That old Mac vs Windows Debate

#1

Hi all,

I would love some input from anyone that can share their experiences and thoughts as I look to buy my next machine, either a MacBook Pro, or I am thinking something along the lines of the Alienware 51M laptop.
I have for a long time been running on Mac, with IMAC and Macbook Pro, using Parallels if I needed to access Windows.
The reason I need to work on a laptop is that I am forever travelling and working on the road. I film and edit action sports films, and am in a different part of the country/ world every week. Lugging a tower and monitor around just doesnt work.

For the past 4 years or so I have been using a '14 Macbook Pro (16gb Ram, 2.5Ghz, and NVIDIA GeForce GT 750M graphics (over 20k hours logged). I primarily edit 4K video, 3D Animation and just got a major VR gig as well as a big movie project greenlighted - the times of using a severely underpowered machine are over (thank god!)

So here is where I am at, with a 5-6k Budget.

  1. Do I buy a new Macbook Pro, where I can sync all my devices, and transfer everything easily?
    Stats:
    2.9 (t-boost up to 4.8)GHZ 6-core i9 Intel
    32gb ddr4 Ram
    Radeon Pro Vega 20 4gb Graphics
    And of course, a stunning retina display.

OR,

  1. do I put my money into a Windows OS such as the Alienware 51M, specced out
    Stats:
    Intel i9 8-core 5Ghz turboboost
    64GB ddr4 Ram
    NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 2080 8GB GDDR6
    (1920 x 1080) 144Hz Anti-Glare IPS Display (not sure if this can compare to the iMacPro)

Apps I primarily use are: Premiere Pro, After Effects, Lightroom, Photoshop, Cinema4D, 3DS Max, Unity.

One issue I see with switching windows is that things are going to sync between computers/ my wife’s calendar and computer. Money wise though, it looks I can get double the performance (upgradable by the way) on the Alienware 51, but after being on mac so long, I get paranoid about things such as reliability, security (viruses etc) on the Windows OS.

Does anyone have any insight/ personal experience with either machine, or making the switch? Where would you put your money?

#2

So since you are using 3Ds MAX you are familiar with Windows already?

MAC
Pro -you are most familiar with it
Con-
-End Of Life tends to be more absolute than windows. Machines get useless when they can’t install latest OS version. Happens every 5 years or so.
-Doesn’t run 3DS Max nativly

Windows
Pro-
-more customizable/ ugradable
-more cost effective
-OS less hardware build hostile.

Con

  • learning curve?
#3

Macs become useless.
No Cuda, no Optix on Mac.

#4

If you plan to join the rest of the Professional CG world in the undeniable future of GPU rendering
then I recommend abandoning ship as far as the Mac OS is concerned.

Particularly if you plan on taking on more CG related projects and movies etc.

Do just think in terms of how much you would spend this time around.

Think in broader terms of being on an OS/ platform that is committed to CG professionals going forward
and Sorry Mate, that is no longer Apple inc.

Apple has become a luxury brand for affluent consumers.

I was a mac user since 1995 working as a Designer in the print industry.

I foolishly clung to the Mac platform ,as a Cinema4D user,
for far too many years after transitioning to 3D/CG.

For me it was the superior Character animation tools on windows
that fomented My transition to a proper PC.

Honestly most of the Calender syncing tasks are handled by our phones these days.

#5

Unless you really want to use Mac OS then get a PC since it’ll give you more value for your money.

#6

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

#7

HAHA anyone take a guess at what I’m going to say?? :slight_smile: It’s a dead horse round here, but it still needs to be beaten.

OP, have you ever heard of an OS called “Linux”?? :slight_smile:

#8

Linus talks mac performance processor thermal throttling:

#9

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.

#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: