is there any good, simple and "on the run" mac app for 2d CAD?
Search the Software forum for more detail, wink. But the short answer is that if you can live without AutoCAD, your best (and superior) bets on the iBook will be VectorWorks and ArchiCAD. I understand that at least VectorWorks is pretty much file compatible with AutoCAD (don't know about ArchiCAD).
i'm planing to buy a new 12" 1GHz ibook, with 1,25 GB ram.
how does it perform with 2d and 3d autocad?
is there any good, simple and "on the run" mac app for 2d CAD?
tnks
I'm not sure what "on the run" means, but if 2D CAD is what you're after, then I would give a serious look at High Design. It's from an Italian developer and has perhaps the nicest CAD GUI I've seen/used. For 3D work, ArchiCAD and VectorWorks (now at version 11), as Escher writes, are standards on the Mac platform and both translate .dwg pretty well.
My advice: try to stay away from VPC and AutoCad as much as possible. If you really have to use AutoCad, then buy a PC and be happy (as much as one can be happy using AutoCAD).
My guess is that 2D AutoCAD should be fine in VPC. The exception being is if you plan to work with drawings that are very, very complex. Then you will probably observe a substantial performance hit in video performance (drawing many, many lines), since videocard acceleration is essentially emulated in software off the host CPU, as well.
3D CAD is probably pushing it, but it is still possible as long as the objects are fairly simple. I've done a bit of 3D CAD in VPC- it was feasible, but not too far from pulling nails.
You can give yourself a bit of a leg up by choosing/configuring for the most stripped-down, streamlined Windows OS as possible. This is so you can devote the most resources to the application, itself, in the absence of a boggy, bloated OS setup. Try WinNT if you can get a hold of it. Win2k should be fine, as well, but getting a bit taxing. WinXP, though most feature-rich and compatible, will probably place an unnecessary resource burden, especially if you keep all that UI graphics gimmickery enabled. If you really are masochistic and don't mind the occasional crash to blue-screen, you could try a stripped down Win95. The nice thing about VPC, is that you can easily boot between different OS configurations/types, at will (or run them simultaneously, even). So you could have a streamlined, slim to the bone version on one bootable partition, and an updated, feature-rich version on another partition. That way you won't miss out on anything between speed and functionality. Just prepare to have plenty of HD space and RAM to throw at it...
FormZ is great, though it's more of a 3D program with 2D capabilities rather than a 2D program with 3D capabilities, the way AutoCAD is. I do most of my industrial design work in FormZ and Electric Image. Of course, I do it entirely in 3D, but I noticed that FormZ has a drafting subprogram a few times.
RAM and HD space don't mean with thing in ACAD. The crucial issue is slow video redraws and slow drive access. It will drive you crazy. If you have to do any serious drawing in ACAD get a cheap PC. Anything else is an exercise in frustration.
You'll need the HD space if you plan on keeping multiple OS partitions (of course, that isn't much of an issue if you have a wide open 20+ GB HD waiting for you. The RAM is to ensure you can configure your PC's with a decent memory setting so they don't have to hit the paging file too much. As mentioned before, video redraws shouldn't be too daunting as long as you keep the 2D drawing complexity within reason.
FormZ is great, though it's more of a 3D program with 2D capabilities rather than a 2D program with 3D capabilities, the way AutoCAD is.
Well put. FWIW, the entire University of Cincinnati Architecture & Design school switched to form*Z from AutoCAD, principally because the entire college switched to Mac. It is a pretty good program, but for some 2D design, you can't beat autoCAD.
i'm studing to be an architect, so the laptop would serve to do some plans and sideviews while i'm at scholl, as well as some 3d forms, while i don't change to another better program, (formz, you said?) and some lisp programs.
i would maintain my home pc for some larger renderings, etc.
My reference machine for VPC and AutoCad was a 1 GHz, 1 GB RAM, 17" PowerBook running Win 2000 and ACAD 2000. I just can't recommend it for any type of serious or productive work. It felt like I was using an old P-II machine.
If you are intent on using a Mac, don't use AutoCad; if you're intent on using AutoCad, get a PC.
i'm studing to be an architect, so the laptop would serve to do some plans and sideviews while i'm at scholl, as well as some 3d forms, while i don't change to another better program, (formz, you said?) and some lisp programs.
i would maintain my home pc for some larger renderings, etc.
