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Autocad for mac or Autocad in Bootcamp

Anonymous

Autocad for mac or Autocad in Bootcamp

Anonymous
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Sorry if this is a bit basic but I am a newish user. I am an occasional Autocad user and I am able to produce and ammend simple construction drawings. Up to now I have used Autocad on a PC but my main computing has been on macs for some years now. I now need to start using Autocad more frequently and need to purchase a new desktop. The machine has to be a mac for my main computer tasks but whats the best way to use Autocad? Should I buy AutoCad for Mac; or should I buy the windows version of AutoCad and run it in Bootcamp or in Parallels? Any advice on the pros and cons of each solution would be very welcome. 

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Anonymous
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Autocad for PC has more features.  Some seem very basic and could be important for your work flow. As a mac user I have found a few work arrounds but it takes more work.   Particularly look at what types of files you insert into Autocad.  Pdfs and Word documents can't be inserted in AC for mac for example.  sure you can copy and paste text from a word doc into an Mtext window.  But then it takes time to reformat the entire text.  On PC just xref the word doc. formating is done and it updates as the doc does.

 

Support is also an issue.  It seems like every year a new OSx is released and autocad is not compatable.  There is a window where Autodesk either corrects the issues or drops support. 2013 users are still waiting for an update for Yosimite that is easy to install. In 2013 when Mavericks came out support for AC 2012 was dropped.  Update your OS with caution.

 

If you want to see a full featured, well supported version on Mac in the future then buy it for mac and support the cause.  It is what I do and I rely heavily on this forum for solutions. It is a great forum!

 

If you want a full featured copy now, that is likely to work with windows for the next couple of windows OS iterations get the windows version. As long as paralles works Autocad will work.  (i use vmware) 

 

I'm on my second version of AC for Mac.  I won't buy a third if the issues aren't fixed.  I'll go to PC. (on a mac of course)

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Anonymous
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Thanks push-pull,

 

That was very useful. Are there any advantages in using the windows version of Autocad in Bootcamp, rather than in Parallels or VM ?

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Anonymous
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I think it will depend on your system. Autocad needs to access lots of ram. It regularly uses +14gb of ram on my system. And up to 21gb when in my most complex projects. (I have 24gb) With VM you will have to choose how much ram the guest operating system (widows) can access. Of course autocad is my primary software.

A boot camp partition will give you full access to your macs hardware.

If the rest of your software is mac based you will need to shut down your system. Turn it back on holding the option key. Select the windows partition to start up and get to autocad. Once there I'm not sure how easily your files can go back to the Mac OS. Either an external drive. Or maybe a third partition that acts as a separate storage drive.

With VM you can stay in the Mac OS and access all your data almost seamlessly. Autocad can run in a mode that makes it seem like windows isn't there. You can even launch it like an apple app from launch pad. Then you can have a more fluid workflow

I recommend getting a mac with an i7 processor, as much ram as you can afford, as much SSD as you can afford, VM or parallels, and windows 7. .

It will add $$$ to the cost of your rig + software. but if you plan on getting 4 or 5 years out of your Mac it will be worth it. Just be very informed before updating either OS.

David Pulliam

Anonymous
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<duplicate post deleted>

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Anonymous
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If you decide to run AutoCAD native on the Mac there is a pretty good course on lynda.com on migrating AutoCAD from Windows to the Mac. I am in a similar situation as you, and I was initially taken aback by the difference in look and feel on the Mac .This course does a good job at showing you where the stuff is that at first looks like it is missing.

 

I feel your pain. Good Luck!

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