iMac or PC? help!

I need a new desktop before my laptop explodes with software.

I need a desktop to run AutoCAD, 3ds Max, Adobe CS4, Google sketch-up, and ArchiCAD. I was thinking of getting the new 27" iMac with 8 GB of RAM and maybe 2 TB of memory but if there is an equal alternative that is possible cheaper or better, I'd like to know. I know NOTHING about Macs and how they work with this type of software. Any advice? I need this computer fast so any input would be very helpful.

Thanks!!

I know that Archicad works on native Mac, but AutoCAD does not, then you need to either have Windows installed as well or run it through Bootcamp or something similar.

For the rest of the program I don't know if they work on Mac or not, their webpages should tell you that though.

The only thing mac's are good for are: 1) Spreadsheets 2) I-tunes & 3) showing off asthetically pleasing icons.

my 2 cents

Brush up on your computer specs. 8GB of RAM (memory) sounds right but the 2TB you mention cannot be memory too. You must be talking about hard drive capacity, right?

Curious. What does a 27" iMac cost these days?

quick browse on apples webpage sets it around 2200 US-dollars from their online store.

Heck, I just bought a "used" (four month old) system from a college student and spent $1000. Win7...Office 2007...8GB of RAM...(1)500GB and (1)160GB hard drive...and a 1GB graphics card plus the dude threw in a 25" widescreen LCD monitor. Just think what I could do with the $1200 I saved by not buying a 27" iMac!

Mac + Bootcamp will allow the user to boot to a Mac environment or Windows. However, if you use a Mac with VMware or Parallels software you can run both Mac and Windows applications at the same time.

lhg07: What setup were you considering going with?

For $2200 you could get a...

Xi Computer workstation with a quad core Xenon 2.26GHz CPU, 6GB of DDR3 (1333MHz) RAM, nVidia Quadro FX-580 (512GB DDR3 vidRAM), 320GB hard drive with a 16MB cache (7200 rpm), DVD+RW/DL/+R-R Lightscribe and a 27" Hanns-G widescreen LCD monitor.

This system would definitely run all the software you listed with no problems.

Just for comparison sake. Your mileage may vary. Offer void where prohibited.

...ust think what I could do with the $1200 I saved by not buying a 27" iMac!

Space. The iMac is basically just a screen.

Design. More important for some than others.

Next to no worries for virus, hackers, trojans and whatnots.

I am sure there are other benefits, tho brother-in-law can go on and on about why Mac beats PC every day of the week.

There is just one reason that I am not seriously contemplating buying a mac - I can't run AutoCAD right on OSX.

"Next to no worries for virus, hackers, trojans and whatnots."

I wouldn't be so sure about this one. They do get targeted just not to the extent a Windows based system would. At least not yet. But if the tide were to swing and more people used Macs than PCs I would expect things would change wouldn't you? More Mac attacks and less PC attacks. Just food for thought.

"Next to no worries for virus, hackers, trojans and whatnots."

 

I wouldn't be so sure about this one. They do get targeted just not to the extent a Windows based system would. At least not yet. But if the tide were to swing and more people used Macs than PCs I would expect things would change wouldn't you? More Mac attacks and less PC attacks. Just food for thought.

I Agree -.........

This article gave me pause...

http://www.brighthub.com/computing/mac-platform/articles/35038.aspx

An interesting read. Maybe your brother-in-law wrote it Tiger? LOL

Macs: security through obscurity!

Remark: I'm not sure what set-up I am going with. I want what's going to be most economical and best for the job. But really, I want what's best for the job even if it isn't so economical. I guess what I'm wondering is for $2300 that I would spend on a iMac, would there be an equivalent that isn't so expensive or maybe even better.

Is it based all upon the memory and graphic card really?

It's based on any number of factors both hardware and software related. Ask around. Talk to people who are running AutoCAD and Sketchup on a Mac. Ask them about the pros and cons. Just do it before you spend your hard earned cash and not after.

I bet I could run all the software you listed on the "used" system I just bought for far less than $2200. Heck, I basically got the monitor for free. Think of the monitor(s) I could have bought had I another $1200 to blow.

I am working on an Imac 27" at work and I hate it. I use Autocad for about 80% of the workday and AutoCAD is slow, very slow. The videocard is not up to the job; slow regeneration, horrible precision. You cannot update the card to a descent CAD card like a Quadro, you are pretty much stuck with the cards Apple has available for it. If it was up to me I would NEVER buy a Mac when you use AutoCAD often. For office work it is a perfect and beautiful solution, but not for CAD applications (I have AutoCAD 2011 and Revit 2011). I think it will do games pretty well to, but that's about it.

I have worked on slower, cheaper PC's that performed way better than this Imac. I love the way the Imac looks , but I don't like the way it does CAD applications. The specs of the Imac are more like a high end laptop instead of that of a PC.

I'd go for a I7 quad core PC with A LOT of memory and a high end CAD videocard. You can have that for less than half the price of a Mac. Dell has just released a nice 27" screen for a nice price.

-EDIT- Sorry, I did not notice the age of this thread, it came up in a search I did

Well the good news is that AutoCAD for Mac is back. I am sure you can do a side-grade to get a copy for OSX. Not sure if we'll ever see revit for Mac though.

I am working on an Imac 27" at work and I hate it. I use Autocad for about 80% of the workday and AutoCAD is slow, very slow. The videocard is not up to the job; slow regeneration, horrible precision. You cannot update the card to a descent CAD card like a Quadro, you are pretty much stuck with the cards Apple has available for it. If it was up to me I would NEVER buy a Mac when you use AutoCAD often. For office work it is a perfect and beautiful solution, but not for CAD applications (I have AutoCAD 2011 and Revit 2011). I think it will do games pretty well to, but that's about it.

 

I have worked on slower, cheaper PC's that performed way better than this Imac. I love the way the Imac looks , but I don't like the way it does CAD applications. The specs of the Imac are more like a high end laptop instead of that of a PC.

 

I'd go for a I7 quad core PC with A LOT of memory and a high end CAD videocard. You can have that for less than half the price of a Mac. Dell has just released a nice 27" screen for a nice price.

 

-EDIT- Sorry, I did not notice the age of this thread, it came up in a search I did

We'll probably ditch the mac. I will need a proper mobile AutoCAD computer for working on the construction site in the near future. I will make sure there is a Displayport connection on that mobile workstation so I can use the Imac as a (€1700,-!) monitor and for some other desktop applications.

The Imac is a great, stable computer (at least on Win 7/Bootcamp) and it does everything with great speed, exept the CAD applications mentioned above.