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Orians · 09:09 PM

Hello,

Since next year I am going to study engineering/architechture I understood, that buying a laptop has become a serious issue. I am tired of the naughty windows and of those PC problems, therefore I decided that buying a powerful MAC system could be a fine choice - for example a MacBook. But there is one thing that troubles me the most - what about my CAD software - AutoCAD? I know that I will use AutoCAD alot and I also know that it runs on a PC. But what about MACs? Is there some sort of emulation software - VirtualPC, any sort of possibilty of running Windows on a MAC with a x86 core? I wonder, if it is possible to get almost the same PC power on a MAC running on windows or vista? Since 3D modelling involves great resource usage. I also read that vista will support the feature, and i also know that several betas were released, does vista work on x86 macs?

So what is it then PC or Mac?

Thanks in advance

mduell · Jan 14, 2006, 05:27 PM

PowerCADD, MacDraft, Vector Works, and ArchiCAD are some of CAD packages available for OS X. As far as I know none of the popular (AutoCAD, SolidWorks, etc) or high-end (CATIA, I-deas, Pro/E, etc) CAD packages are available for OS X.

Performance in VPC is much to slow, espically for CAD. Also, VPC will not run on an Intel Mac until Microsoft updates it.

I expect to see Windows XP booting on Intel Macs within a month. Based on the possibility of using other bootloaders, EFI's legacy compatibility, the statements from Intel's Australian office, and Apple's statements that they've done nothing to prevent using Windows it sounds like it shouldn't be too hard.

shunt · 06:25 PM

This will probably get moved ....but for current Macs

Vectorworks and viewer is out,and should be on IntelMacs soon go to the download page...http://www.nemetschek.net/news/press...005/122005.php

Solidworks and Autocad files viewer called eDrawings is out but it crashes alot (for me anyways)....http://www.edrawingsviewer.com/MAC_Viewer.html

Right now the most fun thing to play with is Sketchup, very stable-fun-addictive (I even tried it on a G3 and it was usable, but just barely)....http://www.sketchup.com/....and Maxwell render is out in beta for it ..http://maxwellrender.com/

Check out this thread ...http://architoshforums.forest.net/showthread.php?t=1113

There are others ...you should probably check with your school though.

Try http://architosh.com/ for more info on similar software...

*note to self, slow down and think before typing*

k squared · Jan 14, 2006, 10:07 PM

First thing: it's Mac, not MAC. It's not an acronym, it's short for Macintosh.

I would wait until more people get their hands on an intel macs and start investigating dual boot scenarios. I'm interested in this too, as I use AutoCad everyday at work and then go home to my PowerBook. I have an educational version of VectorWorks from school, but just haven't the time to pick it up yet. Sadly, acad has corrupted me.

chipchen · Jan 15, 2006, 05:43 PM

About two years ago, the makers of AutoCAD asked the Mac community whether there would be any interest in a Mac version. There were a TON of responses... but we haven't heard anything since from the company. Contact the company, see what they say.

tooki · Jan 15, 2006, 06:58 PM

Application questions go in the Applications forum...

tooki

olePigeon · Jan 16, 2006, 06:46 PM

Originally Posted by chipchen

About two years ago, the makers of AutoCAD asked the Mac community whether there would be any interest in a Mac version. There were a TON of responses... but we haven't heard anything since from the company. Contact the company, see what they say.

They'll say "Not until DirectX is ported to OS X."

AutoDesk is Microsoft's b*tch.

OreoCookie · Jan 17, 2006, 01:14 AM

As far as I know (this is from an architect friend and not my own knowledge from first-hand experience), there are two big CAD programs (for architects) out there: AutoCAD and Vectorworks.

Vectorworks is available for the Mac while (currently) AutoCAD is not. So there is a professional CAD program if you want one, but if you need (for one reason or another) AutoCAD, you're screwed.

Orians · Jan 17, 2006, 03:16 PM

I need that AutoCAD, damn, I'm screwed, need to buy a pc then

By the way.....
I wonder whether it is possible to use the screen of powerbook or macbook as a pc monitor, this could solve some of my problems?????

f1000 · Jan 17, 2006, 07:37 PM

Originally Posted by Orians

I wonder whether it is possible to use the screen of powerbook or macbook as a pc monitor, this could solve some of my problems?????

