Laptops for CAD

[BenW]

Thinking ahead a bit here but i'll be going to Uni next year to study mechanical engineering. Means i'll be doing a fair bit of CAD work over the 4 years (Beng with year in work).

Is a laptop going to be suitable for CAD work or do you really have to look at desktops? Would also want something portable.

Thanks

[nichomach]

Laptops can and do work with CAD programs - a couple of our architects at work use them. The key thing is whether you're going to be doing 3D stuff. If so, you'll need one with a discrete graphics adapter. If not, then no need. If you do, then definitely look at Dell's Precision range of mobile workstations.

[alcor]

I study aeronautical engineering at uni, and for my first 2 years used my laptop for CAD without a hitch. I would recomend a high resolution as laptop screens are rather small. I had a 15" 1600 x 1200 res screen on my Dell Inspiron 5150 (3 years old) and it was brilliant for cad. We used ProEngineer for our cad work.

I now have a desktop, because my laptop died RIP. But any fairly top end specked laptop will do the job just fine, make sure you buy yourself a 3 buttoned mouse, and go for a laptop with a healthy resolution.

[RavenNight]

If your going to Uni next year definately wait till just before you go to get a laptop, given the amount they change. The CAD engineers I worked with a few weeks back used laptops and workstations, depending on need. As nichomach said look for a seperate, well RAMed up GFX card.