Questions regarding Revit and compatibility with Mac.

[Anonymous]

This is really a follow on from this topic (started on the cloud service topic) see below:

http://feedback.autodesk.com/cloudservices/topics/revit_mac_version

As Christiaan said "it's a travesty that there are no powerful and intuitive BIM programmes available for Mac. Revit and OS X belong together!!"

I understand that as an organisation you need to keep certain things quiet until they are released, but i presume this is more to do with particular features and tools within Revit.

The closest competitors to Revit already have their software native to both the PC and Mac. So i can't see why there is a need to keep the plans, or a possible time frame for Revit to include a native Mac compatible version quiet. (unless there are no plans for this to happen?)

Releasing this information can only be beneficial to Autodesk, its users and potential future users, as we can prepare our offices appropriately.

Our office uses Mac computers and the only thing holding us back from making the move to Revit is that there is not a version for the Mac OS.

The key questions from this thread are:

1). Is Revit going to be available on the Mac using OS X?

2). When is this likely to be?

3). What form is Revit on the Mac likely to take?

Can someone from Autodesk please, provide some clarification to these questions?

[TJungY]

It's 2015, still not out yet?????????

[lynn_zhang]

Hi @TJungY Welcome to Autodesk Community!

Currently Revit is still supported on Windows only (System requirements for Autodesk Revit products) and the Mac version is not available yet.

However, please check Autodesk Revit Mac FAQ 2015 about using Autodesk Revit software with Boot Camp®, part of Mac OS® X that enables you to install and run Microsoft Windows (and Windows-based applications) on a Mac® computer or with Parallels Desktop, a system utility available from Parallels, Inc. that allows you to run applications in each operating system without restarting your computer.

Thanks!

[Hevek]

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@lynn_zhang wrote:

Currently Revit is still supported on Windows only (System requirements for Autodesk Revit products) and the Mac version is not available yet.

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"Currently" and "not available *yet*". That's some very interestinhg langauge coming from an Autodesk official. 🙂

[architects]

This whole thread has had numeroius mentions about BootCamp, and why it's not a feasible solution for most Mac users.

For Windows users who don't understand (or care) what this means:

1. You need to purchase a separate Windows licence for your Mac

2. You need to install a separate keyboard driver - depending on the country you live in

3. You need to install Windows print drivers, and Windows security software, and Windows e-mail software

4. You effectively ignore all your mac software whilr running in BootCamp

5. You have to reboot your machine to use your usual software

6. You can't use Revit at the same time as the rest of your Mac software

Doesn't sound good does it?

Nemetschek and Graphisoft (much smaller and much less profitable companies) manage to operate native versions for Windows and Mac.

Graphisoft have been doing it for 30 years.

There are no acceptable excuses.

[Chris_D_UK]

I use Teamviewer (remote desktop software, free for non-commercial use) to occasionally access Revit from my Mac at home. It works surprisingly well if you have a decent internet connection. You need to have Revit running on a PC (e.g. a headless box) and then you access it from the Mac, all the while having access to your other Mac software and email etc.

Longer term, I'm pretty sure the virtualisation route will be the one that Autodesk takes to offer Revit on the Mac. Have a look at 'Collaboration for Revit' (now a commercial service in the US) which uses a Citrix client on the PC. Citrix is cross platform of course, so it's not a stretch of the imagination to envisage a Mac version.

[architects]

Citrix could work - but it would depend on a fast network connection. Revit is a very demanding application. Over the internet,I've had problems running even modest apps, because our connection isn't the fastest or the most reliable.

I'm not sure how responsive this would be, but it's an interesting option.

[albahad.mamad]

I'm sure Revit on the Mac would be just as good as autocad, half ****!

[glyn.whibley]

Hi there

This is a situation that is causing alot of problems with myself and many other university students. We are all training to become architects and in process of buying new laptops. We have been told that come 2016... Revit will become the standard across architectural practices nationwide. We are going to be trained on Revit but alot of us including myself have just spent £2k on a lovely new macbook to find out that a mac version is not available. Again... we dont want to be having to run 2 platforms at the same time... just wanting to use one. Everything else we are being trained on we can get as mac.
Does it therefore not make sense to release a mac version for the thousands of students so we can "grow up" with the joys of revit as our standard "home" software???
Are you not incidentally keeping yourself out of reach from the future generations to favour your software??

Glyn

[rosskirby]

Just out of curiosity, why do you guys keep buying Macs when you know that Revit won't run on them natively?  I'm genuinely curious.  

I've practiced architecture for the better part of 13 years, in 6 different offices ranging from 4 employees to 100, none of which have ever used Macs, and worked on everything from residential to multi-family to laboratories, what's the rationale behind buying a Mac over a Windows machine?

Is there some piece of software that you can't live without that only runs on Mac and which I'm not aware of?  I genuinely don't get it.  If you only had gasoline stations within driving range of your home, would you go out and buy a diesel engine?

[Hevek]

We use Macs because of the low overhead afforded by vertical integration; they mostly run themselves without any problems, including and especially the server. No IT required. We still find it amusing when specialist Windows IT support companies ring up fishing for work. 'Sorry, we're Mac only', 'No we don't have an IT department'.

The piece of software we can't live without is OS X. There are some interesing diesel engines out there we'd love to try but they're not currently made for on the better road network we use. Would you stop using a road network that you've successfully built your business on just so you can try out some new fandangled diesel engine. Some would, and more power to them, but we'd rather not.

