Hello,
I would like to start learning ZBrush and other 3D programs, I have a 24” i-mac that meets the requirements for the Mac version of ZBrush, but would I be better off investing in a PC that was made for 3D programs?
Thanks
Dominic426
Hey Dom,
I run all my 3D on a Macbook Pro (maya and zbrush), If i were to start over I would do it all via PC. In my short time with Zbrush it seems the plug ins lag behind or not at all and a few other items that work on the PC version and not on the mac.
not the end of the world and i def would buy a complete new system, but if i did have the choice…
good luck!
I will stress that what snakeking has observed will be changing with ZBrush 4. Starting with Z4 and going forward, we will always be releasing the same stuff on both PC and Mac, within 30 days of each other. And in fact, GoZ is an example where Mac users are getting features before PC users.
If this happens I will definitely be happier. I am not saying its not a great program on either platform 
, it is exceptionally good.
also, there was a typo in my original post, should have read ‘def WOULDNT buy a new system…’ curse my chubby fingers for typing in the middle of the night! sorry if it came off too bad, was not meant to be a ‘bad’ post, just a preference :o.
Thanks!
Historically, the mac community has not been well served by 3D vendors. There is no mystery to this–there are simply fewer users in the larger marketplace on macs than the Windows platform. Pixologic, though claiming a fresh start in the past few months, has been as guilty of this as any. Autodesk’s commitment to the Mac platform has been mixed, but recently has shown some improvement. Smaller vendors (mostly makers of plugins and accessories) have been even less committed to the platform.
Unless you intend to run Final Cut Pro or Logic (Video and Sound Editing), there is little reason to go with Macs anymore. Over the past year, we have converted virtually every system from Macs to Windows.
Don’t get me wrong, Apple makes fine products and a decent OS. However, the 3D community has never fully embraced the Mac as a primary platform and I fear that in the long haul you will be disappointed with support from your software vendors if you go with a Mac-only solution.
I use XP, Vista64, and OSX 10.5 pretty routinely. Up until 12 months ago, I was using almost exclusively OSX. So far, I have not found either OS preferable except that 3D apps, in general, run faster with fewer problems on Windows. Moreover, Adobe’s support on Windows for their tools, such as Photoshop, seems better in practical use. Most 64-bit applications have appeared on Windows first, with the notable exception of Maxon.
As much as admire Apple’s design work, and the overall quality of their equipment, I no longer can recommend them. Their company emphasis has shifted considerably, and while 3D vendors are, in the current economy, suddenly interested in the Mac platform again, I fear that this more of a “fair weather” decision and if they are not swiftly rewarded with sales, the Mac platform will again be moved to the back-burner.
Taking all this into consideration, if you’re starting from scratch go with Windows-based systems. If you have a Mac, try to ensure you choose applications that cross-platform or have cross-platform licensing policies. (Adobe is a notable heartburn for a lot of people. Once you license on the Mac, they will not let crossgrade to Windows later . . . Pixologic has a crossgrade fee if I’m not mistaken.)
My blog (linked below) covers some of my historical observations of Pixologic’s past behavior vis-a-vis Mac users. Perhaps they have “turned the corner”, but I am reserving judgment with respect to Mac versions. Certainly many Mac users are currently delighted with the 3.2 version of ZBrush, but that comes after many months of significant deficiencies in the product without resolution (indeed it took Pixologic months to even acknowledge the problem and then several months denying the significance of the problems on the Mac platform.)
Regardless of platform, be sure to get lots of memory. 6GB for OSX and Vista64 versions of ZB 3.1 or 3.2 will let ZBrush get the most out of your system. (ZB 3.xx can use 4GB and both Operating systems will need about 0.5 to 1GB more to function efficiently.
-K