Kind of...

http://www.microsoft.com/mac/otherpr...edesktopclient

Do a search for RDC or Remote Desktop Client for more info.

dru · Jan 17, 2006, 09:32 PM

Originally Posted by Orians

I need that AutoCAD, damn, I'm screwed, need to buy a pc then

By the way.....
I wonder whether it is possible to use the screen of powerbook or macbook as a pc monitor, this could solve some of my problems?????

Uh...Nope. You could wait see if folks successful get Windows running on the Intel-based Macs. Then you can have your cake and eat it too.

Orians · Jan 18, 2006, 12:40 PM

thanks a lot

heh, that remote desktop is kinda cool, but that means, that i should hook up a server on my windows xp PC, in order to link these babies without internet connection, hmmm, all this autocad stuff causes so much problems

autodesk must have made a deal with microsoft not to develop a mac version, although i think that the expenses of porting a programm to OSX would be covered 100 times from their earnings

f1000 · Jan 18, 2006, 01:00 PM

Originally Posted by Orians

heh, that remote desktop is kinda cool, but that means, that i should hook up a server on my windows xp PC, in order to link these babies without internet connection, hmmm, all this autocad stuff causes so much problems.

I don't understand. Buy/build a cheap PC desktop, load Windows XP Pro and AutoCAD onto it, and then plug the tower into your LAN. You can then RDC into your WinXP box from your PowerBook and run applications from it.

Some programs run much faster under RDC than Virtual PC. Other applications that are graphics intensive and/or require frequent UI feedback run horribly on RDC. Find someone with AutoCAD and Windows XP Pro (or one of the other RDC compatible Windows versions) and see if you can access AutoCAD using RDC.

osxrules · Jan 18, 2006, 05:53 PM

Generally what I hear from people in the know is that Autocad sucks. I know people who have whole CAD departments using Macs. I don't remember what software they are using but I'm willing to bet it's Vectorworks. I've used it myself and it's pretty good. I also used archicad and it was pretty good too.

Ultimately, all you are doing is modelling dxf files so why bother what program you use? As long as it lets you get the job done in the quickest way possible. You can easily import your files back into Autocad if you need to.

mduell · Jan 18, 2006, 07:27 PM

Using a CAD program over RDC (or VNC) sounds painful.

Orians · Jan 19, 2006, 10:22 AM

Originally Posted by mduell

Using a CAD program over RDC (or VNC) sounds painful.

yeah, I decided that the best chioce is to build a cheap pc system and run all my CAD apps on it. And use my laptop for everything else. This could be the fastest option anyway. Since using Remote desktop for great amounts of work sounds a little bit uncovenient

Thanks also for suggesting the alternatives, but sadly I can only use AutoCAD.

Millennium · Jan 19, 2006, 11:07 AM

Unfortunately, AutoCAD is one of those irreplaceable programs: when you need it, nothing else will do. You could probably run it using VirtualPC, but this likely wouldn't be a pleasant option.

Building a cheap PC and running AutoCAD on it is probably the best way to go.

elrah · Jan 19, 2006, 12:23 PM

ArchiCAD is much better than AutoCAD. Especially if you are going to study architecture.

Most companies run AutoCAD for the same reason most companies run Winblows.

Orians · Jan 19, 2006, 02:42 PM

Originally Posted by elrah

ArchiCAD is much better than AutoCAD. Especially if you are going to study architecture.

i am going to study civil engineering

Pao|o · Aug 5, 2006, 04:21 PM

How about AutoCAD under Parallels Desktop?

analogika · Aug 5, 2006, 04:31 PM

Eight months ago, that wasn't an option.

(Should be fine now, though.)

Pao|o · Aug 5, 2006, 04:53 PM

Originally Posted by analogika

Eight months ago, that wasn't an option.

(Should be fine now, though.)

4,200 posts

Anyone using AutoCAD under Parallels Desktop?

k squared · Aug 5, 2006, 07:59 PM

Sure. Works great in full screen mode. This is just the 2D stuff, no modeling.

Off topic, yet design related: Using SketchUp (free version) under XP/Boot Camp is much smoother than running it under OS X. Not sure if it's because the application is still PowerPC or because XP takes advantage of more VRAM.

EDIT: ACAD was running under the Parallels beta. I haven't purchased the release version yet.

Pao|o · Aug 5, 2006, 09:09 PM

how about 3d stuff or modeling?