Our BIM software is Vectorworks.

[chrisplyler]

"Nemetschek and Graphisoft (much smaller and much less profitable companies) manage to operate native versions for Windows and Mac."

Barring any other information, one must assume that Autodesk must make better business decisions. Whoever is there in the meetings making business case arguements for or against various proposals must be doing a better job than his counterparts at Nemetschek and Graphisoft.

We can sit around discussing what WE think the merits are of Autodesk bringing out a native Mac version of Revit, but in the end the only discussion that makes any difference is the one that goes down in that meeting.

[glyn.whibley]

Hi there...

I'm a student studying architecture at university and this is becoming a great annoyance for me and my fellow students of all years through to masters. The majority of us have bought lovely new macbook pros and have since had our spirits dampened by the fact revit does not run natively on macs. I have been a windows man for years but changed operating system for the reason that OS X and mac hardware are top notch for this subject.
Is it me or are autodesk shooting themselves in the foot by not making revit easily available for the new generation to train on. We keep hearing from lecturers that revit is due to become the industry standard software for architects come 2016... so does this mean that Autodesk are in process of making our dreams come true? Is it on the horizon?
Or is archicad going to become our preferred software because the revit team aren't doing the oobviously sensible action. We love what we have seen so far but that gate is locked for alot of us... we don't want the expense and irritation of two systems eating up valuable memory.

Any answers???

Many thanks
Glyn

[joannenabors]

You write:
"The closest competitors to Revit already have their software native to both the PC and Mac."

Can you tell me the next closest competitors that have a decent Mac version?  I need it now. 🙂

[Hevek]

With the advent of Vectorworks 2016 and its Project Sharing capibilities, our wish for a Revit for Mac is hugely diminished.

[pedicini]

What goes down in that meeting should reflect what goes down in the world at large and in the comments here. It is infuriating that Autodesk has not put its resources yet toward a native mac version of Revit. It appears that they just don't care about the largely mac-based design world. 

[pedicini]

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@Hevek wrote:

With the advent of Vectorworks 2016 and its Project Sharing capibilities, our wish for a Revit for Mac is hugely diminished.

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Thank you Hevek.  Vectorworks 2016 looks exciting. Really glad that there are companies seeking my mac-comfortable and/or platform agnostic business. 

[pedicini]

Thank you Hevek.  Vectorworks 2016 looks exciting. Really glad that there are companies seeking my mac-comfortable and/or platform agnostic business. 

[Quentin.Colonne]

Hi Guys,

At first, I was very disappointed that I could not use Revit on Mac, because there was no way that I was going to change all of my computers at my design and build business, from Mac to PC - just for Revit.

However, I am now delighted that Revit does not work on Mac, as it lead me to find a new BIM program.

I know that you are probably going to find this crazy, but it is is called PlusSpec for SketchUp. But before you stop reading (because of the word 'SketchUp'), hear me out. PlusSpec is BIM, but it is more than just BIM: it is the first actual Virtual Design and Construction software that I have seen. And, it is also an estimating software. I have never seen another program like it.

There was a slight learning curve, but once I got the hang of it (after about a week!), I was flying. After spending a couple of months using it, I became more proficient in this software than what I was with Revit after 2 years. I actually even taught one of my interns how to use it efficiently, in about 4 hours.

I know that I am raving about it, but it does everything that Revit does (but faster), and more - including, automatic structure (timber stud walls, roof rafters, roof trusses, joists, etc). And because I run a design & build company, the cherry on top, is that it automatically quantifies everything that is drawn, so that we can generate a one-click Take-Off for feasibility/BOQ’s/price estimates, in real time - and it is dead accurate.

There is a free trial I think. But, it is very cheap to buy. Either way, the cost is a hell of alot cheaper than changing your office over to PC!

I have never been on the PC bandwagon, and I am very happy to say that I am no longer on the Revit bandwagon.

[RDAOU]

Quentin,

First I have to say I am sorry.

I tried not to reply more than once I navigated away but mate your post is just too arghhh!!! Seriously; are you advertising Plus Spec or you really believe thats what BIM is all about?

If its the first (advertising), I would say your company really picked the worst marketing professional ever. Phrases like "I have seen no other Program Like it" "It is very cheap to buy" "4hr to work efficiently with it" and then comparing it to Revit and proclaiming PlusSpec as BIM and more!!!! such phrases on a forum like this are quite dumb sorry to say. You might try using those at a school or a university but I doubt it if even a couple would fall for such advertisment. (PS: There is no such thing as DEAD ACCURATE so you 'd probably think this one over before posting this somewhere else)

If it the second and you and your Design Build Firm really believe all that automatic structures and automatic quantification, and generating one-click Take-Off for feasibility/BOQ’s/price estimates are all that there is in/about BIM; man I don't want to work with your firm ever. As a matter of fact I would not encourage anyone to do so either

I've just noticed also that you said that PC's are a bandwagons. Im not sure which kind of Engineer or Architect would say that computers are a trend rather than an essential tool we need almost on a day to day basis but if thats your case "Never Been on the PC Bandwagon" no wonder you are a fail in BIM ...Anyway; good luck on the GTeam and Tekla forums I'm pretty sure you will be posting there too... bandwagons!!!

[koad]

Come on Autodesk.. You seriously need to give out Autocad Architecture and Revit versions compatible to Mac. 😕

[Alessandra.G]

Hi @koad,

Thanks for your interest in our products.

For the moment, we do not have official communication on this.