smorales02
22nd Apr 2008, 04:35 am
Im assuming they are compatible, but I want to know if anyone currently has a MAC and uses ACAD on a regular basis on it???? If so, how good is it? Also if I were to go with a MAC, which one would be best?
View Full Version : AutoCad and MAC
Alan Cullen
22nd Apr 2008, 05:02 am
This is a quote from a FAQ....
Autodesk does not support the use of either AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT on Apple computers. For more information, and for system requirements for industry specific versions, visit the Autodesk (http://www.autodesk.com/) website.
This issue has been discussed at various times here, so would probably pay you to do a search of the forums.
Autodesk does not support the use of either AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT on Apple computers. For more information, and for system requirements for industry specific versions, visit the Autodesk (http://www.autodesk.com/) website.
This issue has been discussed at various times here, so would probably pay you to do a search of the forums.
ReMark
22nd Apr 2008, 11:07 am
Did you know that Release 11 and 12 were both available for the Mac?
I looked into this as well and decided not to pursue it. The recommendation was to buy an Intel based Mac running the Leopard OS X with Boot Camp. I understand that the system did not perform very well (i.e. - slow).
I looked into this as well and decided not to pursue it. The recommendation was to buy an Intel based Mac running the Leopard OS X with Boot Camp. I understand that the system did not perform very well (i.e. - slow).
f700es
22nd Apr 2008, 01:22 pm
As a part-time mac user I must ask several questions...
1. Why? Why do you need a mac if you are going to be using AutoCAD? Is there some other mac only application that you use?
2. If you go this route you have 2 options: BootCamp (dual booting) and Parallels Desktop - http://www.parallels.com/en/products/desktop/?from=button. You can now, according to the site, get full 3D acceleration from parallels. I have not tried this so I cannot comment on if it's true or not.
3. You are going to pay more this route. Macs cost more, yes they do. The only real deal on a mac is the pro tower which for some reason is a good deal. It's not cheap but it is a good deal. Regardless of which mac you choose you will have to buy a full copy of XP or Vista and if you go the parallels route you will have to pay for it.
Let us know what you decide and good luck.
1. Why? Why do you need a mac if you are going to be using AutoCAD? Is there some other mac only application that you use?
2. If you go this route you have 2 options: BootCamp (dual booting) and Parallels Desktop - http://www.parallels.com/en/products/desktop/?from=button. You can now, according to the site, get full 3D acceleration from parallels. I have not tried this so I cannot comment on if it's true or not.
3. You are going to pay more this route. Macs cost more, yes they do. The only real deal on a mac is the pro tower which for some reason is a good deal. It's not cheap but it is a good deal. Regardless of which mac you choose you will have to buy a full copy of XP or Vista and if you go the parallels route you will have to pay for it.
Let us know what you decide and good luck.
Ritch7
22nd Apr 2008, 01:29 pm
f700es, i agree with you I dont understand why people would want a MAC?
what major advantages does a MAC have....
what major advantages does a MAC have....
Tiger
22nd Apr 2008, 01:33 pm
what major advantages does a MAC have....
they are so much more good looking...:oops:
nah seriously, as far as I know, and I think I'm plagirising (nice spelling, ain't it?) from another post by F700 possibly, MACs are The Thing when it comes to music and graphics and newspapers and stuff.
Even though they are bonkers for AutoCAD, doesn't mean they don't have some advantages somewhere :wink:
they are so much more good looking...:oops:
nah seriously, as far as I know, and I think I'm plagirising (nice spelling, ain't it?) from another post by F700 possibly, MACs are The Thing when it comes to music and graphics and newspapers and stuff.
Even though they are bonkers for AutoCAD, doesn't mean they don't have some advantages somewhere :wink:
f700es
22nd Apr 2008, 01:36 pm
f700es, i agree with you I dont understand why people would want a MAC?
what major advantages does a MAC have....
Well there are reasons, we may or may not agree with them. There are some mac only applications that people use and this person may use one. Some feel more secure on a mac system, from worms and virus attacks. A mac is more secure in my opinion, not by being more secure but by being more obscure. Why make a virus for only 6.6% of the market when you can shoot for the 90% of the market? ;)
Some like the look and feel of the mac. OSX is a nice OS, it has a lot of good features. Some are down right goofy and stupid IMHO.
what major advantages does a MAC have....
