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.

[Stephen Dolbee]

Dale-
I ordered my iMac (late 09) with the upgraded processor, but with the basic 4 GB of ram. It is MUCH cheaper ordering the ram elsewhere and is easy to install.
Steve

[Anonymous]

iambi wrote:
...I find the more I research on the internet the more confused I get as there is seemingly always some reason not to buy now but wiat for the next edition etc. I've been suckered into this for to long.

As you have obviously realized there is always something newer and better coming out. Taken to the extreme this would mean always waiting for a better tomorrow and never buying a computer. The simplest principle is just to buy what you need when you need it.

To put a little finer point on it, don't buy the minimum for what you need or it will be obsolete too soon, and don't pay the substantial premium for the absolute fastest, top of the line model unless you're sure you need the speed (or money is no object). Of course if you don't have to buy it tomorrow it's alway good to check the rumor sites to see if there is an upgrade right around the corner.

For Macs there is the buyersguide.macrumors.com/ which shows green/yellow/red buying recommendations based on how long it's been since the last update and any rumors of imminent upgrades.

[Chazz]

DO NOT BUY AN iMAC!!!

When I changed jobs at the beginning of this year, I decided for the first time to make my main machine a laptop. Because of the historic computational processing requirements of ArchiCAD, I had always felt that I needed the best multicore behemoth MacPro I could get. But things have changed. Laptops are fast, plus, I travel constantly and a desktop is just not an option. The compromise I made was a 17". It's a lot to carry but a joy to use.

My MacBookPro and a Thunderbolt monitor is better than an iMac in every way. And for in-office work, the Thunderbolt display is so far superior to any windows docking station as to be comical.

I think ArchiCAD alone provides few reasons to switch platforms. It is the superior hardware (particularly in mobile) plus ability to have a dual-boot platform that makes the Mac a much better overall tool for many (most?) folks.