<p>Hello all, I have been trying to find out from many sources if a Mac is a possible choice for engineering students. I would like to have a Mac and NOT a PC. I have used PC's all my life but they always seem like more of a hassle. I have asked the department of engineering the same question but all I get is "we recommend PC's". well why? "they are more compatible". "Compatible with what?" "Your programs". I just want to know if there really are THAT many issues or if the software is ONLY available for one? I know AutoCAD and MATHLAB are availible for both. What other programs are there?
SOMEONE PLEASE HELP!!!</p>
<p>Hiya!</p>
<p>I ran into the same problem. I am participating in the StepUp program and basically they said that their are certain Software that just does not work on a Mac. I dearly love my Mac but ended up purchasing a PC. This is the one I bought, I have been very pleased with and is an excellent buy.
[HP</a> - Pavilion Laptop / Intel® Core™ i5 Processor / 14" Display / 4GB Memory / 640GB Hard Drive - Aluminum - dm4-1265dx](<a href=“http://www.bestbuy.com/site/HP+-+Pavilion+Laptop+/+Intel%26%23174%3B+Core%26%23153%3B+i5+Processor+/+14"+Display+/+4GB+Memory+/+640GB+Hard+Drive+-+Aluminum/1677324.p?id=1218279316701&skuId=1677324]HP”>http://www.bestbuy.com/site/HP+-+Pavilion+Laptop+/+Intel%26%23174%3B+Core%26%23153%3B+i5+Processor+/+14"+Display+/+4GB+Memory+/+640GB+Hard+Drive+-+Aluminum/1677324.p?id=1218279316701&skuId=1677324)</p>
<p>As far as the programs, I don’t know. StepUp also said I could use a MAc if I REALLY wanted to but if we do demos on software I would just have to follow along. Hope this is of some help… PS, What’s your major?</p>
<p>I am a Mechanical engineering/ nuclear engineering major. Well I know that AutoCAD used to not be on mac but they fixed that this year so I am guessing the university hasn’t bothered to purchase new copies?? I’ve seen the program and I don’t understand why or when I would use it… looks more like what an architect would use.</p>
<p>My friend is a 3rd year mechanical engineering major. She uses it all the time apparently. Idk… most other universities are Mac friendly… I don’t know why UF is not…</p>
<p>interesting… yah at all the other schools I visited thats all I saw was Macs, at the university of Wisconsin that was the public access terminals… I appreciate the help! I guess I’ll have to wait for some current student to comment. I have till July for Lion. lol</p>
<p>[url=<a href=“http://www.mae.ufl.edu/newwebpage/PDFs/Undergraduate_Computer_Requirement.pdf]This[/url”>http://www.mae.ufl.edu/newwebpage/PDFs/Undergraduate_Computer_Requirement.pdf]This[/url</a>] is the requirements for mechanical engineering.</p>
<p>It states there two applications (MatLab and LabVIEW) that are required; Those may or may not be Mac friendly.</p>
<p>Edit: Okay they do support Mac, but I figure the biggest thing is that professors don’t want to teach to two different operating systems.</p>
<p>wow!! thanks! I have no idea how you found that but awesome!! Alright even if they don’t teach two different OS how different can they be? I don’t think a software company would make any radical changes when porting their software…</p>
<p>thanks!!!</p>
<p>Think of it being the difference between telling all of your students to right click the object, and having to also tell them to command+ctrl+click, or whatever it is for Mac.</p>
<p>well I think I can figure that one out. lol so nothing major as a difference but perhaps slightly annoying small differences, got it. It’s all the same files in the end though. right? I don’t know that much about computers…</p>
<p>Worst case scenario is you have to install windows with bootcamp (very easy to do and we get a windows license for $15 from UF) to run a piece of software that is not supported on os x. I’ve only had to do this once so far, in an electrical engineering class.</p>
<p>Wow! Awesome thanks! My mind is made up. Where do we get the liscense?</p>
<p>Just as a precaution, I would suggest you email the advisers for your college of choice, just to be safe. You may also want to check your set up on the [computing</a> requirements page](<a href=“http://training.helpdesk.ufl.edu/computing.shtml]computing”>http://training.helpdesk.ufl.edu/computing.shtml); You’ll mainly want to check out the last three links on the page (However, the link for the College of Engineering is broken at the moment).</p>
<p>well after some digging around in the bowels of the uf technical support pages here is what I have found. You can indeed obtain both office and windows 7 ultimate for $15 plus tax at the bookstore or through this site: [Academic</a> Technology - UF Computing Help Desk Services](<a href=“http://helpdesk.ufl.edu/software.php]Academic”>http://helpdesk.ufl.edu/software.php) This windows version is FULLY compatable with Bootcamp on Mac. In addition all of the software cited by the university had system requirements for both Mac and PC. However the help screens seemed to focus FIRST on how to solve the problem on a Mac NOT a PC. Additionally all of the Hardware I could find on the bookstore’s website under computers was Apple made or made for Apple machines. I have Vista on my machine and I have hated as well as regretted every moment of the decison to “upgrade” from XP which on a PC is Irriversable (due to the changes made to the BIOS). I understand that my hatred of the PC is indeed illogical and no longer founded because of the improvements by windows 7. Yet it is similar to buying a car, you have a lot of good stories, you have a lot of bad stories. Since I got a TOTAL lemon from Microsoft last time, I think I will try my luck with Apple this time. I hope I’m right but thank you all for your help and concern!! :)</p>