Laptop vs. desktop

[Anonymous]

My girlfriend is about to start her grad school in architect program and told me that she would be using Archicad. I've read through some of the graphics and other related hardware requirement. And it occurs to me that laptop may not be the best idea.

Is laptop a viable platform for using Archicad? If so, please let me know the brand and model types or hardware specs of your laptop. Thank you.

[Karl Ottenstein]

In the PC world, I would say definitely viable. I have a Dell 9300 w/ 2 GHz P4 M, 2GB memory, 533 FSB, 256MB nVidia PCI Express card, 7200 RPM disk and 1920 x 1200 brightview 17" screen. Quiet, cool, pleasant to use. Downside is no numeric keypad ... so I got a separate USB one.

HP and others offer desktop P4 chips that can be faster, and include numeric pads on an expanded keyboard, but do run hotter with fan noise, etc. Sony's M processor A series is beautiful, but has slow disk drives. Lots to compare when choosing.

Mac laptops (G4) are just too slow IMHO...a G5 desktop is a better bet. I'm looking forward to powerful Intel-based dual-core Mac laptops in a year or two. 😉

Karl

[Anonymous]

Good info. Thank you, Karl.

[Anonymous]

I use a P4 HP laptop and think it is good. I prop it on a monitor stand with drawers under (for straight posture eye contact) and use a wireless keyboard and mouse. Great to take to mettings and to discuss with clients. I would like a larger screen about 19" but my res is good about 1400x1200 or whatever the exact size is. I have enough room on the left of the screen for tools, info box and navigator. I believe there is more screen real estate available with AC9 so that would be good. I would suggest a min of 1GB of RAM and a min of 60-80GB hard drive.

[Anonymous]

I personally prefer Toshiba. I run my business off of it (Archicad 9). Toshiba sometimes offers no payments no interest for a year. I believe Dell may have the same offer. My computer is a Toshiba Satellite - Intel P4, 2.2 Ghz, 1GB ram, and 512 DRAM. It works great.

[Steve Jepson]

archanom! Is that you Lori?

I have seen the Toshiba archianom uses and i can tell you first had that it is a beautiful computer. Great screen. archianom makes fantastic models for walk-throughs and the Toshiba realy makes them look good. archianom is as good with the touch pad as i am with a mouse.

[Anonymous]

Yeah, it's me. You've figured me out.

[Steve Jepson]