Revit Native For Apple/Mac

[ArchitortureIntern]

Did a search, didn't really find an answer that helped. Does Autodesk have any plans in the immediate/near future for Revit to run on Macs without the need to run dual operating systems?

[Dimitri Harvalias]

I have no inside track but I wouldn't hold your breath. It would involve a complete rewrite of Revit code and I doubt very much that is currently in the cards.Other than OS and hardware preference do you have any 'real' ;) reason for wanting/needing it to run native?

[ArchitortureIntern]

New firm loves apple for the sake of not having to really have "computer" issues, but that's another banana. We are using Archicad 16 and two months in, I am not impressed. Just weighing options, but it sounds like the only way revit will run on mac for the forseeable future is dual OS.

[damon.sidel]

Dual OS would be the way to go, but I'd also recommend VMWare or similar. Once the Revit model got very complicated, that wouldn't be a great option, but VMWare works so well that you could run Revit and be on the Mac side of things. Pretty simple. I was at an all-Apple firm a while back and we used VMWare and ran Rhino3d while using Vectorworks. Until we wanted to render, there were plenty of resources for running everything all at once.

[Valkin]

A couple of people I know use Parallels, and that work pretty well for them to run Revit seemingly naively on their Mac's.

[gbrowne]

run Revit seemingly naively on their Mac's.

Haha, I know its a typo, but it made me laugh. :-)

[DaveP]

...apple for the sake of not having to really have "computer" issues...
That made me LOL, too.

[rbcameron1]

Could someone explain to me the importance or significance of running CAD or Revit on a Mac? Is there something better about them? My wife has a MacPro for her graphic design work and it is consistently locking up and crashing. I've got a similarly spec'd laptop running photoshop, revit, outlook and 3dsMax all simultaneously and rarely if ever do I get locked up. What is the infatuation with Apple? I'm serious...?

[DaveP]

This Samsung commercial highlights the fanboy mindset:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWGsvcFpwNY&feature=related

[ArchitortureIntern]

Well unfortunately, this firm is very set in mac-land and are not planning on budging from archicad. And after some of the absurd things I have run into trying to put together a set of docs (only one room tag for all types of plans? 6 steps to change the scale of a drawing once it is on a sheet? layers? LAYERS?) I am not impressed with archicad. Guess it's time to take a look around in chitown again...

[dhurtubise]

It's always an interesting topic :)
I wouldn't use Parallel or VMWare, bootcamp gives you access to the native hardware which is far better then emulation. Of course depending on the size of the project.

There's a few reason why i switch to a mac:

1- It looks so much better. We're in the business of making great looking buildings, why do i have to work on an ugly machine?
2- The size of the laptop is to consider. My MacBook Pro 17" must weight half the size of the HP workstation i had before
3- The size of the power supply is no small thing to consider when buying a latop.
4- The quality of the screen is also much better on my laptop then previous brands.
4- I can still access mac os. Adobe's stuff on mac or PC is pretty much the same, i just prefer the interface with the mac. I honestly don't think it's any faster but it looks better
5- The windows install is a lot better then on any other brand i had. Of course you don't need to reinstall everything since the manufacturer doesnt install anything. But the drivers worked out of the box day 1 and i never had to worry about anything else.
6- Did i mention how great they look? :)

[damon.sidel]

Could someone explain to me the importance or significance of running CAD or Revit on a Mac?

At this point, I think the Mac vs. PC comes down to preference, familiarity, and software. I think the functional experience of the Mac and PC is converging (that doesn't account for aesthetics or other subjective aspects). Furthermore, in my experience, Apple users often pay for the extended support, which gives them a better user experience over the lifetime of their computer. You pay a premium for the product and the service, and then think it is better all-around. That doesn't mean that you can't get a PC with the same specs, build quality, and support service... you have to pay for it! Either way, if you spend more money and are conscientious about the company you buy your computer from, you'll get a better product.


Well unfortunately, this firm is very set in mac-land and are not planning on budging from archicad.

Software compatibility will definitely play into what platform one chooses. If you build your business around some software, say Archicad, then you're going to lock yourself into that platform if it doesn't offer other versions. Furthermore, I do believe that Macs were a superior product not long ago (early-Windows XP and before) and so if that was your experience, you'll probably hold onto the idea that Macs are better than PCs.