Mostly for 3D work. Sucks for rendering--too slow. Most arch schools are on FormZ as a legacy of FormZ's strong education program, but many schools have moved to Viz or Maya for serious 3D work (multiple renderers as plugins, speed, even faked radiosity looks good). AutoCAD is also used to drive laser cutters, mills etc.
ok. As long as you're not using it in a professional situtation where liability is involved, .DWG export /import is fine. Like most programs with .DWG import it cannot handle x-refs, making it a time-suck if you have files with x-refs.
Comments
Originally posted by wink
is there any good, simple and "on the run" mac app for 2d CAD?
Search the Software forum for more detail, wink. But the short answer is that if you can live without AutoCAD, your best (and superior) bets on the iBook will be VectorWorks and ArchiCAD. I understand that at least VectorWorks is pretty much file compatible with AutoCAD (don't know about ArchiCAD).
Escher
Originally posted by wink
i'm planing to buy a new 12" 1GHz ibook, with 1,25 GB ram.
how does it perform with 2d and 3d autocad?
is there any good, simple and "on the run" mac app for 2d CAD?
tnks
I'm not sure what "on the run" means, but if 2D CAD is what you're after, then I would give a serious look at High Design. It's from an Italian developer and has perhaps the nicest CAD GUI I've seen/used. For 3D work, ArchiCAD and VectorWorks (now at version 11), as Escher writes, are standards on the Mac platform and both translate .dwg pretty well.
My advice: try to stay away from VPC and AutoCad as much as possible. If you really have to use AutoCad, then buy a PC and be happy (as much as one can be happy using AutoCAD).
3D CAD is probably pushing it, but it is still possible as long as the objects are fairly simple. I've done a bit of 3D CAD in VPC- it was feasible, but not too far from pulling nails.
You can give yourself a bit of a leg up by choosing/configuring for the most stripped-down, streamlined Windows OS as possible. This is so you can devote the most resources to the application, itself, in the absence of a boggy, bloated OS setup. Try WinNT if you can get a hold of it. Win2k should be fine, as well, but getting a bit taxing. WinXP, though most feature-rich and compatible, will probably place an unnecessary resource burden, especially if you keep all that UI graphics gimmickery enabled. If you really are masochistic and don't mind the occasional crash to blue-screen, you could try a stripped down Win95. The nice thing about VPC, is that you can easily boot between different OS configurations/types, at will (or run them simultaneously, even). So you could have a streamlined, slim to the bone version on one bootable partition, and an updated, feature-rich version on another partition. That way you won't miss out on anything between speed and functionality. Just prepare to have plenty of HD space and RAM to throw at it...
FormZ is great, though it's more of a 3D program with 2D capabilities rather than a 2D program with 3D capabilities, the way AutoCAD is. I do most of my industrial design work in FormZ and Electric Image. Of course, I do it entirely in 3D, but I noticed that FormZ has a drafting subprogram a few times.
Originally posted by Splinemodel
What kind of CAD do you do?
FormZ is great, though it's more of a 3D program with 2D capabilities rather than a 2D program with 3D capabilities, the way AutoCAD is.
Well put. FWIW, the entire University of Cincinnati Architecture & Design school switched to form*Z from AutoCAD, principally because the entire college switched to Mac. It is a pretty good program, but for some 2D design, you can't beat autoCAD.
i would maintain my home pc for some larger renderings, etc.
If you are intent on using a Mac, don't use AutoCad; if you're intent on using AutoCad, get a PC.
Originally posted by wink
i'm studing to be an architect, so the laptop would serve to do some plans and sideviews while i'm at scholl, as well as some 3d forms, while i don't change to another better program, (formz, you said?) and some lisp programs.
i would maintain my home pc for some larger renderings, etc.
newsbrief: FormZ is used heavily by architects.
gotta start thinking of really changing from autocad.
But most for rendering, right?
Mostly for 3D work. Sucks for rendering--too slow. Most arch schools are on FormZ as a legacy of FormZ's strong education program, but many schools have moved to Viz or Maya for serious 3D work (multiple renderers as plugins, speed, even faked radiosity looks good). AutoCAD is also used to drive laser cutters, mills etc.
and how's it with dwg export/import?
and how's it with dwg export/import?
ok. As long as you're not using it in a professional situtation where liability is involved, .DWG export /import is fine. Like most programs with .DWG import it cannot handle x-refs, making it a time-suck if you have files with x-refs.