Well there are reasons, we may or may not agree with them. There are some mac only applications that people use and this person may use one. Some feel more secure on a mac system, from worms and virus attacks. A mac is more secure in my opinion, not by being more secure but by being more obscure. Why make a virus for only 6.6% of the market when you can shoot for the 90% of the market? ;)
Some like the look and feel of the mac. OSX is a nice OS, it has a lot of good features. Some are down right goofy and stupid IMHO.
Ritch7
22nd Apr 2008, 01:37 pm
:? lol plagirising is quite an impressive word isn' it!
oh I see iv'e never had one just wonderd about them, so as you say they look pretty and can handle music/movies etc quite nicely but when it comes to something like autocad they haven't really got the guts inside.
well except for that "pro" one f7ooes just mentioned :huh:
hmmm
oh I see iv'e never had one just wonderd about them, so as you say they look pretty and can handle music/movies etc quite nicely but when it comes to something like autocad they haven't really got the guts inside.
well except for that "pro" one f7ooes just mentioned :huh:
hmmm
f700es
22nd Apr 2008, 01:55 pm
No, not quite true. They have the same guts as PC's now. The exact same, they just use a different OS. You can even delete OSX and run XP at the same power/speed of a PC. This was not true when they used PowerPC chips. The move to intel based systems was inevitable. PowerPC architecture is based on embedded chips for low power devices, not really cut for desktops and workstations. It's not that mac are better for design, print or music it's just that they are more entrenched in those markets. Much like AutoCAD's entrenchment in the AEC field. I will admit that Apple's iLife suite is a nice set of applications. Their new iWork office suite is also very nice.
:? lol plagirising is quite an impressive word isn' it!
oh I see iv'e never had one just wonderd about them, so as you say they look pretty and can handle music/movies etc quite nicely but when it comes to something like autocad they haven't really got the guts inside.
well except for that "pro" one f7ooes just mentioned :huh:
hmmm
:? lol plagirising is quite an impressive word isn' it!
oh I see iv'e never had one just wonderd about them, so as you say they look pretty and can handle music/movies etc quite nicely but when it comes to something like autocad they haven't really got the guts inside.
well except for that "pro" one f7ooes just mentioned :huh:
hmmm
shadow3865
22nd Apr 2008, 04:48 pm
I know of a design firm that use mac's but that is what he likes, but from a stand point of IT and Autocad I would rather run a dual boot on a mac that can run windows and mac and just switch between the two I need to run a mac program then over to windows to run autocad.
Should try it out first out on some who as one.
Should try it out first out on some who as one.
f700es
22nd Apr 2008, 05:11 pm
I know of a design firm that use mac's but that is what he likes, but from a stand point of IT and Autocad I would rather run a dual boot on a mac that can run windows and mac and just switch between the two I need to run a mac program then over to windows to run autocad.
Should try it out first out on some who as one.
Well if Apple would just make a consumer tower one could buy this and have 2 computers. Use a KVM switch and be home free. I have a dual boot setup at home and it is a pain to have to reboot to use other partition. A switch box works better. I used to use one of these but it is a PS2/VGA setup and I use USB/DVI now.
Should try it out first out on some who as one.
Well if Apple would just make a consumer tower one could buy this and have 2 computers. Use a KVM switch and be home free. I have a dual boot setup at home and it is a pain to have to reboot to use other partition. A switch box works better. I used to use one of these but it is a PS2/VGA setup and I use USB/DVI now.
shadow3865
22nd Apr 2008, 05:21 pm
I know for a fact you can get that type of switch. out there for that.
f700es
22nd Apr 2008, 05:40 pm
I know for a fact you can get that type of switch. out there for that.
