ARCHITECTURE - MAC OR PC?

Architecture. Construction. Civil Engineering.

All sectors that are built around projects, timelines, schedules, and manpower.

In the technology space, the hardware and software used in this sector are vital.

• HOW DO YOU GET THE RIGHT KIT AND SPEC?
• WHICH OPERATING SYSTEM IS BEST TO USE?
• WHAT MODEL OR BRAND WILL SUIT ME BEST?
• WHICH PARTNER CAN I TRUST TO ADVISE?

These are questions being asked across some of this industry now and before my lean into technology as a service. Getting the right devices and the right spec is crucial to the enablement of your employees, your landscape, your output and the delivery of your work to your clients. Get this right and you can elevate your team and your business to WIN in this crowded but buoyant marketplace.

Get it wrong and you become stuck in the year 2000 and behind the digital curve.

So,

MAC or PC. Why ask the question in this and other sectors?

Because in some areas of criteria required some options need to be considered.

In the case of architects and civil engineers, what landscape and interface you choose, will define what your business does, and what limitations are in play based on the scope and direction of your business and client acquisition and the 'fit for purpose' necessity that clearly sets out the requirements needed for hardware and software in the ever-changing landscape and technology space.

Let's check out the basics.

MAC. Easy on the eye, great UI, UX.

Pros -

1. Great performance speed, is great for security, has few cyber attacks (compared to PC), is aesthetically pleasing, and is easy on the eye.
2. Processing power. M1 & M2 chips are top grade. The display is first class.

Cons -

1. More difficult to use Mac in a business setting.
2. File sharing can be cumbersome.
3. The Mac does not allow Revit to be deployed, although you can utilise a separate PC for this if your practice requires you to use or see files on Revit. Bluebeam is another software that cannot be found alone on the Mac, it is a pdf editor, popular in the construction and civil engineering landscapes. So again you would need a standalone PC for such work to be delivered, or you can just partition your hard drive into two parts, and run two different operating systems on one computer, macOS & Windows.
4. Many architects depending on size, scale, and area of expertise may not require the above, and can also utilise software such as Rhino 3D, ArchiCAD, and Vectorworks if using the MAC as there hardware for business and employees.

So, let's check out the PC here.

I think in the business world we tend to lean more towards the PC against the MAC in terms of scale, size, familiarity in this area, and robust workhorse to deal with multiple applications, software sizes, and in general an array of opportunities and selection in this digital workspace arena.

PC ranges can be across the board. Some businesses will utilise desktops, some will utilise and opt for laptops and large curved screens for example. Not one size fits all. It depends on the business outcomes and objectives desired.

Why a PC for architecture or civil engineering?

Pros -

1. Cheaper than the MAC landscape
2. Easier to upgrade RAM and add more storage
3. Much wider range of selection. HP, DELL, Lenovo
4. Revit, BIM, and Bluebeam deployment ease
5. Program interface & collaboration

Cons -

1. More prone to cyber attacks due to coverage. Plenty of protection available.
2. Battery life can be less than that of MAC. Size & weight can depend on the scope.

I think in short here that the PC or Windows environment will outplay the MAC environment in this particular area within Architecture, Construction, and Civil Engineering due to price point, range of products available, and ease of software solutions utilised across these sectors.

I have used both in my career and although I love a MAC, my latest upgrade in business performance and capability lies with the HP ZBook range, coupled with HP Curved screen. This has undeniably been a real game-changer for our team at Xeretec and our customers alike.

Performance. Agility. Commercially viable. High Power Output.

Our partnership across the PC landscape has allowed us to understand the marketplace, understand the objectives of multiple businesses out there, and in particular leverage 'best in class' hardware across our digital workspace catalogue to deliver into the above-mentioned sectors.

Device as a Service allows you to manage your IT on a monthly cost model.

Because we understand the market. We understand the needs. We enable teams to work smarter, not harder.

We are learning more and more each day about what works, where it works, and what is best for our customers and prospects in this ever-changing digital technology arena we find ourselves in. Tech moves at pace, your employees want to move at this pace.

Allow them to touch, feel and embrace digital enablement. They will thank you.

"Life moves pretty fast. You don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it".

But before I go, here are the Top 3 laptops for the Architect market in 2023.

In no particular order.

1. HP ZBook Power - 16GB - 512GB, i9 Quad-Core
2. Apple MacBook Pro 16" - 16GB, 512GB, M1 core
3. Lenovo ThinkPad P71 - 16GB, 1TB, Quad-Core

Ask me anything.

Kev

Xeretec - CX & Digital Manager