New laptop recommendations

Amanda_R1514

I am starting online schooling in a few weeks and may need to purchase a new (PC) laptop. I currently have a Macbook Pro but I can't find the programs that I will be using on the student discount webpage for macs. (Autdesk software mainly) I know autodesk has software compatible with Mac but it would be much easier to purchase all the software I need at a cheaper price from the student website than to pay thousands for it at regular price.
Unless there is somewhere I may be able to get my hands on software cheaper, does anyone have any recommendations for PC laptops?
Thanks!

Jeff Parrott

For laptops I just got a Lenovo Y500 with a SSD and 1TB HDD, dual graphics cards, 16gb ram, blah, blah, super graphics whatever stats. It boots fast and runs fast. Only bad thing is preloaded with bloatware and Win8. Otherwise I'd recommend it. Touchpad is bleh compared to Macbook touchpad too.

EarthQuake

Depending on which generation MBP you have, you might be better off simply installing windows on it. If its a recent-ish MPB, the hardware is probably pretty good and you'll have to spend a lot to get something equivalent. You can likely pick up a copy of windows 7 from your university store for next to nothing.

Baron Flame

Depends on how much you will be willing to dish out for a new laptop. I've recommended Sager to my friends and acquaintances. Best bang for the buck if you ask me.
I got mine some time ago, 6-7 months give or take, installed windows myself(had a copy with me as it is, so no bloatware of any sorts) hasn't crashed on me once.

Mangled Poly

I strongly suggest the new Dell XPS... It has the same build of a MBP (unibody and extremely sturdy feel) For a much cheaper price with better HW specs.

Amanda_R1514

EarthQuake wrote: »

Depending on which generation MBP you have, you might be better off simply installing windows on it. If its a recent-ish MPB, the hardware is probably pretty good and you'll have to spend a lot to get something equivalent. You can likely pick up a copy of windows 7 from your university store for next to nothing.

I have the newest gen of macbook pro, the 15" retina display... I spent a good penny amount on this sucker. I didn't even think to install windows on it! I've never actually done that before, I'm not the most computer saavy person, I just work with software. If I put windows on my mac I will be able to purchase the PC download version for the sofware and it will work smoothly?

Kwramm

yes and yes. I got a retina mbp and I had win 8 on it and it worked nicely.
I had it installed via Bootcamp. Now I run it via VMWare.

The only problem with Win on the MBP is that Win always uses the nVidia card, no matter what you do and that generates heat and drains the battery. Althought it's not an issue if you're not mobile.

Amanda_R1514

Thanks for all the good info, I appreciate it! I've been researching bootcamp for autodesk all day, and I think I'm going to try that. It seems most people don't have issues and it also looks like people prefer windows 7 over 8. So I think I'm going with 64bit windows 7 via bootcamp.
Is there any good recommendations on how much space to partition for multiple autodesk programs?
I plan on getting another external harddrive so when I finish a project I will keep the final product on that and get rid of space being used on the windows side so I can keep it strictly to run programs and not fill up space with extra saved documents.

Jeff Parrott

Well if you're using it mainly as a PC then allocate like a 80% Win 20% Mac split. If you're using Mac 1/2 the time then 50/50 split. Give Win atleast 40gb at the bare minimum though.