Macbook with Modo

#1

I’m going to buy a macbook (not a macbook pro) but it’s video card is very strange (the intel one). It has a acceptable performance?

Maybe I should spend 2k dollars and buy a macbook pro?

Or there is another notebook (PC one), for about 1,5k (1k preferable) that can give me better performance with 3d programs?

I don’t need a big screen (17" and 19") because i’m going to use the note everyday and the weight is very important for my buying choices. The 13" or 14" would be the better options for me.

#2

I think Modo on a Macbook would be a bad move, the integrated graphics will limit you as will the small screen resolution…

Save for the pro…

#3

Actually, Ngrava uses Modo on a Macbook and is quite happy with it. I was asking the same question a while back. I ended up getting the MBP, but that was simply because I wanted the bigger screen.

Leslie

#4

I just think such a small screen for modelling is a bit daft, especially with Modos layout, you’d have no room to work in…

Plus you can forget painting bump maps etc as the GFX card probably wont support Advanced open GL…

#5

I’ll stick with a PC notebook. They’re cheaper and with better performances. thanks!

#6

I dislike the respones that just jump in with the asumptions.
Actual experience of the Macbook experience is what required here, please. As I too am considering a Macbook and would like to know the real experience.

And buy the way with the Macbook it will take an external monitor to 24" and a resolution of 1900 X 1200

I have heard that the Open GL is appariently exceptionally good. But I dont know about specificaly with Modo or LW.

I too would appreciate anybodies real experience with the Macbook with Modo or LW as I would like a Macbook as a second computer.

#7

A thread like this popped up on the luxology forums, basically it said:

OpenGL performance: About the same as the users previous iBook G4 with Radeon 9550.

Advanced OpenGL Mode: Doesn’t work at all. This mode is needed for the paint features.

Anything CPU related flew.

Apparently the Reflection and Gooch Tone viewport shaders also do not work with the Intel GMA950. The GMA950 also has no T&L engine… this is handled by the CPU via driver emulation. I believe pixel shader ops are also offloaded to the CPU via driver emulation.

In short, go for a macbook pro, or an imac, or a pc laptop with a real video card in it.

Anyway, do a search for it over there.

#8

Buckie is right. Lets not sugarcoat things.

Open GL performance sucks on the macbook core duo’s. Even the ibooks were faster.

Painting is out from what I hear.

Screen thats so small. Yes, if you want to get by with a bare necesity miserable 3D experiance then go with the 13 inch. But lets be honest… I’m using a 17 inch imac at work and its miserably small for Modo and 3D. Modo takes up alot of screen space…

And buy the way with the Macbook it will take an external monitor to 24" and a resolution of 1900 X 1200

Maybe thats of interest to you but the original poster did not mention wanting to hookup external, seemed like he wanted portablilty since he mentioned the weight of it.

Difference between macbook and mac pro on weight:

macbook 13 inch - 5.2 pounds
macbook pro 15 inch - 5.6
macbook pro 17 inch - 6.8

So your dealing within a pound and a half here for the 17 inch and .4 of a pound with the 15 inch. I highly doubt you will see a difference.

macbook pro = pro laptop, fitting for 3D.

mabcook = cool apple laptop for you ilife suite… can get by with alot of 3D features but will be a lousy experiance.

Bottom line:

I dislike the respones that just jump in with the asumptions.

Buckie and gelfie are dead on. I have a black macbook and absolutly love it. Its a great computer! BUT, macbooks were not meant for 3D and pro apps… you need something with a true video card for that. Period!

Asumptions? More like experiance…

Ps. I doubt you will find a pc laptop that is of equal quality and specs, run OS X and Windows and is the same price range as the macbook pros. They are truly awesome machines. If you don’t need portablity then I do recommend the imacs as they are even better (in an aspect or two) and cheaper. Even if you don’t think you need it… get the biggest screen you can afford on a laptop (or anything). The wieght isn’t that much of a difference…

Hope this helps : )

#9

There are some cheaper notebooks but that’s because they aren’t as good, you get what you pay for in this world & getting cheap hardware for 3D is a false economy…

How ironic your statement is, as I’ve used Modo on a Macbook, Macbook Pro & a PC so therefore my opinion is based very much on experience…

The original question was “Macbook with Modo”, not “Macbook with Modo & a 24” monitor"…

So in answer to the original question asked, I wouldn’t recommend a Macbook to work with Modo, a 17" Macbook Pro such as my own yes I would recommend it…

In relation to the Open GL comment I made, I referred to Advanced Open GL not Open GL…

#10

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