That old Mac vs Windows Debate

#10

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.

#11

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? :slight_smile: You may want to read this:

https://www.gnu.org/proprietary/malware-microsoft.en.html

#12

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.

#13

also buying a windows free laptop is a huge pain in the ass any way.

#14

Maybe you guys should read this :slight_smile: :

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

#15

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.

#16

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.

#17

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:

https://openvisualfx.com/
http://libregraphicsworld.org/

#18

Agree with the opinion that Macs become useless.:thinking:

#19

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.

#21

YES, this is probably true! (Hey I popped back in :slight_smile: ). Just saying, forums such as THESE, exist:
http://www.linuxforums.org/forum/
which have entire sub-forums for “Newbie”, “Hardware” and “Installation”. Just saying :slight_smile:

#22

@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.

#23

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

#24

Don’t buy any laptop - the screen panels of many are often crap - before you read its review here:

https://www.notebookcheck.net/

#25

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.

#26

WELL WELL WELL!! …So I open up my computer to read THIS in the news:

#27

If you value your peace of mind I would suggest staying with the Mac.

Under heavy use Windows machines are generally just a gargantuan pain in the ass despite there compatibility usefulness in various situations. Therefore I only spot use Windows where I have no alternative. Most software these days is available for both OS’ any efficiency concerns most likely will be resolved in future iterations of the software.

Certainly CUDA is useful in rendering/previewing, but I just haven’t seen it as useful enough to accept all the other long term system stability issues and generally more intuitive UX like keyboard shortcuts etc. with the Mac OS. All these masochists just want you existing in the same hell as they are.

(Truth be told you can excel with either platform it just comes down to where you’re most comfortable, as you probably already know.)

There are some developments that may also make the Mac the better performance choice, but you have to wait until June to really see what it’s gonna be.

With Apple reformulating their “Pro” line of hardware and particularly the desktop along with the OS, so it would behoove you to wait until after WWDC to make a choice. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if they showed up with a new “Pro” line of Macbooks considering the reformulation process, if rumors are to be believed. Aside from that despite high heat concerns the latest MacBooks were performing betting then equivalent Windows laptops, which had biased reviewers like Linus and Austin Evans (mostly Linus) whining about excessive heat when they really were expecting to see much lower performance numbers.

AMD seems to making substantial progress in their fabrication of CPUs and GPUs. Outside of ray tracing specific tasks Nvidia RTX don’t really seem to push forward that far beyond the GTX 1080ti line. Also, it seems that after 3 years Vulkan development is seeing more adoption, the Vega64 graphics benchmarks using Vulkan are quite favorable compared to Nvidia’s newest GPU offerings and being the open standard it’s going to be more preferable then a closed standard to a lot of developers. Apple has a close relationship with AMD where it concerns GPUs so the next gen Macs will likely benefit greatly from AMDs advancements. Hopefully Apple will adopt some AMD CPUs to mix in with their Intel CPUs while leaving the ARM rumors in the dust.

Even though I don’t immediately disqualify ARM as a potential desktop solution for creatives like some people do I highly doubt Apple would be able to reasonably produce such processors with compatibility compromises for non-mobile “Pro” devices at a price many people would accept.

#28

My pipeline is heavily dependant upon Reallusion Iclone pro
for “perpetual license” Character motionbuilding and retargeting.
Reallusion has stated flatly there will be no mac OS version.

I still keep an Old win 7 tower on “Life Support” to run the extemely powerful
( discontinued)Endorphin Ragdoll physics software that has No modern day equivalent
outside of fiddling with Game engines (which I hate for Filmmaking.)

Not having access to the tools I need on My OS Destroys my "Piece of mind"

Apple has become bigger than the mighty pseudo sovereign entity
Exxon mobile, by ignoring the Pro 3DCC hardware market.

IMHO waiting year after year for Apple to pull a “crazy Ivan”
and change course is a fools gambit.

#29

Virtually nothing you posted here contradicts anything I posted.

It’s down to a matter of preference with most machines and spot using older Windows machines for specific tasks. To each their own.

I also have an old Windows 7 tower running and old copy of Faceshift. Since Apple bought that software company and they are still using the software it would be great if it transitioned back to a pro app, but I’m not holding my breath. As far as your copy of Endorphin, I remember that app well and it was awesome in it’s time, however I’m pretty sure you could do all of that and more in Houdini, which runs like a top on OSX on the Mac Pro and iMac Pro mind you.

It’s all a matter of your perspective.

#30

Indeed ,and it would seem the the OP of this thread has already decided to join the rest of the pro CG world and bought a PC so all is well.