Sure you can, I didn't want to spend the $$ for one ;) Those can be a bit expensive. My PS2/VGA switch was $20. I have yet to see a USB/DVI for under $70
Sure you can, I didn't want to spend the $$ for one ;) Those can be a bit expensive. My PS2/VGA switch was $20. I have yet to see a USB/DVI for under $70
smorales02
22nd Apr 2008, 05:44 pm
Didnt know this was such a hot topic... I was just trying to see if anyone used a MAC for ACAD, but it seems like its not compatable.
I was just curious because im in the market for a new computer and wanted get some ideas on what different people use....
I was just curious because im in the market for a new computer and wanted get some ideas on what different people use....
f700es
22nd Apr 2008, 06:12 pm
Didnt know this was such a hot topic... I was just trying to see if anyone used a MAC for ACAD, but it seems like its not compatable.
I was just curious because im in the market for a new computer and wanted get some ideas on what different people use....
Well you can use it, you will just have to buy a copy of windows and either use bootcamp or pay for parallels. Were you looking at an iMac?
I was just curious because im in the market for a new computer and wanted get some ideas on what different people use....
Well you can use it, you will just have to buy a copy of windows and either use bootcamp or pay for parallels. Were you looking at an iMac?
smorales02
22nd Apr 2008, 06:18 pm
Wasnt looking at anything in particular just getting ideas
f700es
22nd Apr 2008, 07:48 pm
Wasnt looking at anything in particular just getting ideas
Well here I am going to back track, if you are getting a kick-a$$ rig and the $$ is no option you will get more with a mac.
Apple Mac Pro tower: $2,899.00
Two 2.8GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon (8-core)
2GB (2 x 1GB)
500GB 7200-rpm Serial ATA 3Gb/s
ATI Radeon HD 2600 XT 256MB (Two dual-link DVI)
One 16x SuperDrive
Apple Mighty Mouse
Apple Keyboard (English) + Mac OS X
Dell Precision T7400: $4,472
2 2.83 Quad Core Xeons (8-cores)
2GB ram
500GB SATA
nVidia Quadro NVS290 256 mb
16x DVD-R/W
Keyboard/mouse
Win XP Pro
Go figure! Erase the OSX partition, install XP or Vista and roll!
Their all in one units are the useless ones. They are just missing a consumer tower.
Well here I am going to back track, if you are getting a kick-a$$ rig and the $$ is no option you will get more with a mac.
Apple Mac Pro tower: $2,899.00
Two 2.8GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon (8-core)
2GB (2 x 1GB)
500GB 7200-rpm Serial ATA 3Gb/s
ATI Radeon HD 2600 XT 256MB (Two dual-link DVI)
One 16x SuperDrive
Apple Mighty Mouse
Apple Keyboard (English) + Mac OS X
Dell Precision T7400: $4,472
2 2.83 Quad Core Xeons (8-cores)
2GB ram
500GB SATA
nVidia Quadro NVS290 256 mb
16x DVD-R/W
Keyboard/mouse
Win XP Pro
Go figure! Erase the OSX partition, install XP or Vista and roll!
Their all in one units are the useless ones. They are just missing a consumer tower.
smorales02
22nd Apr 2008, 08:13 pm
so the only MAC that would be useful for me would be the Apple Mac Pro tower???
f700es
22nd Apr 2008, 08:50 pm
More so than any of the others. I mean AutoCAD will run great on a sub $1,500 PC. Apple doesn't make a tower in this range. For that you get an iMac with integrated display/components.
NBC
22nd Apr 2008, 09:03 pm
I can get AutoCAD running like a dream on a sub $400 PC no problem
smorales02
22nd Apr 2008, 09:11 pm
Think Ill just stick with a dell than.....
f700es
22nd Apr 2008, 09:16 pm
I can get AutoCAD running like a dream on a sub $400 PC no problem
Yeah but "I" wouldn't want to use it 8 hours a day ;)
Yeah but "I" wouldn't want to use it 8 hours a day ;)
rb599
17th Jul 2008, 04:48 pm
As a part-time mac user I must ask several questions...
1. Why? Why do you need a mac if you are going to be using AutoCAD? Is there some other mac only application that you use?
