Is anyone else like me? A fan of the Apple Mac but stuck in a professional environment that is effectively Windows-only?
Still, I did not let that stop me from purchasing this not too long ago:
I've had it for a few months now, it's a great machine, and I thoroughly enjoy it. I rather like Windows - even Vista is okay - but I admittedly much prefer OS X and Apple's elegant hardware, even if the bang-for-the-buck isn't as great. The Mac is isn't the most cost-effective way to run MicroStation, but neither is it my primary way I run it (I have a Dell desktop in the office for that). But my MacBook Pro operates a lot more than MicroStation and does both personal and professional duty anyway...
And it runs MicroStation phenomenally well. Thing is, to run MicroStation you probably already know I first had to install Windows. And thanks to Apple's Boot Camp, that got me up and running on Vista Utlimate x64 fairly quickly. I was also able to run MicroStation using VMWare Fusion.
Here are some of my experiences/information:
1. You need an external mouse. Period. On a PC laptop with two buttons and/or scroll area, you might try to go mouseless, but on a Mac with just the one button, that's not an option. I don't own an Apple mouse - the few times I have tried them they just didn't cut it. A decent gaming mouse is generally my choice, and those I've tried play well with OS X, too.
2. I made sure to get the best graphics option I could on my MacBook Pro - the 512 MB GeForce 9600M GT. Turning Vista's "Aero" on or off didn't seem to affect MicroStation perfomance too much.
3. Under VMWare fusion, you are limited to 128 MB of graphics memory on the virtual graphics card. 3D acceleration is supported, but only Direct 3D. Open GL is not emulated or supported. Even is this mode, I was able to run okay, but I didn't do much 3D. I am hoping this limitation will be revised in future versiosn of VMWare.
4. "Unity" mode worked pretty well, too, when I turned that on. It was ncie to have MicroStation's window appear right on my Mac, and be able to run MicroStation right alongside my version of Office:Mac.
5. I run Bentley Inroads, too, and it worked quite well. even though it utilizes OpenGL for it's internal display, I didn't notice a performance hit even under Fusion.
In case anyone wonders, yes, I ran that other CADD program too, and it worked in much the same way. Though I will admit that - like my experience on the PC - MicroStation seemed seemed quicker overall than AutoCAD.
In short, if you do want to run MicroStation on a Mac, keep in mind:
As I find out anything more as I run MicroStation on the Mac, I'll be sure to let you know. Alternatively, if you have questions about MicroStation on the Mac please don't hesitate to ask me.
Recently I have bought MacBook Pro16 include Parallels app and Windows. Then I installed MicroStation V8i and the completed master drawing includes attached DWG references. All on Windows desktop. Opening of my master DGN drawing was succesful but reference DWG files were unvisible. I tried attached them again but MicroStation did not konw to find them. What is happened all DWG files exist though?
Thank you very much.
Ok... I am new to this and trying to figure out my options... I prefer Mac to Windows, but I am being told that Microstation works better in Windows based machines rather than Mac running windows. I was thinking of running a Mac Pro with the following configuration:
I am going to be processing Lidar and Photogrammetry information that has high graphics processing requirements. Can anyone tell me if this configuration running windows will be able to process as fast as a Windows based system?
im running parallel on my mac and use microstation V8 can i load it on to my mac ?
what about my licence name it is configured to my my pc ith computer 'name' how do i get around placing the computer name on the mac?
thanx
phil
Hi!
The topics are very interesting to me, since I started to work in an architectural company who only use Mac and ArchiCAD. Before, I had worked for 15 years using MicroStation and PC... My present employer would like to install MicroStation in one of the Macs to be able to handle complicated infrastructure files that are designed elsewhere - with MicroStation. Until now, these files have been exported as IFC files but it is awkward and slow to make changes in them, let alone look at them, in ArchiCAD.
Are you still using MicroStation in a Mac? Is it as good or even better now? Do you know anything about PowerDraft? Your comment is from 2009.
Anna, Sweden
hi, im a student learning how to operate micro station. i have the mac book pro and iMac. Hence, i want to download microstation on both devices. Reading your post, I will need windows software on the mac book pro and iMac...correct? how will i know if i have windows? i haven't downloaded it yet- do i need to? i guess that windows isn't automatically on these devices and you need to download it, but please inform me if this is correct. Is there a way to check if windows is installed already on these devices?