Laptop for mechanical engineering student

AidanBoland

Hi Im going to be starting this course in September and was thinking of buying a 13 inch macbook air.
Im aware that I'll have to run some of the CAD programmes and probably PRO E at a later stage on something like bootcamp.
I really like the portability and design of the macbook air but is it really suited to what I need or should I be looking at buying something else?

Jarren

The most expensive macbook air specs

1.8GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor
Turbo Boost up to 2.8GHz
4GB memory
256GB flash storage1
Intel HD Graphics 4000
€1,599.00
http://store.apple.com/ie/browse/home/shop_mac/family/macbook_air/select

You will need a very powerful cpu+plenty of RAM

http://www.komplett.ie/Komplett/product/15_16_inch/80006637/lenovo_15_6_z580_m81dfmh_i7_3612qm_8gb_750gb/details.aspx

is the size/portability important to you ?

AidanBoland

Jarren wrote: »

The most expensive macbook air specs

1.8GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor
Turbo Boost up to 2.8GHz
4GB memory
256GB flash storage1
Intel HD Graphics 4000
€1,599.00
http://store.apple.com/ie/browse/home/shop_mac/family/macbook_air/select

You will need a very powerful cpu+plenty of RAM

http://www.komplett.ie/Komplett/product/15_16_inch/80006637/lenovo_15_6_z580_m81dfmh_i7_3612qm_8gb_750gb/details.aspx

is the size/portability important to you ?

Thanks for your reply, yes I think the size portability is important to me, I also really like the speed of the SSD on the macbooks.
The lenovo you linked to is something to think about but I really think you lose alot of the the portability by moving up in size and weight.
Do you think the macbook would handle everything for the first couple of years of college? I could possibly upgrade if it was reaching its limits at that stage

kirving

Hi,

I'm going into my final year of mechanical engineering this year. Do you mind if I ask where you're going in September?

I have never needed a laptop so far. About 2 weeks in the year, one might come in handy. If you live away from home, you obviously could do with one.

First of all, screen size.

I do a fair bit of CAD, and I love the fact that I've got a 23" screen on a proper desk at home. Standard size in college is either 17" or 19" 4:3 screens which are absolutely essential. For general work like excel and word, you need something bigger than a 13". Even a retina display won't change the fact they you'll be staring at a small area for long periods.

Ease of use.

You need a proper keyboard if you're going to be using it a lot, and at least a number pad. Trying to type a heap of numbers into a spreadsheet using the row along the top of some keyboards is slow and iritating. You need a mouse for CAD. Do a bit of rendering on SolidWorks, you need you're power adaptor. Throw in a few books and your bag is getting heavy. This is why I use the computers in college. Most people dont bring their laptops in as they're too awkward. Printing notes is easier I find, as I can have lots of pages open at once.

Power.

Laptops have come a long way in the past few years since I started so a decent one will have plenty of power for CAD and other stuff. Mind you, you don't need anything major if you turn the graphics down a bit, and rendring still works, but just takes a little longer. If you wan't something decent though, you'll be paying for it. You'll get more bang for your buck if you go desktop.

Screenshot in the middle of rendering a CAD animation. Intel i7 860(3 years old nerly but still OK) : Here


Operating System.

Do not buy a Mac. Running Solidworks and AutoCad, amongst others will be a complete pain in the arse through Bootcamp. Don't do it.

TLDR:

You won't have a problem with power if you buy something decent, but you'll still be left with a small screen, and you probably won't use it a whole lot in college anyway.

If it was me, I'd get a decent desktop.(Cheaper these days), and 13-14" laptop for Word/Excel when you need it with you in college just before submitting projects and the like.

If you wan't any more info on Mech Eng, or a sample of the work you'll be doing, send me a PM. I'm in DIT btw.

Regards,
Kevin

Jarren

Very good post ^


OP

There is also something lighter/more portable

http://www.komplett.ie/Komplett/product/ultrabooks/80006636/lenovo_14_u410_mah6nmh_i7_3517u_8gb_1tb%2b32ssd/details.aspx

AidanBoland

@ Kevin Irving
Thanks for such an informative post.
I will be going to GMIT in september and i'm unsure as to how good the computer facilities are there, I may not need a laptop capable of running AutoCad etc at all, maybe their set up will be adequate.

I had thought about the desktop/laptop combo you suggested, it would be ideal but I will be moving to Galway to go to college and to be honest I don't think I will have space for a desktop in the room I'll be staying in.

I think I'll try to get in touch with somebody who has done or is doing the course in GMIT to see if their facilities are up to scratch before I go making any decisions about what I'll buy