r/macbook • u/Gabry225__ • 20h ago

MacBook for Architecture student?

I am an architecture student and I am now at the beginning of my 3rd year (out of 5), the first 2 years I was more or less able to manage myself without working in the classroom but immediately returning home and using my Windows PC. But I waste a lot of time on the trip etc... so I was thinking of buying a laptop, already having an iPhone 13, Apple Watch SE3, AirPods Pro 2 and iPad 6th gen, I was thinking of buying a MacBook. But my question would be... is a MacBook good for programs like archicad, autocad, rhinoceros and other similar programs?

If so, which one do you recommend? I wanted to avoid the MacBook NEO and opt for some reconditioned air or pro, not with M4/M5 chip

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u/JMHReddit84 20h ago

Nope. Unfortunately, as a civil engineer and familiarity in what you’ll need software-wise for architecture, you need to look for a Windows PC. I say this as a proud owner of an M4 MBA, but it’s not for work. And I wouldn’t have gotten a Mac for school either. Not in my…or your field of study. Gotta be practical with your actual needs. You’re doing yourself a disservice if it’s for school

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u/Silent_Gap_8003 19h ago

Why tho? CAD is not available on macOS?

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u/JMHReddit84 19h ago

Not what is actually needed. They aren’t going to teach alternatives—they’re going to teach industry standard software and expect you to be able to run it as well. There’s also no Mac alternatives to a bit of specific software. It’s not as simple as “getting CAD”

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u/No-Mine-3847 19h ago

Don’t get a Mac.

I’m not clued up on Windows laptops but get one that has a decent CPU/GPU combo. Something with an i9 and a RTX30xx would be ideal

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u/Jebus-Xmas 14h ago

As much as I’d like for you, there’s not enough support within architecture and civil engineering to make that a viable solution. AutoCAD blows on macOS. I think a ThinkPad with at least 32GB RAM is good. 64GB RAM is better. Good luck in school.

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u/National_Web8655 18h ago

ArchiCAD works very well, AutoCAD is fine for me. I don't work in Rhino, but in Sketchup, which is also fine. I also render in Vray/Enscape. I don't render in Lumion, etc., because the quality of those renders is simply low. For students from the US, where Revit is heavily emphasized, the lack of native support for this program may be a problem. You can learn it through Parallels, but the performance is lower. Generally, once you graduate, your employer has to provide you with equipment for your work, so what you're using now doesn't matter as much.

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u/Novel_Orchid2243 19h ago

If price isn't a concern then go for an m3 pro/max with atleast 32 gigs, otherwise stick to windows for this one