I use a Mac.



If I were to buy a non-Mac computer, it'd be either a Sony VAIO or an ASUS.

Just get the Mac if you have that much to spend. Dells are shit and HPs are decent but not durable.

macs arent fully compatible with the hardware we need to get. so cant (which im really pissed about)

What hardware? I'm sure that there's comparable Mac-enabled hardware out there. If not, consider the Asus, Vaio, or even an Alienware.

rhino, auto cad, etc.

they said it freezes sometimes and they cant help us if that happens on a mac (rolls eyes)

I'd never recommend a Mac for school, so I'd have to agree with whoever denied you your Mac.

I recommend HP Compaq. It comes with amazing software features, and is actually quite durable.

m0s3pH speaks BLASPHEMY!!!

I've had the laptop for four years before it was stolen from me. Never had to update it myself, and I never needed new software or hardware. The computer seemed to have took care of all that on its own, though watching it update itself every three weeks does get annoying.

I have an ASUS but wouldn't mind having an alienware.

Fuck Mac.

I would probably suggest Alieneware. They're designed more for high end gaming/workstation use. Which sounds like what your probably looking for in a PC. I never owned one so I can't speak to their durability. I've owned a few different PC from different brands (Compaq, HP, Sony). The Compaqs & HPs lasted about 2 years, the Sony lasted longed, but I would consider the model I had more high end than your typical entry level PC, like the HP & Compaqs I had because it had some form of liquid cooling.

Dude, I had a Compaq my last two years of college. It failed so hard as a reliable computer.

Pffffft, says the guy who has had various shit break on his Asus. My iMac is two years old, not a thing wrong with it. Just as fast as the day it arrived at our house bro lol.

thanks for the help!

Mac

If macs weren't so expensive I'd suggest getting a higher end mac and just run Bootcamp and buy a separate windows version to install on Bootcamp. As it is, the reason you probably shouldn't run Autocad on your mac is due to the fact that the school doesn't have a license for it. They're budgeted X amount of money, and one of those is software licenses. Now, there is an autocad for Mac, and students even are allowed a 3 year free license. But I don't know if the license supports Mac or if it is windows only. You could check the autodesk forums and see. But getting a windows PC wouldn't kill you. Unless you need to turn in your computer so that they can install a rootkit onto it to track your progress or other monitoring software. Find out more about what's going into it and what you can/not get working. Maybe you can save that 2k for food.

A Charger breaking does not mean anything about the laptop itself. I have not had to send in my laptop for a week like Andrew (m0s3pH's and my other brother) had to send in his Mac. He also has had charger issues in the past which shows that mac's aren't all that better. Sure PC's can tend to get viruses more easily but that is if people don't look at what they are downloading and provide the laptop with decent protection which can but doesn't always cost any money. I have used Malwarebytes and it is free and has kept my computer clean for quite some time now.

Sure it does, it means that the charger is a POS and that further use of said charger could damage your laptop, which happened when I owned my Dell. Faulty chargers are the main reason why I'll try never to own another laptop.

You guys do realize Alienware is a subsidiary of Dell, right?

Anyhow, if you don't mind their price tag, they are otherwise of good quality so I've heard.

Exactly but if the charger craps out completely like my Asus one did and Andrew's Mac one did then why would you even have a broken charger plugged in anyway...

Be careful if you get an analienware laptop because there are certain models where the hinges are fucked and will break on you

I say get a macbook pro, probably best choice

or Sony Vaio
or HP

Yeah....you really dont want to use macs for autocad. Not effecient, but I've seen some of my friends run autocad on it before, but they still complain.


Are you an architecture student? I use Toshiba and Vaio in school and they run autocad fine. I've never used rhino before, but I've run 3dsmax in the past.

Talk to the guys at Best Buy, they'll tell you exactly what's best for your needs and budget.