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General discussion

Engineering software. Shoud I buy a MAC?

Apr 27, 2008 12:41AM PDT

Hi, people. This is my first post on this forum.

I'm engineering student, and I work in a company where I have to use diverse software tools for engineering... My tasks, both at the university and at the company, are related with mechatronics: some topics with mechanical design 3D, and others with programmable logic controllers (PLCs), robotics, communication, sensors... So, have to use the laptop with varied software (LabView, Solid Edge, AutoCAD,...), even in the future maybe I will need to use more specific programs, special drivers for devices and machines, etc., not so well-know like previous mentioned.

I'm thinking about buying a laptop, and the idea of acquire a MAC attracts me, due to its robustness and its very high graphic proccesing performance, I think ideal for those programs for 3D mechanical design. But, of course, the idea of leave Windows, have compatibility problems and begin learning a new OS frightens me. I don't know if I will find all this software I need (varied engineering software). And, if I don't find it, I don't know if my MAC will run slowly when I had to execute Windows parallely in it. Furthermore, I don't know if I can download these software from internet (both these programs I already use, but in MAC version; and those analogous to these I use but own of MAC), or if I will have to buy them...

On the other hand, I don't if I will need many time to get used to this new OS, or maybe, I will use it with normally in few days.

So, is here anybody in a similar situation to me?; in general, what do you recommend me in my situation?, should I buy a MAC?

Thanks in advance.

Regards,
Francisco

Discussion is locked

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If you can afford the dual boot to XP, maybe.
Apr 27, 2008 1:05AM PDT

It's a great machine, OS and more but I'd hedge my bets by having a full copy of the retail XP SP2 plus VMFusion. That's a few hundred buck surcharge just to get your engineering fix.

In your case, a 1K buck laptop is likely a better idea.
Bob

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Surf to TUAW (The Unofficial Apple Website)
Apr 27, 2008 9:41AM PDT