Thinking of moving to mac....

[Arcadia]

I've used PC's ever since I got a computer but the high end requirements of using the software that I am these days (archicad, photoshop, video editing) is causing me to re-consider as some of the PC foibles and the seemingly hotch potch way the hardware is put together is I think starting to slow me down a little. There are obviously issues of OS compatability for some of my packages which I may need Parallels for but my main question is for those that have made the switch from PC to MAC have you found the experience worthwhile in general and has the archicad experience improved in particular? And also should I go iMAC or MAC Pro? I am not looking at this immediately but sometime next year when my current system has at least a couple of years use so I would hope the OS Lion would be supported by then.

[Dwight]

As a user of all the platforms at one time or another, here are some observations:

- the Parallels [VMWare Fusion is better] application doesn't universally work. If an application employs DirectX, it won't function regardlessly.

- most Archicad users find the iMac adequate. I have both the iMac and a MacPro in my studio. The iMac drive is noticeably slower.

- Archicad is no better on the Mac.

[Arcadia]

Since you are using MAC yourself I assume you prefer it. Why?

The big issue I see with imacs is you can't upgrade them and you can't just buy a new console and keep your old screen and as far as I know you can't run more than 2 screens (I use 3 at the moment and would like 4)

[Dwight]

I started in Mac because in 1992, that was the only way to have Archicad. It has remained a largely trouble-free and easily understood interface. The machines seem to last a long time and remain usable long after PC machines fizzle [anecdote]. Except that my 17" MacBookPro has fritzed its display after only two years - the only disappointment in twenty years of ownership. And I already owned a white hat.

It is true that iMacs have limitations, but represent excellent value and maximum coolness. In many offices, as they get obsolete, they are passed back to lesser demanding tasks, but will always be adequate for Archicad modeling.

The high-resolution 27" display is adequate for Archicad. You simply use a smaller plan view and sit closer. Sort of like the old cowboys versus Indians story: "White man make big fire and sit far away. Indian make tiny fire and sit up close.". Macs seem to have a 'looser' approach to screen organization making better use of a single display. I find that geezer eyesight limits my ability to appreciate a panorama of displays like in the old days.

[Karl Ottenstein]

Dwight wrote:
- the Parallels [VMWare Fusion is better] application doesn't universally work. If an application employs DirectX, it won't function regardlessly.

I disagree on which is better, Dwight. But, it may just be comparing tastes in beers. 😉 I've stayed with Parallels and am satisfied... overall, as well as with DirectX and OpenGL performance. Not sure why you say there is no DirectX support. See these benchmarks:
http://www.mactech.com/2011/01/05/virtualization-benchmarks

@Arcadia,

Too many reasons I prefer OS X to Windows...

As for upgrading iMacs and multiple screens, do note that the current iMacs contain the new Thunderbolt port which support high speed external storage as well as daisy-chained monitors (as many monitors/pixels as the graphics card can drive). With a 27" imac and a 27" external Thunderbolt monitor, you'd have more pixels than four traditional 19" LCDs.

As far as keeping your old monitor from an iMac with a new machine down the road, note that the iMac does support "target display mode":
http://www.macworld.com/article/159616/2011/05/imacs_thunderbolt_target_display_mode.html

which is thunderbolt only - so you could plug a current iMac into any current Mac product with a thunderbolt port and use the iMac purely as a monitor. Presumably all future macs will support thunderbolt, but who knows if this standard will stick.

Cheers,
Karl

[Arcadia]

I must admit it is the prospect of rock solid hardware and reliable stable OS that is attracting me to the Macs. If I was to drop $8-9k on a Mac Pro I would want it to last 5 years and have an upgrade path after that. The last few years with PC's I have been upgrading my system every 2 years and with my current system after only 12 months I was getting instability that made me decide to do a fresh install on a new HDD. Plus the constant build up of registry errors and the threat from viruses that windows has etc etc. Getting frustrating.

[Dwight]

It isn't about the software. High-performance applications like MachStudio Pro demand a graphics card performance only a dedicated PC DirectX card can deliver.

The new Thunderbolt XL5 technology certainly makes the iMac more versatile!

[Dwight]

My main machine is an 8-core MacPro from three years ago. I still use a G3 from the dark ages [OS 9] as a plotter and SCSI scanner driver. Don't feel compromised in the least.

$8-$9K? A MacPro? What excesses do you pursue? $6K… TOPS!

[Arcadia]

Well $6k would be better. I haven't actually priced in detail I just want to make sure I get something that will go the distance.

[Anonymous]

I think the iMac is perfect for Archicad. In the 6.5 years I've been with my current firm I'm on my 4th iMac. Starting with a 19"(?) G5 that is currently our conference room internet machine. The other 2 previous machines are still daily Archicad workstations for coworkers. My current machine is a 27" iMac we just got a week or so ago and while sometimes I think a second screen might be nice I fear my neck would get sore from turning to see the other screen... This thing is awesome.... Because of the increased resolution it's usable screen space is way more than the 3" screen size bump from my previous iMac...