PC vs MAC..For running design Software. / Maya.

Preston

I already own a mac, and I am just about to start my online tutorials for MAYA. Are macs used at all in the industry? Overall Are Mac's decent enough to run programs? Can't afford a PC just yet, A little worried.

Any advice? Other than the obvious which is to buy a PC.

Rick Stirling

I run Maya, Zbrush and Photoshop on my mac with no issues.

m4dcow

The game industry is pretty PC centric, but if you're just starting out you'll need to learn something like Maya which as you know is available on the mac. You'll probably want a PC in the long run, but the process of learning Maya will buy you some time. There is also a version of zBrush and 3dCoat for Mac.


Eventually you could start messing around with Unity, and I think UDK is moving towards having a Mac editor also.

elGuapo

The movie industry uses linux. Learn how to use the software, as using a different operating system is trivial to pick up; most studios keep the artists focused on making art and not in maintaining the os. If the programs you want to learn are available on a mac, and you like mac, use it.

Ged

we make mobile apps and mostly develop for apple ios so we make games on macs all the time, unity works on a mac as does udk and maya and cinema4d are fine, though I have heard some people have stability issues with maya.

Andreas

Ged wrote: »

as does udk

Since when? Didnt know there was a mac version.

Jeff Parrott

UDK can bake out an iOS version of your game from a PC. But you still need a PC with UDK on it at the moment.

I use a Mac just fine. CrazyBump (Free Mac Alpha), Maya, ZBrush, 3D Coat, Photoshop, Topogun, Sketchbook Pro, and using CrossOver Games I use Marmoset Toolbag too.

I can use all those on a PC too. It's just personal choice to use a Mac. I would save your money for software rather than another computer at the moment. Worse case just buy a copy of Windows and bootcamp your Mac to be a PC also.

JacqueChoi

Ya you can work with macs.

Especially if you're just starting out.



There are absolutely ZERO issues working with macs. You will very likely need to use a pc when employed.

eld

dual-boot?

Zombie Acorn

The MAC UI is more pleasing to me, but at the end of the day you can build a proper PC rig for a fraction of the cost of a Mac pro.

JacqueChoi

Blah


OK Here's a more direct answer (rather than turn this into a Mac vs PC debate)

Are macs used at all in the industry?
NO

Overall Are Mac's decent enough to run programs?
YES

Justin Meisse

It's no major difference making the transition to PC at a studio, no need to buy one if you don't want to.

thomasp

problem with macs is that you generally get the bastard builds of CG apps. just that bit technically inferior, under-supported and/or delayed in comparison to the windows releases. no wonder, it's a niche market in comparison.

it's by no means a major roadblock but one to look out for when you have to make the choice between a mac or PC workstation. for a strictly CG workstation i would not bother with a mac.

as a general computing machine it's a delight however.

McGreed

Yeah, the Mac was the big thing years ago, where they were actually quite powerful compared to the PCs back then, but PCs has passed them long ago, with a lower cost and more spread in the normal homes and companies.

Snader

Just learn how to work with Maya on a Mac.

I don't see how Maya on a PC would be significantly different from a user-perspective. Aside of course from the differences between OSX and Windows themselves.

moose

Andreas wrote: »

Since when? Didnt know there was a mac version.

games will run, but there is no full blown editor. If you have a good enough apple desktop, installing win7 via boot camp is super easy, and can install udk that way. If Maya and Zbrush will run on your pc, the OS shouldn't matter - the programs are the same between OS's (mostly) that it shouldn't matter.

I primarily used MacOS when learning how to texture, but never did a lot of modelling.

VPrime

Great thing about a mac is that you can very easily install windows with boot camp. Boot into windows and it is 100% a normal PC.

almighty_gir

derp... ignore this post.