[Damie]

Originally Posted by partyatmygaff

He specifically asked about the Macbook Air. If you took time to actually read the thread instead of getting indignant and defensive of Macs you would have noticed that.


A mobile workstation would be fairly competent at running most CAD software. They're not any more expensive than a Macbook but they're far more powerful.

As I said, I'm not a fanboy or was in no way indignant. I merely pointed out that you were wrong when you stated that Macs could not run engineering software.

[partyatmygaff]

Originally Posted by Damie

As I said, I'm not a fanboy or was in no way indignant. I merely pointed out that you were wrong when you stated that Macs could not run engineering software.

And they cannot. The vast majority of Engineering software is Windows only. Buying a Mac to run Windows on it defeats the purpose. If you prefer Windows there are far superior laptops available at the same price point than any Macbook.

With that in mind, it makes absolutely no sense for someone doing an Engineering degree to buy a Macbook of any description. If they can get an ISV-certified mobile workstation of a laptop with better hardware and better build quality for the same price as a Macbook, why should the idea of suggesting a Macbook even be entertained?

[Damie]

Well if you read what I said, use the college machines and get a pen and paper for notes. That's my opinion. Your opinion is to buy a high end laptop. He mentioned a iPad and others. His opinion.

I'm not pushing my opinion on him, just correcting mistakes in others advise. Maybe take note. I think the thread is derailed enough at this stage.

[partyatmygaff]

Originally Posted by Damie

Well if you read what I said, use the college machines and get a pen and paper for notes. That's my opinion. Your opinion is to buy a high end laptop. He mentioned a iPad and others. His opinion.

Actually he was asking if he should get an iPad 3 or laptop for college. My opinion is that he should go for a powerful Windows laptop as it would serve for note-taking, studying and working on assignments.

I'm not pushing my opinion on him, just correcting mistakes in others advise. Maybe take note. I think the thread is derailed enough at this stage.

Que? What is this nonsense? No one is pushing an opinion on anyone. I'm just answering the OP's question and for the record you haven't "corrected mistakes in other people's advice". All you've done is misinterpret other people's posts.

[KittyeeTrix]

Mod Note: Lads, give over the bickering with each other.....Cheers

[Janedoe10]

Exactly if u really really want windows u can install windows in the partition Bootcamp . So u can have the best of both worlds

[partyatmygaff]

Originally Posted by Janedoe10

Exactly if u really really want windows u can install windows in the partition Bootcamp . So u can have the best of both worlds

A laptop with unsuitable hardware running an OS it wasn't originally designed for?

That's the worst of both worlds really.

What's so wrong with suggesting that he buys something that won't give him endless headaches?

[THEMRMONGOOSE]

I think I'd be better off just getting a windows laptop because its just less hassle with software. I'm not going to spend over 800 euro on one because honestly outside of engineering I just don't use them as much as I would an iPhone or tablet.
It's a great suggestion to get that Dell workstation but I've been told by a friend in an engineering course that I would get on fine with a good powerful laptop (just not an ultrabook and definitely NOT a mac)
I'm still staying strong with the iPad but I'm going to buy a laptop in the first few weeks in september, when the course starts. I figure I would use the iPad for personal use and handy extra information and the laptop purely for college work.
With the laptop market being so competitive, is there a brand that stands out the most like Sony or Samsung or are they all just very similar in spec and performance?(I'm talking about in the 750-850 euro region)

[aperture_nuig]

Originally Posted by THEMRMONGOOSE

I think I'd be better off just getting a windows laptop because its just less hassle with software. I'm not going to spend over 800 euro on one because honestly outside of engineering I just don't use them as much as I would an iPhone or tablet.
It's a great suggestion to get that Dell workstation but I've been told by a friend in an engineering course that I would get on fine with a good powerful laptop (just not an ultrabook and definitely NOT a mac)
I'm still staying strong with the iPad but I'm going to buy a laptop in the first few weeks in september, when the course starts. I figure I would use the iPad for personal use and handy extra information and the laptop purely for college work.
With the laptop market being so competitive, is there a brand that stands out the most like Sony or Samsung or are they all just very similar in spec and performance?(I'm talking about in the 750-850 euro region)

Generally, for me, just go with the brand that offers you the best spec for your money (although google the model of laptop to make sure there aren't any nasty common issues) use https://www.saveonlaptops.co.uk/ to get the best bang for the buck, most people over on the laptop forum will recommend them, as would I, having used them in the past.

For your budget maybe:

https://www.saveonlaptops.co.uk/Acer...G_1114405.html
6gb of RAM and acres of HDD for installing software and saving complex models, as well as music/videos etc. Quad i7 and nvidia graphics too will run anything you throw at it(within reason), and 15" display for portability. Good battery life for an i7 too! this is purely on spec mind you, I havent a clue if there have been any problems with this model or anything, so check around first.

EDIT: Yay 200 posts

[THEMRMONGOOSE]

Originally Posted by aperture_nuig

Generally, for me, just go with the brand that offers you the best spec for your money (although google the model of laptop to make sure there aren't any nasty common issues) use https://www.saveonlaptops.co.uk/ to get the best bang for the buck, most people over on the laptop forum will recommend them, as would I, having used them in the past.

