topic AutoCAD for Mac in AutoCAD for Mac Forum

AutoCAD for Mac

Anonymous — Tue, 10 Nov 2020 08:47:45 GMT

I'm starting a new business doing electrical design. I've been doing the work for over 9 years with another company but my boss is retiring and I'm going to do my own thing. I have a really good Macbook Pro I bought last year for my personal use. I was planning to use this for the business and install CAD on it, but after checking the site, there are a lot of things that are unavailable for the Mac version of CAD. My current work computer is a PC and I'm used to the CAD program that I have always had.

I'm just not sure if the Mac version will be okay or if I should bite the bullet and get a new PC laptop for my new company.

Just for some background, I only do 2D drawings, usually conduit routing and wiring loop diagrams. I will be getting AutoCAD LT.

Re: AutoCAD for Mac

maxim_k — Tue, 10 Nov 2020 09:22:48 GMT

Welcome to Autodesk Forums!

Hi @Anonymous

You can use AutoCAD for Windows on your Mac too.

There are two ways:

- install Windows on Boot Camp partition - in this case you have to reboot your Mac each time you want to switch from macOS to Windows

- install Windows inside Virtual Machine (Parallels Desktop or VMware Fusion) - in this case you always stay on Mac side and will be able to run Windows and AutoCAD for Windows without rebooting your Mac.

For AutoCAD LT and 2D drafting you can select the second way, the performance of AutoCAD inside modern virtualization software on modern Mac hardware is very decent.

Re: AutoCAD for Mac

RMHartmann — Tue, 10 Nov 2020 23:49:00 GMT

I've been using AutoCad on Mac for about six years now. It's gotten a lot better since then. Back then, there was an attempt by Autodesk to "Mac-ify" the UI, but I thought that was mis-guided. Over the years, the Mac and Windows version are a lot closer to each other now, as I think it should be. I work in a cross-platform office, so consistency between the two is quite helpful.

What is it that you find unavailable in AutoCAD LT for Mac?

(BTW, Express Tools are in AutoCAD LT for Mac, but not AutoCAD LT for Windows...surprisingly).

Re: AutoCAD for Mac

Anonymous — Wed, 11 Nov 2020 10:49:39 GMT

I'm just not sure if the Mac version will be okay or if I should bite the bullet and get a new PC laptop for my new company.

Just for some background, I only do 2D drawings, usually conduit routing and wiring loop diagrams. I will be getting AutoCAD LT.