabilities or their weight to price ratio.
I'm not fond of the Mac OS so I wish they'd concentrate on industrial design and cross platform shareware (which they are quite good at) then trying to compete with Microsoft. Windows may have it's bugs, but I think that has more to do with Microsofts coding policies than bad design. From what I've read their coders are given free reign which results in very chaotic, inefficient code. Apple is a bit more facist and what results is simple, bug free program code.
Sorry for heading off track, but I thought I owed you more than my previous smart ass remark.
Good luck!
And one more thing:
Dude buy a Dell!
as the proud owner of 6 I can't say enough good things about this "Ford Escort" of the computer industry.
i would not surprised if apple's ultimate goal in switching to intel powered machines is, down the road, to take on microsoft head-to-head. maybe after microsoft's next release of windows "vista" is seen to be the buggy and bloated monstrosity that it surely will be, apple will release a version of their OS that can run on any dell, hp, gateway, etc.
i'm not a pc or windows hater though. i run both platforms and using the pc can be a nice escape from macland. windows is definitely easier for the end user to control almost every aspect of the expereince but i also think that's part of it's downfall for the average joe who doesn't know anything about computers. now that windows, apple, and linux will all be competing on the same intel-based playing field, it will be interesting to see how that competition changes things, i hope for the better.
Actually, the reviews have been pretty nice for Vista. We'll see. I still have seen no reason to upgrade to XP on this machine (it's W2000), although my other machines have XP Pro.
I know Sony will be taking on Microsoft with it's CELL chip, which has the potentail to completely change the market place. It's interesting seeing how Sony will not spec anything Microsoft and avoids making anything compatible. Teamed with IBM and others, they have a good chance.
They will most likely be using a Linux based operating system.
Apple and Intel, eh? I doubt it. Intel relies too much on MS powered machines. Someone like Sony, I can see, as they don't need MS.
My guess is that they are tired of having less than 5% of the market, so they'll be making apples that can run MS operating systems. This is what I've read and seems reasonable.
Fine with me, the only thing I don't like about Apples is the operating system (no, I don't like windows too much, but I really don't like OS X). They are pretty and could compete in the upper end niche/gaming markets (with co.'s like Voodoo).
I'd consider buying one, as they are very well made.
I do hope you can run everything on everything, soon, so everyone will be able to choose what they want in hardware and software. Competition is good.
I can't understand why any arch office, or architect, would pay for Apples. Overhead is typically so low and computer updates so rare, that it's a HUGE waste of money! You can get a Dell with significantly faster componenets for such a savings, not to mention support and compatibility.
For other markets, I can see why you'd want one, but not architecture.
test
Trace, you do know apple is planning on switching to using all intel chips within the next few years, right? From your post I can't tell.
I'd be curious to hear what specifically you dislike about Mac OS? A lot of people I've heard say they don't like it are just not used to it. Contrary to what you say, I know a good number of people who would flock to buy Mac OS, myself included, and run it on thier Dells, Gateways, etc.
As for sony, they've never gone very far with their other silly proprietary technologies like the memory stick or the mini disc, so I doubt the CELL chip is going to perform much better. I don't think anybody is going to make a dent in microsoft's market share without competing on their terms. people won't turn away from windows until they know they won't have to give up other existing hardware and software. i think apple recognizes this and that's why they're making the move to intel-based machines.
As for why apples in an architecture office...I didn't make the choice in my office and agree with many of your points except the point that a cheap pc would offer better support and compatibilty. It is not difficult or expensive to support our macs. They are not prone to mechanical failures and are not plagued by the viruses and spyware that cause so many headaches in windows. We have no problems with compatibility either. We can't run autocad of course, but have no problem creating and receiving .dwg files. Just about every other piece of software we use has mac and pc versions so there are no issues there. In my office, they have been using macs since the 80's, my boss loves them, and the costs of switching platforms (buying all new software and hardware all at once, plus retraining of employees, plus the time needed to migrate projects, standards, files, etc.) would probably be more than just sticking with the macs.
AutoCAD will never be available on an apple (Marklar aside), and frankly I never want to have 20 year old dinosaur like AutoCAD muddy up my mac!
VW - for cad
Cin4d / Formz / Maya - for 3d...
problem solved.
I DO have a dell to run Autocadd and 3ds, which i've replaced the fan twice, upgraded the ram to 2.5 ghz and have to keep the side open with a large desktop fan blowing on it at all times.
My old G5 smoked animations and I never heard a peep from it. Although it was pricey, I find myself "tweaking" my pc more than I actually work on it. And when you bill out at $X dollars an hour, that can be expensive.
For AutoCAD / Studio Max on Mac, there has to be a big enough market to justify the expenditure on porting and maintaining the software.
Apple just can't offer that yet.
I wonder, with Apples switch to Intel processors, what changes lie ahead. I would imagine that Apple is doing pretty much everything in their power to resolve the compatibility issues with industry standard software like AutoCAD. They pretty much have to, unless they are planning to head more into gadgets thatn PCs.
Are there any starchitects that use macs?
or any star architects that use computers for that matter? besides the very young ones...
At Antoine Predock's studio it is all G5's
Modeling done primarily in Form z and drawings done in VW
rebelliou.... you must be kidding...most starchitects use computers...
From Zaha Hadid, to Eisenman to Gehry
we'll see about the CELL chip, but so far the specs blow away anything by AMD and Intel. With IBM, Sony, and I forget who else design them/making them, I am fairly confident they'll make an impact. IBM has plenty of experience making chips.
It's aimed at the games market, not PC market, but as anyone can see, the next generation or so will blur if not eliminate the distinctions. This is where Sony (via Playstation) wants to kill MS, and they could possibly do it. A cheap PC with crazy power, no need for windows, and the support ( = r & d $$) via games to keep it going sounds pretty compelling to me.
All this is going to be interesting, Apple's on Intel, PCs without Windows, etc.
Cell is not a workstation chip. Software has to be specially written to take anything like advantage of the Cell's parallel structure. One company has announced it will make Cell-based rack-mount servers, but this would be for web- and database-serving, and totally unsuited for 3D modelling, CAD or image manipulation. Running ordinary, unoptimised code on the Cell is very slow.
Last I heard, developers were complaining that the Cell was hard to write for because software had to be manually threaded.
Cell is 80% Sony hype. They hyped the PS2 'Emotion Engine' the same way.
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