I was wondering if it was possible to have a laptop that would be decent enough to run any 3d programs and to render the scenes? Thanks for your time and help
Yes, but not to work on. Reason si that the work area is still going to be non movable so getting a more expensive non upgradeable computer with less screen space makes no sense.
true, I have one and sometimes its so slow that i want to trash it
QUOTE(ShadowGod @ 06/21/07, 01:40 PM) [snapback]268483[/snapback]
I was wondering if it was possible to have a laptop that would be decent enough to run any 3d programs and to render the scenes? Thanks for your time and help
I use Autodesk Maya 8.5 on the MacBook Pro which uses the Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 3 GB RAM, 17 inch 1680x1050 resolution display and the ATI X1600. Apple recently released the MBP with 17 inch 1920x1200 resolution display, 4 GB RAM and NVIDIA Geforce 8600m. So yes, it is possible to run highend applications on a laptop. Though I would suggest an external source for scenes which require long render times. Such as using an in-house low cost render farm for a home based studio solution or paying an external render farm service. This alleviates unnecessary work load placed on your "mobile workstation" as I like to call it.
yes, but the real question is this (power is no significant issue a laptop can be as fast as a workstation, you still need a farm for serious stuff):
since you are going to spend long prolonged hours in front of your computer you get exposed to bad ergonomics. Now then your box is mobile so you ca put i wherever you want. However due to the very high risk conditions your causing to your hands back and eyes to stress. Now ergonomics of your work are vital for your continuance in being able to work.
Now lets take the laptop mentioned, well it has a 1920x1200 resolution well , i have that on 2 monitors one 24 inch and one 32 one (the 32 is on the background for curves and sutff), now the result is that i have the exact same info into my eyes, Except i can fit a3 on it in real size, and can afford to get further away form the monitor. this maks it possible for me to build enough desk for ergonomic placement of mouse and keyboard. As im further i can also place the monitor at more ergonomic height, placement. Not to mention the chair, or the big wacom input devices or the midi sliders wich too are hard to move. The stress you cause to your body is irreversible and costs easily in 100,000$ range, you must think of this young and non damaged!
This brings us to the bottom line, you can easily get a a 22 inc monitor for less than 400$ which is in all ways superior to even the best laptops offer. But the main issue is not that but rather that your ergonomics will now travel with you, and working on the kitchen table is not a good option, in the long run. And not even in the short. So what you endd up doing si working in one place or 2 at most, where th ergonomic equipment around your desk costs in equal range to your laptop. Since your bound to need a secondary computer for backups and rendering si suggest you get:
a cheap adequate laptop, and a good well designed workstation with sitting arrangements and monitors.
So the question is flawed, yes you can get it but are you ready to pay the price for the computer, because al that surrounds it are so much more. Lets face it the mobile worksation is not so mobile, ist just inferior in the way its inputs work, and once you start putting the rest around its no longer so mobile anymore.
PS. and ye for the price performance value the inetal mac laptops are cheapest.
Joojaa,
Not that I entirely dissagree with you but just to point out it is possible to use a laptop/notebook in an ergonomic way. For example when in the home based studio I use a notebook cooler which elevates the MacBook Pro (MBP) at the correct level so as to not cause strain on my wrists. True I'm not going to lug the cooler around with me when going mobile but the laptop/notebook does give one more flexibility when moving from location to location unlike a fixed desktop workstation solution. I also use this in conjunction with two ergonomic mice (3DConnexion SpaceNavigator and Logitech MX1000). Though I admit I rather prefer to bring the wireless Apple Mighty Mouse on trips than lug around those two mice
As for the larger display monitors the same can be done on a MBP by using an external monitor. Though I haven't had any eye strain issues using the 17" display. Also having 1080p HD resolution in the MBP is a bonus not found in similar laptops/notebooks and useful for those needing a HD display.
I think the biggest tradeoff here is the overall cost. Purchasing a MBP or similar laptop/notebook can be more costly than a desktop solution. Because of this I strongly recommend anyone considering a laptop/notebook ensure to purchase an extended warranty coverage such as Apple Care for the MBP, purchase laptop/notebook recovery software such as LoJack and don't forget to add the laptop/notebook to your home owners/apartment insurance policy. As a final tip I'd suggest purchasing a home network external USB/Firewire hard drive which can be accessed remotely such as the "My Book World Edition II" which can store up to 1.5 terabytes. Otherwise there are third party solutions which can be more costly to backup/access your remote data such as Apple's ".Mac" which I like but don't recommend for those planning on using large amounts of data due to the cost involved.
Yes there you have it you can get the laptop ergonomic, but the ergonomy is not mobile (or atleast very mobile). Anyway it worth considering getting a normal workstation.
And yes a external monitor is good to have as well as external keyboard (which costs allmost nothing mind you) , and broadcast monitor never hurts either.
but id say its hardly a either or thing get both
I am looking for a laptop to serve as my secondary work station for when I go to college. Now that we have established that it's possible to run high end software on a laptop, I was wondering what laptop would be recommended. Personally, I would probably try to do most of my high end work on my desktop workstation, but I would still have photoshop, maya, and 3DSmax on my laptop (hopefully I will get ZBrush at some point too). Right now I am looking at Dell laptops (maybe an inspiron 14 or 15 series, they would come with Vista I'm assuming) or the new 15" macbook pro, which I'd dual boot windows XP on. Like I said, it wouldn't be my primary work station as it is a laptop I plan on taking with me to class and when I travel. I was just hoping I could still work on my art projects when I am on the go if I need to. Thanks for the help.
I use a high spec desktop at work but need a new machine for evening home projects. Does anyone here have any opinion on the Sony Vaio VGNAR41S as a machine to run Maya and Photoshop?
QUOTE(saiato @ 07/15/07, 10:43 AM) [snapback]269757[/snapback]
I am looking for a laptop to serve as my secondary work station for when I go to college. Now that we have established that it's possible to run high end software on a laptop, I was wondering what laptop would be recommended. Personally, I would probably try to do most of my high end work on my desktop workstation, but I would still have photoshop, maya, and 3DSmax on my laptop (hopefully I will get ZBrush at some point too). Right now I am looking at Dell laptops (maybe an inspiron 14 or 15 series, they would come with Vista I'm assuming) or the new 15" macbook pro, which I'd dual boot windows XP on. Like I said, it wouldn't be my primary work station as it is a laptop I plan on taking with me to class and when I travel. I was just hoping I could still work on my art projects when I am on the go if I need to. Thanks for the help.
Saiato,
Purchase at least a laptop with a 17" display which supports HD resolution. As you'll see my first choice is the MacBook Pro for many reasons (ie: price, hardware and software available). Note: I'm a long time Linux user and even longer Windows user prior to moving to OS X so I'm not what you would call an Apple fanatic..but I'm getting there See my list of recommendations below.
Recommended 17" laptops:
#1. Apple MacBook Pro
#2. Dell XPS M1710
#3. ASUS G2S-A1
#4. HP Pavilion dv9500t
As for rendering I'd suggest either exporting out to a SOHO render farm or an external online render farm (ie: Render Rocket, ResPower, RenderCore, etc). For large media file storage I export to an external USB Western Digital MyBook Terabyte hard drive connected to my AEBS (Airport Extreme Base Station) in the SOHO wireless network which I can log into remotely while away from the home office. Since you are most likely going to be limited on space in a dorm you may want to consider just getting an external firewire hard drive which you can connect directly the the laptop.
Hi,
This is a powerful laptop ( Xtreemnotebooks - Xtreme 917V) based on the Intel Quad Core Q6600 Processor 1333Mhz FSB.