But I think you have to separate the software from the platform. If you are complaining about Archicad, that's one thing. If you are complaining about Macs, that's another. If Revit runs on a duel-boot/VMWare Mac and you get all the other (Mac-specific) software you want, then I don't think it really impacts the overall experience. You'll pay more for the Macs, but you'll get wonderful, beautiful machines. Personally, since I'm a Revit/Autocad/Rhino user, I'm going to stick to PCs... plus I can't afford a Mac. ;)

[damon.sidel]

I wouldn't use Parallel or VMWare, bootcamp gives you access to the native hardware which is far better then emulation. Of course depending on the size of the project.
But if you have to use both Archicad and Revit, for example, wouldn't VMWare be easier?


1- It looks so much better. We're in the business of making great looking buildings, why do i have to work on an ugly machine?

I agree, Mac wins for design and as a designer I certainly appreciate that. However, it is secondary to the performance/functional issues when talking about business.


2- The size of the laptop is to consider. My MacBook Pro 17" must weight half the size of the HP workstation i had before

Only if you travel. I have a desktop at work and use Remote Desktop at home and on the road, so I don't need a big laptop. A 13" laptop will be lighter than a 17" laptop, Mac or PC.


3- The size of the power supply is no small thing to consider when buying a latop.

True, and I wish PC laptops would spend a little time working on their power supply design. However, again, only an important consideration if you are specifically comparing laptops and working beyond the office.


4- The quality of the screen is also much better on my laptop then previous brands.

Every generation of screens gets better. Sony Viao used to have the what many considered the best screen, PC or Mac. Now Mac laptops have the retina display.


4- I can still access mac os. Adobe's stuff on mac or PC is pretty much the same, i just prefer the interface with the mac. I honestly don't think it's any faster but it looks better

Back to aesthetics and software choice. Archicad = Mac. Revit = Windows. Adobe is on both platforms, so it's not really a factor.


5- The windows install is a lot better then on any other brand i had. Of course you don't need to reinstall everything since the manufacturer doesnt install anything. But the drivers worked out of the box day 1 and i never had to worry about anything else.

Drivers are very important and I think Mac OS still wins on that account. That stems from the fact that they are a closed system (no judgement here, just a fact) and control everything. Since Windows has to be compatible with a much wider range of hardware products from various manufacturers, there is bound to be more issues with standardization. Definitely a plus for Mac. That said, I have heard some Apple users be disappointed that certain pieces of hardware are not compatible with their Mac.


6- Did i mention how great they look? :)

Can't beat their Mac aesthetics!

For architects, I think it mostly comes down to software choices. Yes, you can run Windows on a Mac, but personally, I don't think you get the Mac experience without Mac OS. Let your software choose your hardware, because ultimately, the best software tool for the job is the most important thing, right?

[Bill Gilliss]

Well, this *would* involve dual operating systems, but I run a university CAD lab that is full of iMacs running Revit 2013 under Bootcamp and Windows 7 Enterprise. The department loves Macs, Revit needs Windows, so this is where we ended up. I have to say, the 24-inch iMacs have performed flawlessly, far less crash-prone than the Dells they replaced.

I prefer Bootcamp to Parallels because only one OS is in memory at a time.

[acmeink]

Mac v. PC >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
there will always be the debate, i am just glad there is a choice.

from my point of view:
hey, why not make the hardware and tailor the OS to it. (microsoft has decided this is a good idea too.)
part for part ( and i mean all of them, battery, gpu, keyboard, screen, everything! ) macs aren't as overpriced as they are demonized to be.

but from a business perspective:
best in the industry reliability and lifecycle record (sorry about your personal experience, but that isn't typical).
in-town Apple service in most areas.
NO PER CPU LICENSE! that is the big one, a small office could run on macs and save thousands per year not having to deal MS CALs. this more than offset to the "overpriced hardware".
the addition of iCloud integration (notably ad free) is bonus.
also, it can run windows in VM or natively.

Revit for Mac >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
The real point here is when will Autodesk make Revit for Mac. I don't know, but I think the reasons I set forth and the changing climate around computing will lead to them eventually adding this to their arsenal of software. It will take years and they will have to recode, but this is simply adapting to the needs of their client base or losing them. I think it will happen, because there is a growing demand. Even a 20% jump in subscription would be worth it, and think that's totally feasible.