18 replies to this topic

[Jeff Hamilton]

Alright everyone, I am in need to buy a new computer.  Looking to hear about what systems everyone is useing (including price) and along with any decisions you have made regarding whether to go desktop (cheaper, easier to upgrade, more robustetc.) verses laptop (portability, personal preference).  I aprreciates everyone's thoughts. 

[Sam Morgan]

I was a laptop only guy for many years.   Last time I owned a desktop was in 1998.   I bought a fairly high end desktop about 18 months ago because I do a lot of fully rendered animations and needed something a little more powerful.   A while later I bought a surface 3 tablet that I use when out with clients, drawing as builts, etc.   After months of not using the laptop anymore, I finally gave it to the kids.   Desktop as primary and tablet as back up is great for me.   I will be in washington DC all next week working from my tablet the whole time.  Works great!

[randolph cohn]

i also was a laptop only softplan user.  same reasons as sam.

 

now only use a high end desktop at home and use "go-to-meetings with clients / associates.

 

saves driving time for everyone.  so far no one is against staying at the office or

at home and having a meeting.  in fact, they all love it.

 

i have a $20/month plan for up to 3 people.

 

it says here they have a free plan for up to 5 people.  not sure about that one. it might

be a trial one.

call them and ask about the $20/month plan (3 people) and the possible free for up to 5 people.

that doesn't make sense. it might be the 30 day free trial that they've had for a long time.

 

https://free.gotomee...0024.1429984134

 

sams the second person that says they use a surface # tablet.  for travel and for measuring as-builts.  say it works great.

 

.

[Thomas Roman]

I have a two year old ASUS Republic of Gamer Laptop ... it was expensive, but it has been brilliant.. I use it with a larger external monitor when working at my office... otherwise the 17" screen is fine...

 

My associate just got herself an ASUS Republic of Gamer Laptop also... one of their base 17" screen models, for about $1,000, which was much less than I paid for mine ... and it's faster than the one I got two years ago ... it's a fantastic laptop for SoftPlan...

[Keith Almond]

Our office uses TOSHIBA Qosmio X870 models (Gaming laptops). Expensive - at least by my standard it is! - $1,800 when they were new, but they work very well with Softplan. Personally however, I prefer desktops. Much more flexible as regards hardware. It's easy to upgrade video on a good desktop, and almost impossible on a laptop.

 

Upside of laptops is the ease of plug-in of an external monitor, although most of the desktop cards these days support dual monitors. I  couldn't imagine going back to using Softplan on a single monitor.

 

If you must use Softplan on a laptop .... get a really good one!

[Jeff Hamilton]

That was what I used previously Keith was a Tosiba Qosmio (cant recall the number).  It was a very good laptop unfortunately when I switched jobs the laptop stayed.  Now I need to get one for myself. 

[AJ Spino]

Jeff,

 

I initially tried running SoftPlan Plus using Windows7 w/Boot Camp on my Mac Minie, but didn't have a lot of success.  After asking the same questions as you on the forum, it became apparent that a pc designed for gaming because of their better graphic capabilities and processing speed are highly recommended.  I would think the choice between laptop or desktop would be a matter of how you intend to use it.  After a lot of kicking and screaming I purchased a Windows PC just to run SoftPlan.  I opted for a Dell Alienware X51 desktop, it's not the highest end gamer out there, but works perfectly for me.  With a three service warranty I shelled out about $900.   I haven't done any elaberate rendering projects, but anything I've done in Texture Mode regenerates instantaneously.  Somewhere on this forum is the actual component break down of my system...I'd include a link to that post, but I have no idea how to do that.

 

Good luck in you research and happy shopping!

[Sam Morgan]

Here is the stand I use with my tablet when I'm out doing as builts.  No more pencil and graph paper for me....I just measure and draw and send a proposal

 

 

http://www.amazon.co...0?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[Michael Roman]

I also used a laptop for years, a Dell XPS gaming laptop with a 17" screen. 

I build my own workstations and have had great success with them.

