I will be going to University in September 2011 for Engineering. Would you suggest an iPad and a laptop(not apple) or a Macbook pro/ Macbook? I will probably be using basic programs in first year but higher, more graphics intense programs lke Autodesk Inventor in the future?
iPad
if i buy an ipad, ill probably buy a laptop with it. is that good enough. or do you suggest one not too procey macbook pro? that was my original question.
by the way, thanks for all your replies. helps alot
Skochhar93 wrote:
that was my original question.
It sounds like the iPad is really irrelevant in this equation, and you want advice on whether to buy a windows or mac laptop. Perhaps better to ask the question in a forum for macbooks...and you might want to determine whether AutoDesk Inventor even runs on OS X. If not, and that's an app you will definitely need, a Windows laptop probably makes more sense.
You can certainly bet that posters on an Apple forum will tell you to purchase an Apple product, and for good reasons. You need to find out if there are any specific programs you must have for any classes and if those programs will run on a Mac and/or Windows. I don't expect you'll have any, at least not in your first two years.
Since you mentioned Inventor, from my experience, most engineering design work is done on a Windows machine, i.e. using SolidWorks, ProE, etc. Graphical design seems to be done mostly on Mac's. There are certainly exceptions though.
Without a doubt go for the laptop. You really don't want to do CAD with a fingertip... 🙂
Whether you choose Mac or Windows depends on what software you need to run.
The iPad can only run programs made for it and sold from the iTunes app store. It's very likely you will need to run lots of things which it cannot handle. Get a full computer.
An iPad is NOT a replacement for a true computer. Period.
Check with the school you will be attending. They may have special requirements on the type of computer you will need (PC vs. Mac, etc.)
You need a PC (Mac or Windows). An iPAd is an adjunct, not a replacement for a PC.
I'm not going to mention Bootcamp, or virtual machines... honest, I'm not.... 😀
Oh, but you should. 😉
They seem to work well in the very limited time I've spent on one although I doubt they'd work well with a CAD program.
I've earned quite a bit in the past, before I discovered the error of my ways and retired, using Microstation under Parallels....
Is an iPad good enough for an Engineering Student or is a laptop(Macbook) also necessary?
