Cad on the Mac?

[rickard5]

I've pretty much made up my mind, I'm going to swap for the dually G5 but to simplify my life I still need to find a good replacement for Auto Cad. I need to find a cad package that will create and edit Acad DWGs.
any ides?

[Golfer]

This article is a little old (about a year), but it takes a look at 5 CAD programs.

http://www.architosh.com/news/2005-01/20...ini_2.html

[BigGuynRusty]

Why not an Intel Mac?
With Parallels you can still run you Windows stuff that you are familiar with.

BGnR

[Silencio]

I've been looking for definitive user experiences from people running AutoCAD under Parallels. The consensus seems to be that you can limp along that way, but it's really sub-optimal from a performance perspective. Bootcamp works no problem, but negates most of the reasons for switching to the Mac to begin with.

I'd start by looking at VectorWorks and ArchiCAD. Both are Universal binaries now, too.

[rickard5]

[quote Silencio]
I'd start by looking at VectorWorks and ArchiCAD. Both are Universal binaries now, too.
Good thought Silencio, I already have Vectorworks for o/s9 and run it on my Power Tower Pro, Great program, but it lacks seriously for 3d work. I'm getting the G5 in a barter deal, and I plan to install Bootcamp on the machines replacing the G5 I'm getting in trade. I tell you the #1 reason to switch to iMac is the all in one design. most of my drafting work is Mechanical for CNC machines

[BigGuynRusty]

I didn't find out about your killer G5 deal till later.
Sweet Deal!

BGnR

[mikebw]

Claris CAD 1.0 on my Mac IIci sure rocks the house!

[Silencio]

VectorWorks has come a long, long way since the Mac OS 9 days, but it's still more of a 2D-focused app. I don't know too many mechanical engineers, mostly architects and interior designer-types who are generally well-served by more recent versions of VectorWorks.