I Googled "AutoCAD for Mac" this morning after spending 10 minutes waiting for my PC to feel good enough about running that I can even open a drawing, let alone get Outlook up and running for 15 minutes before it decides to crash again. The Google search led me to this forum and I was hoping to find someone who has run ACAD on a Mac. Instead, everyone here is somehow enjoying their PC's??
Microsoft produces such crap, there's a reason everyone is looking for alternatives. I have a Macbook at home and I'm not a "artsy user", just a guy who likes the fact that I turn the computer on, 10 seconds later, it's ready to run and I can do whatever I need without major instruction. The stock battery lasts for three-hours because the fan(s) barely ever come on. It's an efficient piece of electrical machinery and simply the best piece of electronics I've ever purchased.
I run ACAD on a pretty fast and new XP machine without tons of crap running in the tray so don't accuse me of not knowing how to run my PC. Windows is crap and I can't wait until they get owned by Google or Mac or a combo of both.
Oh, hello and it's nice to meet you all. I'm not a bad guy, just cranky that I hate my computer and can't do anything about it. :reallymad:
1. Why? Why do you need a mac if you are going to be using AutoCAD? Is there some other mac only application that you use?
I Googled "AutoCAD for Mac" this morning after spending 10 minutes waiting for my PC to feel good enough about running that I can even open a drawing, let alone get Outlook up and running for 15 minutes before it decides to crash again. The Google search led me to this forum and I was hoping to find someone who has run ACAD on a Mac. Instead, everyone here is somehow enjoying their PC's??
Microsoft produces such crap, there's a reason everyone is looking for alternatives. I have a Macbook at home and I'm not a "artsy user", just a guy who likes the fact that I turn the computer on, 10 seconds later, it's ready to run and I can do whatever I need without major instruction. The stock battery lasts for three-hours because the fan(s) barely ever come on. It's an efficient piece of electrical machinery and simply the best piece of electronics I've ever purchased.
I run ACAD on a pretty fast and new XP machine without tons of crap running in the tray so don't accuse me of not knowing how to run my PC. Windows is crap and I can't wait until they get owned by Google or Mac or a combo of both.
Oh, hello and it's nice to meet you all. I'm not a bad guy, just cranky that I hate my computer and can't do anything about it. :reallymad:
f700es
17th Jul 2008, 06:46 pm
Hey RB and welcome. I have no real issues with the mac I do have strong feeling against Steve Jobs and I also feel that Apple is a monopoly and should be dealt with as soon as possible before they get out of hand.
I actually have owned a few macs and I have an OSX box at home as well as an XP box. I like OSX, it's very nice. I don't like the $120 a year upgrade cost though. I also don't like the fact that Apple doesn't make a consumer tower. All-in-ones (iMacs) suck IMHO and with them you get suckered into Apple's forced hardware upgrades and not everyone needs a "Pro" tower.
Anyway, you can run AutoCAD on a mac through either VMware or BootCamp. You will just have to install either XP or Vista to do so. It will run just fine that way. I honestly haven't had a crash on XP in a year or 2. I leave my work machine up all week and my home PC is just as stable. I hate to hear someone having issues. If it crashes a lot it would seem to be either hardware or either a driver issue. Please stick around and join in! :)
I Googled "AutoCAD for Mac" this morning after spending 10 minutes waiting for my PC to feel good enough about running that I can even open a drawing, let alone get Outlook up and running for 15 minutes before it decides to crash again. The Google search led me to this forum and I was hoping to find someone who has run ACAD on a Mac. Instead, everyone here is somehow enjoying their PC's??
Microsoft produces such crap, there's a reason everyone is looking for alternatives. I have a Macbook at home and I'm not a "artsy user", just a guy who likes the fact that I turn the computer on, 10 seconds later, it's ready to run and I can do whatever I need without major instruction. The stock battery lasts for three-hours because the fan(s) barely ever come on. It's an efficient piece of electrical machinery and simply the best piece of electronics I've ever purchased.
I run ACAD on a pretty fast and new XP machine without tons of crap running in the tray so don't accuse me of not knowing how to run my PC. Windows is crap and I can't wait until they get owned by Google or Mac or a combo of both.
