That said, I know each of the four major operating systems and have a good understanding of their benefits and drawbacks. I’m also familiar with Chrome OS - having owned three Chromebooks - and I have some experience using Linux via the Raspbian OS, which is the OS for the Raspberry Pi. I’ve been a Windows user throughout my life, except in college, when I owned a MacBook Air. Windows computers are more affordable, easier to upgrade, and compatible with more software, but Macs streamline the user experience to deliver a high-end machine that looks and performs great. Let’s dive into the advantages and inconveniences of each. All the rendering power in the world can still look pretty mediocre if the content is lacking.Mac or Windows? Picking the one that’s right for you depends on many factors, primarily your budget. There’s one more thing to keep in mind: A fancy new system will not improve the quality of a designer’s work. For the Mac die-hards out there who can’t fathom switching to Windows, you have an alternative. Naturally, I liked it, but the still-too-high price is a bit of a barrier for me. To my surprise, the old form factor is making a comeback, albeit with much more significant “cheese grater” holes. But finally, our long-unanswered cries were acknowledged at this year’s WWDC, when Apple unveiled a redesigned Mac Pro. With the intense focus on consumer products such as the iPhone and other mobile devices, the Mac Pro has languished for years without a significant update, while stuck at a relatively high purchase price. Up until very recently, the professional designer, editor, or animator all felt Apple was leaving them behind. All users now have access to the Sketch ‘n Toon module that was previously only available in the most expensive “Studio” flavor. It’s also available to a much larger group of 3D artists with the release of Cinema 4D R21, which is sold as a single subscription-based offering. I love the cel-shaded, “toon” style, which is a fast render on almost any machine. Can you achieve your project goals in a different style by modifying how you’re approaching your 3D? Photo realism isn’t always necessary, and in many cases a simpler look works even better.YouTube has all sorts of tutorials on this topic along with workload distribution. For example, Lowering the settings on anti-aliasing and depth of reflections and shadows even slightly can make a big difference. You can gain speed by tweaking render settings in your projects.Distributing the workload of rendering across several machines can help with speed, and we’ve used it in our office with promising results. It works in the background, cross-platform and requires no additional hardware besides a network connection. Cinema 4D’s Team Render server is a surprisingly simple thing to set up.If you’re still undecided, consider the following to speed up your workflow: We’ve recently engaged their services for two new machines. For Mac users who are scared of putting a PC together, there are custom build options from places that will help you along in the process. The equation gets more complicated when factoring in other attributes like portability, warranty support, and personal preference. It’s clear that in a faceoff between two similarly configured Mac and PC computers, the PC will almost always offer more performance bang for the buck. If Nick can do it, surely, I can! He put together a great post that details the process, including building and pricing out a custom-built PC from AVA Direct, and the anxiety of a Mac user switching to Windows. Getting advice from experts can relieve some of the burdens of selecting an ideal hardware configuration. Greyscalegorilla, was highly reluctant to switch to PC as more of his work entailed 3D, but eventually took the leap with some help from his PC friends. And this article by Andy Needham of School of Motion is also helpful for those interested in the eGPU route. It’s nice to know not everyone at the top of the pro-level needs to switch to PC. Using this method, you can combine the best of PC video hardware with your preferred operating system and computer. He’s managed to set up a pretty solid work station using an eGPU that fulfills his needs. The first, EJ Hassenfratz, a very talented motion artist and 3D animator, is famously stubborn with his devotion to Mac. Several people come to mind when I think of motion designers confronted with the switch from Mac to PC.
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