!Restored: MacPro or Vista for AC!

[Anonymous]

Seriously I need information what kind of hardware is the right way specially for AC.
MacPro with Intel Xeon is cheaper than Dell with Xeon.
That means, Apple workstation is cheaper than Dell workstation.
That means,
Mac OS is cheaper than Vista regarding Workstation.
But,
Apple workstation is more faster and more beautiful and more ...?

AC user wants to know the better hardware.
Graphic card is not so seriously important for architects.

[Anonymous]

KeesW wrote:
Excuse my guys - some tests have shown that the Mac is NOT faster than a PC. . . . However, claims about the overwhelming speed of the Mac compared to the PC are unsubstantiated by impartial reviews.

I haven't seen claims that the Mac has an overwhelming speed advantage. Some few may be prone to such wild exaggeration but since the machines are built with largely similar components it is only reasonable to assume that differences in raw speed will be marginal. Some test have shown Macs to be faster than similarly equipped Dells (and others I assume) but I don't know the extent to which these may have been "cherry picked" by the reviewers. So, aside from spending way too much time splitting hairs, it seems fair to assume that similar machines will have roughly similar performance. Probably close enough that most of us won't notice a difference in day to day use.

On the other hand I have seen several examples of Intel Macs being substantially cheaper than an equivalent Dell. Combined with what, in my experience, is substantially better design and build quality the Macs seem to be a much better deal than comparable PCs (well, Dells at least, I haven't seen figures on other brands).

The big speed difference I have noticed is between running OSX and XP on the same machine. While my MacBook Pro is just as fast as a PC running Windows, it is quite a bit faster when running OSX (with native apps). Besides better design and security the Mac OS seems to have the advantage over Windows in performance as well.

[owen]

KeesW wrote:
Excuse my guys - some tests have shown that the Mac is NOT faster than a PC. If you look in the Hardware section of Archi-talk, you will find comparisons between a Mac and PC for Archicad 10.

Those tests show a very, very marginal advantage to a custom built PC which appears to have superior specs to the Mac - such as whoever listed the Mac neglected to include the RAM which makes a very big difference in AC, base RAM in a Mac Pro is only 1Gb. But as Mathew said its all splitting hairs really.

The main point people have been making is that a high-quality, mass produced Mac Pro is cheaper than an equivalent PC from one of the major suppliers. Companies generally aren't interested in buying large numbers of machines from a small supplier who may not be in business in 12 months, nor from someones mate who likes tinkering with custom built PCs. They want reliability, warranties and the certainty that whoever they buy from will be around to actually cover the warranty. Hence Apple, HP, Dell etc.

[Anonymous]

The test shows very nice:
MacPro with 2GB would be optimal as workstation for AC10.
I saw, the standard graphic card is also quite ok.
I see the new generation with Mac Power.
I used about 7 years PC, than next 7 years will be with Mac.

[KeesW]

The Mac Pro referred in the test has 3GB of RAM.

[KeesW]

I've just had two new computers built in Sydney. Using the ArchiCad based speed test, they are exactly 50% faster than the Mac Pro previously referred to - @ 2/3 cost. Specifications are summarised on my signature line.