I have replaced my laptop with a Microsoft Surface Pro 2 and it works great, will upgrade to the Pro 4 when it is released.

I use Microsoft One Note to take meeting notes on my tablet and have access to them across my desktop, tablet and phone.

 

Also, GoTo Meeting has been one of the best additions to my tools.  Clients love it and works flawlessly for meetings and letting people see thoughts and ideas as we meet.

 

Technology can be a wonderful thing (when it works the way it was designed to..........)

[randolph cohn]

michael,

 

i've heard from a few people who use the surface pro when measuring "as-builts" and love them.

 

easier than working with laptops on the job sites.  i tried the laptop route a long time ago and

 

gave it up for lent.  went back to the graph paper and pencil.

 

tip: when using graph paper,  draw to scale (use a architectural scale along with the graph paper)

.  will pick up mistakes as you go along.

[Jeff Hamilton]

There used to be a specifications sheet on the Softplan site that gave minimum requirements for hardware.  I know that the more the better in the graphic card and processor but don't want to over spend on a system either.  Does anyone know if they still have that for 2016?

[Keith Almond]

This is the current Hardware spec page, Jeff.

 

https://softplan.com...oftplan-require

[Jeff Hamilton]

Thanks Keith. Exactly what I was looking for.

[Brian Berzinskis]

I bought the Surface but have never used it for as builts. I just use it for meetings but not even really showing off drawings in SoftPlan and more for just internet and photo examples. I take the Surface Pro with me on vacations if I need to do some work. I just keep buying desktops for around $600 to $800 for work. I have multi monitor setups at home and at the office so we just go out and buy whatever is in that price range with a dedicated video card. That is typically my only requirement. At that price I am able to purchase new ones every couple years and trickle them down to other employees. I have been buying HP recently but have had Dell in the past.

[Jeff Hamilton]

This is what I'm looking
Would love to hear any advice about it:

Acer Predator AG3-605-UR1H Desktop ComputerI

• Intel Core i7-4790 Processor 3.6GHz
• Microsoft Windows 8.1
• 12GB DDR3 RAM
• 2TB 7,200RPM Hard Drive
• NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760
• 8x DVD-SuperMulti Double-Layer Drive
• Digital Media Card Reader
• 10/100/1000 Network
• 802.11ac Wireless
• Bluetooth 4.0

[randolph cohn]

i have a desktop a little "BELOW" all your hardware specs

 

and it runs softplan more than fine.  both 2d and 3d.

 

the main thing is you have a

 

top notch CPU and graphics card

to run softview.

 

remember that softplan likes gaming units.

[Keith Almond]

This is what I'm looking

Would love to hear any advice about it:

Acer Predator AG3-605-UR1H Desktop ComputerI

• Intel Core i7-4790 Processor 3.6GHz
• Microsoft Windows 8.1
• 12GB DDR3 RAM
• 2TB 7,200RPM Hard Drive
• NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760
• 8x DVD-SuperMulti Double-Layer Drive
• Digital Media Card Reader
• 10/100/1000 Network
• 802.11ac Wireless
• Bluetooth 4.0

 

 That's not the same computer that you posted this morning Jeff ... Got a better deal?

 

That looks like a really nice spec, I don't see any issues with that at all.

[Jeff Hamilton]

Caught me Keith . I did change my computer from last night to this morning. However, I ended up not even getting that one. Got to Micro Center and ended up with a Dell 8700. I7 processor and GE GTX 745 graphic card. The rest is pretty much the same. 16 gab RAM. They just recommended Dell over Acer brand wise. Now the fun to set everything up.

[Michael Collazo]

I am on my second Asus gaming laptop. The one I currently use is the G750 i7 Processor 2.4 ghz, 16 GB Ram, with a Nvidia GeForce GTX 770m graphic card. The best thing I did was to add a solid state hard drive to run all of my programs, and leave the other hard drive for storage only. This thing restarts in 7 seconds flat. And it runs the programs so much faster. I do have to use a USB video driver to run my second external monitor. That is the one thing I miss about desktops. Otherwise, This laptop runs as good as a desktop and renders like a champ.