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New laptop for an architect.

  • 02-10-2011 3:45pm
    #1
    fitz0
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,753 ✭✭✭


    Hi all,

    I'm in the market for a new laptop. I'm an architecture student so I'll be running some heavy programs like AutoCAD, 3dsMax, Rhino, Adobe Master Suite and others, often simultaneously. I have a good budget but I really don't want to spend it all if I don't have to.

    I was looking at the MacBook Pro 15" but I don't know if I can justify the price when I can get the Dell XPS 15 for a whole lot cheaper with similar or better specs.

    Can anyone give me a few reasons why one is better than the other or suggest an alternative? I've had a Dell Vostro 1700 for 4 years and despite some annoyances and preloaded crapware I can't say I've had much hassle with it.

    Thanks,
    fitz0


Comments

  • #2
    darragh o meara
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,237 ✭✭✭darragh o meara


    I have a MacBook pro 15"( core i5, 8 gb ram etc ) and it runs anything I've thrown at it so far ie. Latest 3d cad packages etc. However my only thing I found was that to run these programs perfectly I had to dual boot windows 7 on the machine. As I use my mac for djing mainly I've decided to buy one of the dell xps 17" just for my engineering work. A friend if mine has one and also uses the same programs I use loves his and from my testing if his one it eats up the cad packages for breakfast, suppose the 3 gb graphics card helps a bit :) a bit if advise would be to avoid the expensive hard drive and ran upgrades on the website and buy them afterward for a lot less and fit it yourself :) if I remember right the 8gb upgrade was something like 300 euro from dell but 60 from crucial !!

    The mac is an excellent machine but fir engineering type applications the main benefit of mac os is bypassed as you'll be loading windows onto it. You will pick up 2 xps systems for the same specced MacBook pro. If you had said you were into music production or video I'd be recommending mac and nothing else.


  • #3
    Hal Emmerich
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,078 ✭✭✭Hal Emmerich


    fitz0 wrote: »
    I'm an architecture student
    Architect eh?

    Do all you lads wear the same trainers? 34.40 minutes in....like....WTF? I think there's abit of Hero worship going on there.

    Dell XPS 17 is €1050.

    Only other two I'd look at if you want to stay in that spec range is:

    Acer €885ish delivered i7, 8GB RAM, Blu-Ray writer, 2GB RAM 5850.
    Asus €950 delivered, Full HD screen may be of use for what your're doing....or not.

    Maybe this Asus.


  • #4
    fitz0
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,753 ✭✭✭fitz0


    Thanks for the advice, I went with the XPS in the end. 15" because carrying a 17 is a pain in the hole. I upped the spec a bit (not RAM, I can get that cheaper myself) so I think it will be more than capable for what I need. Can the mods please close this thread, it's done.


  • #5
    Alanstrainor
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23,157 ✭✭✭✭Alanstrainor


    fitz0 wrote: »
    Thanks for the advice, I went with the XPS in the end. 15" because carrying a 17 is a pain in the hole. I upped the spec a bit (not RAM, I can get that cheaper myself) so I think it will be more than capable for what I need. Can the mods please close this thread, it's done.

    No, someone might get something out of this, or have a question to ask. No point closing


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