This is a really volatile time to be a mac user professionally
Apple will likely soon switch their Macs to their ARM CPU’s soon. This will potentially fracture and really mess up the MacOS ecosystem as new versions of software will start supporting the ARM CPU’s and possibly not support the current intel CPU’s.
You can add external Nvidia GPU’s if you need CUDA support
HAHA anyone take a guess at what I’m going to say?? 
It’s a dead horse round here, but it still needs to be beaten.
OP, have you ever heard of an OS called “Linux”??
He hardly uses any software that runs on Linux.
If you are not in a pipeline Linux is not a simple alternative for single user production.
He isn’t really using anything that most Linux pipelines run.
Linux really is an over- complicated alternative for this case.
Yes, 100% - I am experienced in both Mac and Windows, never used Linux and I am sure 99% of the software I need to use isn’t even available on a Linux OS.
BadBilly: Yes, I have to tell you in all honesty that in Linux, the softwares you are used to, may Not be available. I will NOT make the claim that Linux can solve all your problems or something.
BUT.
First, take a look at this list, it’s a gem of a webpage:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yNXpuy5tVP0q-El0DqoY-AwmPHT6K09NEZG-Pf0KJ7E/edit
Secondly, consider that you will save some money on the price of the OS itself, you’ll run free of viruses (at least I’ve never heard of a major Linux virus), you won’t have to get spied on, and you won’t have to upgrade your PC every time Microsoft deems so. That’s quite a powerful list, right? You may want to read this:
You’d save more money not having to wast time dealing with Linux than the $100 you’d save not getting Windows
If you’re concerned about privacy then it’s not like Linux will save you from those issues.
Maybe you guys should read this :
https://www.quora.com/Why-is-Linux-so-unfriendly
Also this (the answer by “David Pearson” talks about the issue of privacy):
https://www.quora.com/Which-one-is-better-Linux-or-Windows
We do not actually create CG/VFX on the desktops of our operating systems.
We create and produce within our installed 3DCC programs.
for most of us that means having pipeline built around certain specific software applications
thus we need an underlying OS that supports those applications
The OP has already named specific applications he uses, that are not available for Linux…period
No amount of links to Linux Fanboi articles will change this reality
for the OP.
Thank you!
As you said, Linux is NOT and option. I find Linux users really like to sell you to come over, and while I understand the appeal, its just not an option, which I thought was reasonably obvious.
The decision has been made - Mac is a unfortunately a sinking ship and the answer (for this year anyway) is Windows. That said, now I am in a candy store of options and am trying to find the right choice. I know roughly what I want, but to get it all together in a package is taking a little hunt.
(i9, RTX, 64GB (or at least 32gb) ram, and in a reputable brand.
Yes, I am aware of that - Linux is used widely in Hollywood, you know…?
Anyway, I’ll gracefully bow out of the conversation now, just after leaving these 2 links here in case anybody’s interested, and rest assured that these are not “fanboi links” in any way:
I would never recommend linux to a single user for 3D animation unless they were a total linux geek to begin with. There’s some very good reasons it’s used in large studios and render farms where there’s enough staff and expertise to support it. Despite how much easier linux is today, without linux expertise or experience, a person will still likely spend some time digging through the internet trying to figure out how to install or troubleshoot an obscure driver at some point.
For a single user, productivity is most important. IMO macs are fine, but there are concerns. The lack of hardware options, the all-in-one design nature of imacs that risk taking your entire setup down if a single part fails, the potential for the mac market fracturing with ARM CPU’s soon, Apple slowly de-prioritizing the mac platform in favor of iOS, and the smaller amount of software options is what gives me great pause in recommending macs for CG work.
Windows 10 has some mild learning curves too. I often see mac users nervous about switching to Windows. Eventually they come to the conclusion it wasn’t such a big deal to switch after all and that the experience is close enough to a mac to not mind which one they use.
YES, this is probably true! (Hey I popped back in ). Just saying, forums such as THESE, exist:
http://www.linuxforums.org/forum/
which have entire sub-forums for “Newbie”, “Hardware” and “Installation”. Just saying
@BadBilly to be honest for my money, an optimal thermal solution should be a primary consideration, especially when the cost of these high end portable form factor’s are also taken into account and design aesthetics aside, there’s obviously something to be said for a bulkier chassis as opposed too ‘wafer thin’ that IMO seems to be a trend at the moment.
The individuals I Mac only for Office workers, also if you want to just get to work just might entertain then use Windows as I am, because I regularly download the game and play the game at apknite. My life will become boring if there are games entertainment
Don’t buy any laptop - the screen panels of many are often crap - before you read its review here:
Thanks. Notebookcheck has been a huge deciding factor on my final decision, as were a lot of reviews on sites, and youtube reviews.
It was a close call between the Gigabyte Aero, (the new) MSI P65 or P75 Creator, or the Alienware 17M.
In the end I went with the Alienware 17M: 32gb ram, i9, RTX2080 8gb graphics, plenty of storage but most importantly, beautiful 4k 100% sRGB - important for content creation. A huge reason I went with Dell is for their great support and warranty.
Thanks to all that helped me decide! In the end I got something 2x as powerful as the latest maxed out macbook pro, (and then some), and came out a little cheaper.
