windows vs mac for video game programming

#Windows vs mac for video game programming install
#Windows vs mac for video game programming drivers
#Windows vs mac for video game programming upgrade
#Windows vs mac for video game programming pro
#Windows vs mac for video game programming software

However, I must point out that I must be the odd coder around as I do not drink coffee.

When learning to code you generally need access to a coding editor such as Visual Studio Code (Mac and Windows variants available), a reliable internet connection, a browser, and an endless supply of coffee. LEARNING TO CODE ON A MAC VERSUS WINDOWS COMPUTER

#Windows vs mac for video game programming install

Using the Bootstrap functionality you can install Windows and dual boot ( read about my recent experience with that below!). The other thing to remember is that if you want to run Windows on a Mac then you can. I can get 10 hours use from my Macbook Air. The main benefit for me would be, quite simply, the all day battery life and the reliability. In fact, I have never experienced an issue.Īpple run Back to School promotions each year and usually have reduced pricing or a giveaway. I have experienced far fewer issues with my Mac systems. Many will say that Macs are more expensive but the total cost of ownership is not much different. Having owned many Windows laptops and Mac laptops I know that the Mac is, in my opinion, a far superior product. IS MAC OR WINDOWS BETTER FOR A COMPUTER SCIENCE STUDENT? External GPUs are now starting to make a dent in this area but there is still a long way to go to get the reliability for which Apple is renowned.

#Windows vs mac for video game programming upgrade

Not too easy, and often almost impossible, to upgrade hardware on a Mac. Need a faster graphics card to aid with rendering? No problem on a PC. Macs are renowned for being extremely inflexible when it comes to upgradability. However, with many developers moving to cloud based systems this really is diminishing in terms of a reason to stick with either Windows or Mac. There are many development tools that are just not available on Apple. Let’s see what Apple Arcade will bring in terms of development potential. Apple gamers constantly grumble about the lack of gaming availability although there is huge potential. If you are a game developer then Windows is still where the action is at. Windows PCs tend to be cheaper…initially! Be careful though as the build quality will often match the price paid.

#Windows vs mac for video game programming software

Being able to load and run just about any piece of software is a real plus.

#Windows vs mac for video game programming pro

The number 1 pro has to be the flexibility of the Windows OS.

I realise there are great PCs out there these days but nothing engages me as much as the Apple ecosystem and ease of use. It does struggle with Xcode unless I reboot prior to starting it up. The Air does power up its fans from time-to-time but rarely when just coding.

The iMac is whisper quiet, even when under load. What do I mean by this? Well, I do not have jet plane fans screaming in the background. The ergonomics are just not quite as refined as I expect from an Apple product. Pinch and zoom are extremely useful when looking at lines of code. I have yet to experience a PC based trackpad to rival those on the Apple devices. If you need to dig a little deeper and if you are so inclined then you can use the Unix Terminal. There are not layers of sub-menus and unnecessary features that I find on a Windows machine. It is clean, simple, and carefully thought out. There is tight integration between then and the use of features such as Airdrop is great for sharing files. I can work quickly and effectively on my iMac or Macbook Air. The stability of the Mac and the lack of maintenance allows me to focus on productivity. Having the flexibility to work on any computer in any location around the world is a reality I used to dream about years ago. Everything else is cloud based such as CodeAnywhere which is my go to platform when I am out and about. My iMac is always on and the only time is it rebooted is during one of the many power cuts here in Queensland, Australia.Īpart from Xcode, most of the other software I use is available for Windows. The ease of use and tight integration between the operating system and the hardware have meant that I have had pain free computer use for all of those 10 years. However, about 10 years ago I made the move to Mac and have never looked back.

#Windows vs mac for video game programming drivers

Would the system boot up after the case was closed? Would the operating system install? Would all the drivers be recognised? When I look back I wonder how I managed to get anything done with all the time required to build and troubleshoot! There was something engaging about building your own PC in those days. I travelled to the local computer fairs each weekend where I delighted in roaming around the stalls looking at the latest and greatest processors, the processors I could never afford to purchase. I was a die-hard fan of Windows and built all my own PCs for many years. The Mac is, quite simply, a beautifully clean and simple system to use.