Should I change? should I stay?
Hello everybody
I'm in front of a great dillema.
I wish to buy a new computer, and I'm playing with the idea of buying a power mac, for a time...
Until now I have used x86, mainly Intel, platform computers, with windows and linux.
My big worry is about the softwares.
I am an engineer and I use several programs for which I didn't find any equivalent under MacOs. For example Autodesk Inventor Series 9, Protel Dxp...etc.
Could anybody help with some advices or links?
Also if there is any possibility of getting "grey" softwares? (try before buy)
File sharing programs?
Is it difficult to migrate from windows to MacOs?
thank you in advance, best wishes,
eRic
I'm in front of a great dillema.
I wish to buy a new computer, and I'm playing with the idea of buying a power mac, for a time...
Until now I have used x86, mainly Intel, platform computers, with windows and linux.
My big worry is about the softwares.
I am an engineer and I use several programs for which I didn't find any equivalent under MacOs. For example Autodesk Inventor Series 9, Protel Dxp...etc.
Could anybody help with some advices or links?
Also if there is any possibility of getting "grey" softwares? (try before buy)
File sharing programs?
Is it difficult to migrate from windows to MacOs?
thank you in advance, best wishes,
eRic
Comments
You won't be disappointed. yes there are less programs out there for the mac but for the most part they work better.
You can also run Windows on the power mac and thus have your cake and eat it too. The program is called virtual PC and it is made by microsoft for the mac.
just do it!
it's great then, I could have several OS on the workstation.
Is this emulator affecting the performance of the machine?
It will become slower?
Originally posted by eRicBorg
Hello everybody
I'm in front of a great dillema.
I wish to buy a new computer, and I'm playing with the idea of buying a power mac, for a time...
Until now I have used x86, mainly Intel, platform computers, with windows and linux.
My big worry is about the softwares.
I am an engineer and I use several programs for which I didn't find any equivalent under MacOs. For example Autodesk Inventor Series 9, Protel Dxp...etc.
Could anybody help with some advices or links?
Also if there is any possibility of getting "grey" softwares? (try before buy)
File sharing programs?
Is it difficult to migrate from windows to MacOs?
thank you in advance, best wishes,
eRic
Wish I could be of more help, but Apple has instructions on how to switch.
Go to http://www.apple.com/
Under the Apple file folder select the "Switch" menu item(http://www.apple.com/switch/).
Just under the Swither's pictures in the grayed out area is a selection you'll see the "How to Switch" link(http://www.apple.com/switch/howto/).
There Apple has some pretty detailed instructions on switching.
sorry I couldn't be more helpful, good luck.
Originally posted by eRicBorg
wow, i didn't know that!!
it's great then, I could have several OS on the workstation.
Is this emulator affecting the performance of the machine?
It will become slower?
Anything run under emulation will be slower than running the program on its intended platform. I'm not sure Autodesk's Inventor does (is it CAD?) so I couldn't provide any links, although you might be able to find more information on useable programs for the Mac at http://www.architosh.com/ .
Non-emulated (read OS X) programs will still run at the same speed, only programs run through the emulator (in this case Virtual PC) will be slower.
I would seriously research the software aspect before you buy because you don't want to end up with a laptop that doesn't do what you need it to do.
That being said, I'd take an Apple laptop over PC laptop anyday. In fact, I'm on my second Apple laptop now and I love its ease of use, simplicity and functionality.
I do have under Linux an emulator, and saw the performance decrease, thats why I was asking
Yes, it's a CAD program, mostly mechanics.
Thanks for the help
Originally posted by eRicBorg
yes, I thought about that
I do have under Linux an emulator, and saw the performance decrease, thats why I was asking
Yes, it's a CAD program, mostly mechanics.
Thanks for the help
Other options are for you to find a CAD program that can open and save compatible files, or you might be able to buy a Unix version of the program and run it under X11 or another Xwindows "emulator" (not exactly sure how this works, but there has been some write ups on how to do this.), there might even be an open source Unix CAD program that you could use via X11 that reads and writes the Autodesk formatted files which would save you the cost of buying any new software for this purpose.
http://www.nemetschek.net/mechanical/index.html
Vector Works is a pro CAD program for OS X.
If the primary apps you need are on Windows, then I'd recommend a Windows notebook. Emulation is an option, but you'd want to try it first because it'll be significantly slower than running natively.
Mac notebooks are fantastic, but if they don't run the apps you want, they're not much good to you.
Yesterday I made a deep search on the net, for softwares.
These are the softwares wich I use for work:
-Macromedia series for web graphics
-Adobe Photoshop
-Corel Draw
-Protel DXP for electronic circuit design
-Autodesk Inventor Series 9 for mechanical and integration
I have found the first three isues on MacOs too, I think there would be no problem.
I have found an application which looks like Protel, Berkeley's Spice i think.
I have found CAD programs, however none as Inventor, which is good not only in mechanics, but also in integrating devices, electric panels, etc.
So, in conclusion only Inventor would be a question.
Originally posted by a_greer
WHen it comes to software on the mac, I find that there is less BUT what is missing is riff-raff, there are not many choices on the mac but what is there is the best, for example, there are like 10-20 photo orginizers on the Windows side, but Mac has iPhoto and maybe one other one but that is all you need. there are examples of this all over the place, from photos, to enginering, to high end math, to video to 3D and so on.
I agree with you for the most part, but there are some programs, like Framemaker which has no peer and is no longer available on the Mac side of things.
eRicBorg, there are some very good CAD programs out for the mac, like VectorWorks 11, ArchiCAD for architecture only), and formZ (a general purpose solid and surface modeler) -- just to name a few. Unfortunaltly, I don't thank that there is a Mac program that will give you the same exact feature set that you get with the Autodesk Inventor Series
Originally posted by eRicBorg
I think the right word is finded not founded, sorry
No, founded is correct, if you are the founder of the company.
If you meant you found a copy of Linux for Macs, that has a different meaning altogether.