Dell Precision Workstation M6400 v/s MacBook Pro 17"

Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Quad 9X9300 - 2.53GHz, 12M L2 Cache, 1066MHz FSB
Microsoft Windows Vista - Business Edition
160 GB Hard Drive - 7200 RPM with Free Fall Sensor
4 GB DDR4 SDRAM - 1066 MHz SDRAM, 4 DIMMS
NVIDIA Quadro FX 3700M - 1GB Cache
Dell Wireless™ 1397 802.11 a/g Mini Card
8x DVD+/- RW
17" UltraSharp™ WXGA+ (1440x900) LCD Display
9-Cell Primary Battery
3-Year Dell Next-Day Onsite Parts & Labor Warranty + CompleteCare
LoJack theft deterrent and tracking device locates lost or stolen computers
Cost : $ 2,985.. round about $3000 including some small extras

MacBook Pro, 17", Aluminium
2.8GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
4GB 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM - 2X2GB
nVIDIA GeForce 9400M 512MB
500GB Serial ATA Drive @ 5400 rpm
SuperDrive 8x (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
MacBook Pro 17-inch Hi-Resolution Glossy Widescreen Display
Backlit Keyboard (English) / User's Guide
Accessory Kit
No Extra software such as iWork 09, Aperture or Logic Express
Add : BootCamp to install and run Windows Vista/XP plus my own purchased Windows Vista - Home Premium.
Cost : $2,299 plus cost of purchasing BootCamp, Windows Vista
Free Printer worth 100$ and and iPod Touch worth 229$

Programs to be used the most : Autodesk programs such as AutoCad, Revit, Maya, 3DsMax etc. None of these are compatible with Mac OS, therefore I need to install Windows as a seperate OS.
Adobe software such as the Adobe Design Premium Suite

So which one do I go in for considering I will be using the systems for high end 3d animation and rendering most of the time. Also, would you suggest and modifications or upgradation to the given configurations??

I have been a PC user all my life and want to shift to a Mac to try it out. I am wondering if it is worth investing 3000$ at this!?

PS: I have to buy at least one of these systems and it is not possible to downgrade any of the configurations!

Suggestions please!!
Thank you!

Well, in a sense, the Macbook Pro would be a better buy if only because you can run both operating systems on it. Boot Camp is included with Leopard, so you don't need to buy that, just a copy of Vista. A MBP can certainly handle 3D animation and rendering, but if you're going to be doing that kind of work with Windows-only programs, what would you need it for? What is it that you want to do with Leopard? Why do you want to switch?

The Dell has almost twice the processing power and twice the video memory. It would be a much better system for 3D work.

The 1440x900 panel on the Dell seems a little too low res, especially for graphical work.

technologist said:

The Dell has almost twice the processing power and twice the video memory. It would be a much better system for 3D work.

Click to expand...

Agreed.

If you can tolerate Windows, you have absolutely no need for the Mac. Go with the Dell.

Wow! Never thought you'd hear that on this forum, eh?

Its true though. If I were in your shoes, I would still get the mac just because I like OSX so much, but if you don't mind using windows all the time, and you'll probably have to a lot anyway on the mac, the Dell will be faster for what you need. It is $700 more for a reason. Better processor and better video card that is meant specifically for what you are doing, while the one in the mac is meant for gaming.

What puzzles me is why you're looking at a laptop and a desktop system. Do you have any need for the portability?

The 17" is pretty much a desktop replacement. I wouldn't lug it around though since it's huge.

They do have maya for Mac, and shame on who ever suggested running Vista.

sprite said:

What puzzles me is why you're looking at a laptop and a desktop system. Do you have any need for the portability?

Click to expand...

Although the name belies its nature, Dell tags both desktops and notebooks with the "Precision Workstation" name.

Oh haha, that will teach me