Oh, hello and it's nice to meet you all. I'm not a bad guy, just cranky that I hate my computer and can't do anything about it. :reallymad:
I actually have owned a few macs and I have an OSX box at home as well as an XP box. I like OSX, it's very nice. I don't like the $120 a year upgrade cost though. I also don't like the fact that Apple doesn't make a consumer tower. All-in-ones (iMacs) suck IMHO and with them you get suckered into Apple's forced hardware upgrades and not everyone needs a "Pro" tower.
Anyway, you can run AutoCAD on a mac through either VMware or BootCamp. You will just have to install either XP or Vista to do so. It will run just fine that way. I honestly haven't had a crash on XP in a year or 2. I leave my work machine up all week and my home PC is just as stable. I hate to hear someone having issues. If it crashes a lot it would seem to be either hardware or either a driver issue. Please stick around and join in! :)
I Googled "AutoCAD for Mac" this morning after spending 10 minutes waiting for my PC to feel good enough about running that I can even open a drawing, let alone get Outlook up and running for 15 minutes before it decides to crash again. The Google search led me to this forum and I was hoping to find someone who has run ACAD on a Mac. Instead, everyone here is somehow enjoying their PC's??
Microsoft produces such crap, there's a reason everyone is looking for alternatives. I have a Macbook at home and I'm not a "artsy user", just a guy who likes the fact that I turn the computer on, 10 seconds later, it's ready to run and I can do whatever I need without major instruction. The stock battery lasts for three-hours because the fan(s) barely ever come on. It's an efficient piece of electrical machinery and simply the best piece of electronics I've ever purchased.
I run ACAD on a pretty fast and new XP machine without tons of crap running in the tray so don't accuse me of not knowing how to run my PC. Windows is crap and I can't wait until they get owned by Google or Mac or a combo of both.
Oh, hello and it's nice to meet you all. I'm not a bad guy, just cranky that I hate my computer and can't do anything about it. :reallymad:
icadsales
25th Nov 2008, 10:03 am
The newest parallels has both Direct X and Open GL so you can run AutoCAD right inside your OS X desktop. Screaming fast too, can't even tell you are running under a mac. Isnt necessary to dual boot any more.
See all the pieces required, user documentation and trial downloads of parallels, AutoCAD, windows at our website autocadformac dot com
See all the pieces required, user documentation and trial downloads of parallels, AutoCAD, windows at our website autocadformac dot com
NBC
25th Nov 2008, 10:20 am
Cost of mac > cost of pc
So in that respect, doesn't make sense !
So in that respect, doesn't make sense !
icadsales
25th Nov 2008, 10:32 am
What if a user prefers a Mac, or owns one and wants to use AutoCAD?
In that sense it makes perfect sense. Lots of Mac fanboys out there.
In that sense it makes perfect sense. Lots of Mac fanboys out there.
f700es
25th Nov 2008, 02:59 pm
Cost of mac > cost of pc
So in that respect, doesn't make sense !
Cost of Mac
Cost of Parallels
Cost of copy of Windows
added together :huh:
About the only solution if someone has a mac only application that they need or run a lot.
Now I have a OSX box at the house but I rarely fire it up anymore. I have a G4 Cube as well running OS9. Both all but gather dust :(
I would like to play with iLife and iWork.
So in that respect, doesn't make sense !
Cost of Mac
Cost of Parallels
Cost of copy of Windows
added together :huh:
About the only solution if someone has a mac only application that they need or run a lot.
Now I have a OSX box at the house but I rarely fire it up anymore. I have a G4 Cube as well running OS9. Both all but gather dust :(
I would like to play with iLife and iWork.
icadsales
25th Nov 2008, 06:04 pm
cost of parallels = $79.99
cost of Windows Vista Home = $128.25
Less than the cost of a PC if you don't have one and a client requires you submit DWG files.
cost of project lost due to inability to
Makes sense if you use a Mac. The real cost, AutoCAD = $3995.00
But, if you were to purchase progeCAD IntelliCAD Standard = $375.00
cost of Windows Vista Home = $128.25
Less than the cost of a PC if you don't have one and a client requires you submit DWG files.