For your budget maybe:

https://www.saveonlaptops.co.uk/Acer_Aspire_5755G_1114405.html
6gb of RAM and acres of HDD for installing software and saving complex models, as well as music/videos etc. Quad i7 and nvidia graphics too will run anything you throw at it(within reason), and 15" display for portability. Good battery life for an i7 too! this is purely on spec mind you, I havent a clue if there have been any problems with this model or anything, so check around first.

Thanks for the link that acer looks to be very powerful and at a good price. I don't really pay much attention to laptops just general specs so I'm not too sure what's the best in the market . I hear Sony is good And reliable but as you said I'd probably get better value for money with another brand. Plus I've noticed that all the vaio's are quite broad and bulky anyway.

[ZRelation]

Alot of hype on here.
Here are the two most demanding programs you'll be using:
1) Autodesk Inventor
http://usa.autodesk.com/autodesk-inv...-requirements/

2) Abaqus FEA
http://www.3ds.com/support/certified...-611-products/

For the first one you'll never be using any significant rendering or animation or more than 200 parts in an assembly so the lower set of system requirements are fine. You only start 3D CAD halfway through your second year.

For the second one, you'll only need it in 4th year and if you're doing anything decent with it you'll need to use a desktop anyways so won't make a difference what laptop you have.

As has been said, don't get a Mac if you want to use engineering software.

A bog standard Dell Inspiron did the job fine for me for the 4 years.

[THEMRMONGOOSE]

Originally Posted by ZRelation

Alot of hype on here.
Here are the two most demanding programs you'll be using:
1) Autodesk Inventor
http://usa.autodesk.com/autodesk-inv...-requirements/

2) Abaqus FEA
http://www.3ds.com/support/certified...-611-products/

For the first one you'll never be using any significant rendering or animation or more than 200 parts in an assembly so the lower set of system requirements are fine. You only start 3D CAD halfway through your second year.

For the second one, you'll only need it in 4th year and if you're doing anything decent with it you'll need to use a desktop anyways so won't make a difference what laptop you have.

As has been said, don't get a Mac if you want to use engineering software.

A bog standard Dell Inspiron did the job fine for me for the 4 years.

Thats good to know a normal spec computer would do the job. But I read through the requirements of Autodesk Inventor and it says I would need a Full HD screen but every laptop I've been looking at is just HD ready.
Why are the screens so bad?, you'd think in 2012 they would have but 1080p in most of these higher end models by now! Tablets are even beginning to pass them out!

[georgiecasey]

My God the Apple fanboys were entertaining in these here thread.

[adam500]

Sadly the greater majority if Irish educational institutions have minimal or zero Mac/OSX based computing systems in use,in incomparison to the UK were some of the major University's computer systems are OSX based, witch means that if you were to invest your funds into a Mac laptop or iPad, it would be difficult if not impossible to be compatible with your course material, as your Uni probably will be windows based systems (unfortunately).

There is a lot of posters on here stating that an iPad would be impractical for use on an engineering course, or in your case "biomes-engineering", but I personally don't agree. An Ipad can be used quiet well for all your needs, just as a laptop could, if you take the time to fully understand how to compute it and use it to function for your means, you would adjust perfectly. Chinise students are already abandoning there laptops for touch screen tablets as a more convenient form of computing.

Touch screen tablets is the way computing is heading, it's well documented now that Apple will be focusing on the evolution of the iPad and tablet technology to replace laptops in the future. Touch screen interface is going to be the way, so to conclude your question, the iPad may not be at this moment the most favored form of computing for college goers but in time it will be replacing the laptop and will be and already is, just fine for use.

Adi

[aperture_nuig]

Originally Posted by adam500

Sadly the greater majority if Irish educational institutions have minimal or zero Mac/OSX based computing systems in use,in incomparison to the UK were some of the major University's computer systems are OSX based, witch means that if you were to invest your funds into a Mac laptop or iPad, it would be difficult if not impossible to be compatible with your course material, as your Uni probably will be windows based systems (unfortunately).

There is a lot of posters on here stating that an iPad would be impractical for use on an engineering course, or in your case "biomes-engineering", but I personally don't agree. An Ipad can be used quiet well for all your needs, just as a laptop could, if you take the time to fully understand how to compute it and use it to function for your means, you would adjust perfectly. Chinise students are already abandoning there laptops for touch screen tablets as a more convenient form of computing.

Touch screen tablets is the way computing is heading, it's well documented now that Apple will be focusing on the evolution of the iPad and tablet technology to replace laptops in the future. Touch screen interface is going to be the way, so to conclude your question, the iPad may not be at this moment the most favored form of computing for college goers but in time it will be replacing the laptop and will be and already is, just fine for use.

Adi

while I agree with you in terms of the direction computing is heading, I'd love to see you do your CAD assignments on an iPad That's all I'm going to say, thread has been derailed by iPad v laptop debate for long enough.