My PC is dead, so I'm buying a Mac. Questions within...
My PC died on me yesterday, it's completely dead, won't power up at all. So I'm thinking of switching. I already have a MacBook but it's really my wife's machine, so while I have some Mac experience I'm still basically a PC guy.
I have a few questions in advance of the purchase though, which hopefully you helpful sorts will be able to answer:
- If I stick my PC's 750gb SATA internal drive in an external USB/eSATA enclosure, will I be able to plug this into my new Mac and read the contents? It's formatted to NTFS.
- Can I buy a custom spec iMac from an Apple store? The Apple.com delivery time goes from 24 hours to 5 weeks as soon as I customise a machine. I'd want the ATI graphics card option in the machine, not the default NVidia one.
- Which is better for 3D and video work - VM Ware or Parallels? Running Vista obviously, and apps like Mudbox, Zbrush, Maya, and video conversion/transcoding applications.
Thanks all.
I have a few questions in advance of the purchase though, which hopefully you helpful sorts will be able to answer:
- If I stick my PC's 750gb SATA internal drive in an external USB/eSATA enclosure, will I be able to plug this into my new Mac and read the contents? It's formatted to NTFS.
- Can I buy a custom spec iMac from an Apple store? The Apple.com delivery time goes from 24 hours to 5 weeks as soon as I customise a machine. I'd want the ATI graphics card option in the machine, not the default NVidia one.
- Which is better for 3D and video work - VM Ware or Parallels? Running Vista obviously, and apps like Mudbox, Zbrush, Maya, and video conversion/transcoding applications.
Thanks all.
Comments
2. If you want it now, you'll probably have to get Nvidia. If the wait is 5 weeks, it probably means ATI is not fulfilling orders in a timely manner. It has nothing to do with service time. My friends at Nvidia tell me that they kick the tar out of ATI, but I image they are biased.
3. Bootcamp may be your best option if you feel you must run PC. That said, VMWare has much better USB support, so it's probably required if you want to plug in your USB keys.
The absolute best option is just to call up the developers of your 3D apps and tell them to send you the mac version ... that is, if the disc itself didn't have both installers. Most of these companies are small and more often than not you can get in touch with people who matter. IIRC, Maya and ZBrush have mac versions. I don't know Mudbox: never heard of it. I'm old timey: FormZ and ElectricImage ... two long-time stalwarts of 3D on the mac!
As for the Nvidia vs ATI thing, what is the performance difference between the two cards Apple offer on the highest end iMac? If memory serves my PC (RIP) had a GeForce 7800 GTS (or GTX? I forget) in it.
Mudbox by the way is 3D sculpting software. It's similar to zbrush, but is by Autodesk (makers of Maya and 3D Studio Max).
As for the Nvidia vs ATI thing, what is the performance difference between the two cards Apple offer on the highest end iMac? If memory serves my PC (RIP) had a GeForce 7800 GTS (or GTX? I forget) in it.
The performance difference between a Geforce GT130 and a Radeon 4850 would be like night and day for modern games at 1920x1200.
Nvidia 2008, ATI 2009.
My PC died on me yesterday, it's completely dead, won't power up at all. So I'm thinking of switching. I already have a MacBook but it's really my wife's machine, so while I have some Mac experience I'm still basically a PC guy.
I have a few questions in advance of the purchase though, which hopefully you helpful sorts will be able to answer:
- If I stick my PC's 750gb SATA internal drive in an external USB/eSATA enclosure, will I be able to plug this into my new Mac and read the contents? It's formatted to NTFS.
- Can I buy a custom spec iMac from an Apple store? The Apple.com delivery time goes from 24 hours to 5 weeks as soon as I customise a machine. I'd want the ATI graphics card option in the machine, not the default NVidia one.
- Which is better for 3D and video work - VM Ware or Parallels? Running Vista obviously, and apps like Mudbox, Zbrush, Maya, and video conversion/transcoding applications.
Thanks all.