<p>Although the school I'll be attending come August does not offer a formal architecture major, there are a few architectural design classes that I hope to take.</p>
<p>In terms of brands of PC, what are some good brands? I've heard Asus, HP, and Think Pads are good brands. </p>
<p>Any advice or experience you have to offer would be much appreciated! Thanks :)</p>
<p>I got a Mac and love it, yet haven’t gone to college yet (going this fall). I was told that at Notre Dame (where I will attending), computer use is not heavy and only begins in 4th year. I would try to look in to see about when you take the classes and what software you use. if you use revit or autocad, then a pc may be better. if the classes don’t use a lot of computer technology, a mac is better for general classes. Definitely research how much you will be using the computer and what for.</p>
<p>If you’re only taking “a few architectural design classes” then the PC/Mac question is more of a subjective issue. At Williams, for example, the only two ArchDes classes available don’t rely on computers to the best of my knowledge. </p>
<p>For one thing, most, if not all, current CAD applications are Windows-only. The only exception that springs to mind is VectorWorks, which includes BIM - the latest technology in today’s complex designs.</p>
<p>Also, in general, the computers available in most college labs/studios are more powerful than most laptops and have bigger displays, so you might just get the kind of laptop you like best.</p>
<p>On my campus, the school computers are evenly divided between macs and PCs. I enjoy going to the labs to use the gorgeous 24-inch iMacs. I have a MacbookPro, though, and it’s served me well for the past three years. In the physics department, there are virtually no PCs. Mathematica and other applications work fine on macs. I also personally prefer compiling TeX documents on macs as TeXshop is just so much simpler than other Windows-based compilers.</p>
<p>You should definitely look into your departmental requirements and see if one is recommended over the other. If there’s equal support for both mac and PC, I guess the rest is then up to choice, cost, form factor and others. The batteries on the new macs are said to last seven hours or more. You also get a free iPod touch. Upgrading components on macs are notoriously hard, though. Worse, especially with the new unibody line. It’s so much easier to change hard drives on a ThinkPad, for instance.</p>
<p>It seems that the architectural design classes employ the hands and digital technology. I’m going to assume that because there’s no specification, it doesn’t really matter which type I choose.</p>
<p>So here’s my second question, would it be foolish of me to hope my laptop holds out till grad school in which I case I would get a PC since most programs are Windows based?</p>
<p>Check the website of the architecture school you will be attending or email the architecture tech person. Most schools will have a minimum requiremnts for a laptop or desktop. If you meet them with an existing laptop, it may hold out for 2-4 years depending on when you originally purchased your current PC.</p>
<p>Where my son will attend (USC) the architecture school sent a letter outlining the minimum requirements.</p>
<p>Virtually all architecture firms use PC computers because most architectural software are designed for PC. All the thesis students at my school choose the lenovo IBM laptops. I’d go with the PC</p>
<p>Check with the department offering the architecture design course you’re interested in before you buy your computer. Before my son started his architecture studies at University of Cincinnati DAAP, the program specified not only that he purchase a Mac, but that he buy one of 3 models, which were suitable for the work they’d be doing on it. He finds his Macbook Pro ideal for the course work he’s done and even helpful for his summer job. The firm he works for now uses PCs, which he uses for some of the work, but the Mac is better suited for other design work he does for the firm.</p>
<p>Another MAC based CAD program is ArchiCAD</p>
<p>Any suggestions on which PC brand to go for…</p>
<p>Check the school’s bookstore. Many have setup discounts with specific vendors. Or go to a vendors website and choose education or higher education. You usually have to select the college. Having been in hi-tech for over 25+ years and talking to friends in the industry: Lenovo (formerly IBM), Dell, Toshiba, Sony. Sony tends to be more expensive. Lenovo and Dell have discounts for students. I haven’t been to the Toshiba website so I don’t know if they have discounts for students.</p>
<p>I’m leaning towards getting a Levono ThinkPad or IdeaPad.</p>
<p>Any comments of the IdeaPad Y450?</p>
<p>I’m an 4th year architecture student and I use a lenovo t400 with 4GB of RAM, separate graphics card, and 2.3 GHZ. It works great. Although this computer can render fine, I use the school’s rendering farm for super fast rendering.</p>