cost of project lost due to inability to
Makes sense if you use a Mac. The real cost, AutoCAD = $3995.00
But, if you were to purchase progeCAD IntelliCAD Standard = $375.00
f700es
25th Nov 2008, 06:27 pm
cost of parallels = $79.99
cost of Windows Vista Home = $128.25
Less than the cost of a PC if you don't have one and a client requires you submit DWG files.
cost of project lost due to inability to
Makes sense if you use a Mac. The real cost, AutoCAD = $3995.00
But, if you were to purchase progeCAD IntelliCAD Standard = $375.00
I can't think of a single high-end CAD program on PC or mac that can't export DWG or atleast DXF.
I know for sure that PowerCADD (Mac only) can export DWG and DXF
HighDesign (mac only) can export dxf
Cheetah 3D (mac only) can export dxf. I have a copy of this one, very nice.
I guess I was looking at someone buying a "new" computer and looking at the start-up costs. Perhaps someone still coming from the PowerPC mac to a new Intel Mac. Anyway my point of view.
cost of Windows Vista Home = $128.25
Less than the cost of a PC if you don't have one and a client requires you submit DWG files.
cost of project lost due to inability to
Makes sense if you use a Mac. The real cost, AutoCAD = $3995.00
But, if you were to purchase progeCAD IntelliCAD Standard = $375.00
I can't think of a single high-end CAD program on PC or mac that can't export DWG or atleast DXF.
I know for sure that PowerCADD (Mac only) can export DWG and DXF
HighDesign (mac only) can export dxf
Cheetah 3D (mac only) can export dxf. I have a copy of this one, very nice.
I guess I was looking at someone buying a "new" computer and looking at the start-up costs. Perhaps someone still coming from the PowerPC mac to a new Intel Mac. Anyway my point of view.
CuriousAboutMacs
30th Dec 2008, 01:43 am
I can't think of a single high-end CAD program on PC or mac that can't export DWG or atleast DXF.
I know for sure that PowerCADD (Mac only) can export DWG and DXF
HighDesign (mac only) can export dxf
Cheetah 3D (mac only) can export dxf. I have a copy of this one, very nice.
I guess I was looking at someone buying a "new" computer and looking at the start-up costs. Perhaps someone still coming from the PowerPC mac to a new Intel Mac. Anyway my point of view.
Well I currently have an HP laptop running a student version of AutoCad LT and am looking seriously into the new MacBook Pro. AutoCad is the only thing holdimg me up from replacing my HP with a new Apple. I only use Autocad LT to look at drawings and print them out for my personal use. I have printed out drawings on occasion for customers but typically don't like too since the drawing will state student version on it.
Does any of these other mac cad programs allow me to open all dwg files, print them on occasion and possibly do a generic modification to the drawing and return it to one of my inside cad guys so that they can modify the original. They are accustomed to modifying the original since anything I currently modify is stamped student version if they reuse my drawing I sent them.
I know for sure that PowerCADD (Mac only) can export DWG and DXF
HighDesign (mac only) can export dxf
Cheetah 3D (mac only) can export dxf. I have a copy of this one, very nice.
I guess I was looking at someone buying a "new" computer and looking at the start-up costs. Perhaps someone still coming from the PowerPC mac to a new Intel Mac. Anyway my point of view.
Well I currently have an HP laptop running a student version of AutoCad LT and am looking seriously into the new MacBook Pro. AutoCad is the only thing holdimg me up from replacing my HP with a new Apple. I only use Autocad LT to look at drawings and print them out for my personal use. I have printed out drawings on occasion for customers but typically don't like too since the drawing will state student version on it.
Does any of these other mac cad programs allow me to open all dwg files, print them on occasion and possibly do a generic modification to the drawing and return it to one of my inside cad guys so that they can modify the original. They are accustomed to modifying the original since anything I currently modify is stamped student version if they reuse my drawing I sent them.
f700es
30th Dec 2008, 04:13 am
PowerCADD has a DWG translator. Too bad you don't have a mac to demo it on.
http://www.engsw.com/products/new/
Have a look.
http://www.engsw.com/products/new/
Have a look.
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