im going to college for engineering or architecture and i want a mac. teh only thing is that i dont know if the programs needed for that will work on a mac or if a mac would be a bad choice. the college has computer labs that i could use but i probably waqnt to use me own computer for homework.
2006-07-07 15:35:02 · 7 answers · asked by iowan4life 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Engineering
I think getting the mac is a good plan. It will run all the mac software, obviously, including a lot of image manipulation software which might be handy. It will also run open source UNIX software, which comes up in engineering. And, as others have pointed out, the new macs are intel based, so you can run windows on them. In short, it's an extremely flexible machine.
The other point is that currently there are effectively zero viruses on the mac platform. It's also extremely stable. So, you might consider making OS X your "home" environment for running word, excel, etc, and for generally getting things done. If you come across a program that requires Windows, you can run it. But when the Windows side gets all jammed up with spyware and viruses and all that cruft, you could still work reliably in the mac environment and get that term paper finished. Then reinstall Windows after you've handed it in. ;-)
2006-07-07 15:52:38 · answer #1 · answered by arbeit 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I used a iBook G4 for my studies through college and I shall impart a very brief summary of my experiance to you. I was at a bit of a disadvantage my first years at college due to the mac because some of the early learning software was made only for Windows. However as the classes got more advanced they started using Unix more and more. As the new apple OS's are based in Unix and you can use the terminal in a very friendly enviroment, and portably might I add, I was way ahead of everyone else on projects. With the new Mac's now being intel based and using Unix for the Mac OS, and with Boot Camp allowing windows to run nativly, a mac would be a good choice as long as you are willing to dual boot with Windows. I love my mac, and I have a desktop that runs windows, but I find myself using my mac more in the professional world and my PC more for games. Hope this helps!
2006-07-07 15:43:43 · answer #2 · answered by RocketScientist 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most architectural (ie: Autocad) and engineering software is run on PC. The Mac is generally used for graphic design programs.
2006-07-07 15:44:37 · answer #3 · answered by jason g 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
depends on the school. Software is the issue. I would use a PC base unless you are able to run the PC based software on the MAC with out problems. Check what the school recomends.
2006-07-07 15:38:49 · answer #4 · answered by cpw321cpw 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, most engineering schools require a PC. autocad runs on a PC as do most engineering CAD and CAE programs.
I was engineering CAD/CAE systems manager for over twenty years. Never once saw a MAC.
Sell the MAC and buy a good PC notebook.
2006-07-07 17:58:56 · answer #5 · answered by D M 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
mac okay? sure
optimal? it depends on what else you are doing with it
if you want a Mac you must want it to run some specific software developed for the Mac
pick your computer by the software you want to run
2006-07-07 17:24:22 · answer #6 · answered by enginerd 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you want to be mocked.
2006-07-07 19:41:32 · answer #7 · answered by Rachel S 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