Technology in Architectural Practice

This message has been cross posted to the following Discussion Forums: Small Project Practitioners and Technology in Architectural Practice .
-------------------------------------------
I run a small practice and use AutoCAD Architecture (phasing out) and Revit on PC's, I've been considering getting iMac computers for some time with either Boot Camp or Parallel Desktop to install Windows 7 64-bit, but the limit of 16 GB of RAM was a big issue.  Now thet the new iMacs are available (due this month) with up to 32 GB of RAM makes the move more atractive.

Does anybody have experience and/or comments in transitioning from PC's to iMac using Revit? I'm planning to use native applications for iOS for all the other applications (MS Office, Adobe, etc.)

-------------------------------------------
Jorge Pena AIA
Jorge Pena Architects, Inc.
San Antonio TX
-------------------------------------------

As a long time Mac user, I'd have to question your decision to move to Macs if you're going to turn around and run Windows on them.

Parallels adds another level of processing.  The program is running on Windows, which is running on Parallels, which is running on OSX.  There is a performance hit for that - particular for something like AutoCAD and especially for something like Revit.

BootCamp runs Windows directly on the Mac machine.  But then you've pretty much just got a Windows machine - not a Mac.  To use any Mac programs, you have to shut all your programs down and reboot the machine over to the Mac side.

These are options if you're a Mac office and need to run a particular minor program that is only available under Windows.  I actually have one Windows machine to run a few minor odd programs for which there are not Mac versions.  That was the cleanest, cheapest solution to run them.  But I don't get the impression that you're planning to use a bunch of other Mac software.

-------------------------------------------
Thomas Bank AIA
Owner/Architect
Simply Stated Architecture, P.C.
Lemoyne PA
-------------------------------------------

We use Revit 2013 on two iMac's running Parallel 7 with the central file on an exchange server.  We have Windows 7 on Parallel with our server running SBS 2011.  The only issue we had was with SBS 2011; it is set out of the box to only recognize Windows 7 operating system.  We have one old Windows XP machine running Revit and when both operating systems try to save to the central file it would lock all systems using Revit.  The fix is to change a setting within the SBS 2011 to allow Windows 7 and XP to operate together.  Our iMac's have 32 GB and they work great.  

-------------------------------------------
Charles Keese AIA
Keese & Associates LLP
Brenham TX
-------------------------------------------