I’m a 3d Artist using a PC running 3ds Max and will be building models for several Unity Projects.
As I’m working remotely from the rest of the team I’ve decided to get a Mac and my own copy of Unity to save all the problems with testing my models etc etc.
However I’ve not used a Mac for over 10 years so I’m not sure what to buy or what to look for when choosing a Mac for Unity.
I won’t be doing hard core development just checking and tweaking models before I send them off to the rest of the team. I don’t want too spend a lot of cash or take up a load of desk space so with that in mind could someone give me a few pointers as to what Mac I should buy? an iMac? A MacBook?
I’m a programmer and was totally insistent on using PCs until I finally broke down and got a MacBook Pro (so I could build unity projects) and couldn’t be happier with it.
I only use my PC for XNA development now…everything else I’ve migrated to MAC.
That being said, I suggest going with a MacBook Pro. I got the cheapest one and it runs icredible (15" 2Gb 2.5ghz ram Intel Dual Core) It may run a little more than a lower line Mac but it’s benefits are worth it. Also, as an artist, you should really consider a permanent move to Mac. From what my artists tell me, there’s a big difference in the colors.
Just as a note…my brother got the same laptop in 2.4 ghz and it runs just as good…can’t see any difference.
If you’re migrating to mac (which I’d suggest any day) I’d go with the macbookpro as mentioned. Also the happy owner of one - lovely piece of machinery.
However if you’re just going to test of models import properly, you could get a cheap G4 - for instance a mini to take up less space. Not gonna look wicked awesome, but its gonna run and tell you what you need to know.
Probably a Mini is fine for that sort of thing, if you have a monitor/keyboard you can use (maybe with a KVM switch). No need for a high-end machine in this case I think. Otherwise get an iMac; you can get refurb models for quite reasonable prices last I checked.
Currently, I’m using a MacBook Pro (with a Cinema display and keyboard / tablet unless I’m traveling.) I’m not a laptop person, but I have to say that it is a really nice setup. That said, the last iMac that I owned is the first computer that I think I really enjoyed using… there wasn’t much that it couldn’t do and it was all wrapped up in a nice package. I currently have a mini too, I got it to use as a little development server, although I haven’t been doing any of that lately. But I think you would be pretty happy with one of those too. So, really, any of the models mentioned in this thread so far would be good for you… it depends on if you are expecting to get some extra use out of it at some point and what your budget is.
One thing that I will say – I know it has been said on this forum before – is that if you can go to an Apple store, check out their refreshed product. They come with a warranty and are usually a great deal – especially after a product switch when they have to get rid of fully-loaded floor models to make way for some new model with a minor change in features.
I was exactly in the same boat as you and like you am a 3d artist I made a fatal mistakes as i tried to save money and brought a G4 big mistake unity struggles to run on it in fact it falls over! at the very least if your budget is limited get a G5! Also noticed that some one mentioned getting a kvm switcher very good advice! if your not sure what it is well it allows you to run a mac and pc through one monitor you can pick them up for about sixty dollars avoid the really expensive ones my one is ATEN
I was exactly in the same boat as you and like you am a 3d artist I made a fatal mistakes as i tried to save money and brought a G4 big mistake unity struggles to run on it in fact it falls over! at the very least if your budget is limited get a G5! Also noticed that some one mentioned getting a kvm switcher very good advice! if your not sure what it is well it allows you to run a mac and pc through one monitor you can pick them up for about sixty dollars avoid the really expensive ones my one is ATEN
I’m fairly fixed to my PCs for the time being as 90% of my work is 3ds Max which would make a total move to Macs a bit difficult. Computers are just tools and I can’t afford the money or time to replace them all at the moment.
I’ve narrowed my choice down to an iMac or a MacBook Pro. Will Unity run on a MacBook Pro without any problems? and would there be any benefit to using an iMac instead.
regular windows pc, running on 24" dell which is standing straight in front of me.
19" illyama external monitor hooked up to macbookpro which is pointing at me, standing to the right of the big dell.
I have one set of mouse and keyboard, which is hooked up to my windows box. I use a program called synergy that relays the mouse and keyboard presses to the macbook. This works totally cool, as it works like a regular dual monitor setup… if I move my mouse off the right side of my windows machine, it appears on the left side of my mac. synergy also does clipboard synchronisation, so I can copy paste between my mac and my pc.
I used to have the situation reversed (mac on 24" dell, pc on 19"), but since I spend most of my time coding in visual studio, I prefer to have my code straight in front of my, and only have to turn my head slightly sideways if I want to see it in action.
The iMac is a better deal in terms of power and screen size. However, you really need to take the HID situation into account. The multitouch trackpad is SO much faster and easier to work with than any comparable solution. Now, it doesn’t do middle-click yet, so I use my tablet for that, exclusively, but I haven’t used a mouse with my own setup for years now. With being able to program the gestures with Multiclutch, it’s an unbeatable setup.
I have a macbook (not pro) with the Intel GMA 950, and unity runs like crap on it. If you are going to be doing any 3d modeling at ALL, I strongly suggest that you get something with a real graphics card. It is sad that Graphics cards add ~$500 to the cost of your machine (from apple), but you must get one.
Why does apple charge so much for machines with graphics!?
I know this isn’t the place for this type of post, but i do miss assembling my machines myself. I still have a linux box customized to my liking, but Unity does not run on that
I did the “customized Linux box” thing, which was indeed fun, but these days I don’t particularly miss it; I’d much rather just be messing around with the software.
Though that makes little sense, I agree… I barely touch my linux box… I just want everything to work… (note the apple logo)… But nonetheless, for the nth time, I will state that I want Unity to be cross-platform… (But that’s been said)
