Question on Windows vs macOS after undergraduate is complete

[ADGrant]

But isn’t a docker image dependent on the original OS and hardware? If you for example create a docker image on ARM Mac, it might not necessary run on Linux x86 or Windows x86. It is not really OS and hardware agnostic like a VM (which emulates also the entire hardware).

I could be totally off as I am not a “computer scientist”, it is just one of the problems I ran into myself when I was playing with docker images.

It is and for x64 Docker images an Intel Mac is a better choice right. However, Docker supports ARM64 images and AWS offers ARM64 Linux VMs to run those containers.

I believe Windows Docker images are X64 only and they are mostly used for running legacy Window apps. You wouldn't want to use a Mac for that.

 

[jjcs]

I am a mechanical engineering undergraduate in my senior year. I currently have a Windows laptop that does pretty well. I depend on a lot of x86 software so this was an obvious choice when I purchased it my freshman year.

Once I graduate, things will change. My future employer will issue a work laptop for all my x86 software. Here is where I am a little hung up based off where I plan to go next in my career path:

I am taking a deep five into Python and engineering use cases (data analyzing, dipping into ML). I already have a decent foundation with C and am currently using it to program Arduino projects.

My dilemma: I have this romance with the new M1 Pro's. I love the battery life, I love the build quality, the design, the speakers....there is a lot to like.

However, this deep dive into Python will be on my own time and my own dime outside of work. Should I be sticking with a Windows laptop perhaps a ThinkPad? I am having a hard time finding what the M1 Silicon is actually good as aside from content creation. It seems like for any sort of enterprise work it just isn't a glove fit. Is this the case?

I see YT videos with software engineers using MacOS, and I hear about a lot of companies issueing their dev's Macbook Pro's......this confuses me. How do you not run into compatibility conflicts? M1's can't really run any enterprise software.

Just a little confused here....but it seems like for anything development related a ThinkPad running VS, or dual booting into Linux to pump out Python and utilizing beans and gcc makes more sense than flowing all that on an M1.

Again, what the hell are these good for outside content creation and why would one buy one rather than a Windows based laptop like a ThinkPad? Even with ML there is no way it holds a candle to even a dGPU with CUDA capability.

Seriously consider getting an MS. Especially while you're still used to being a college student. An MS is rapidly becoming the entry-level degree in most fields of engineering, if it isn't already. Pick a professor who has research interests and contracts similar to what you're interested in. Note that you can usually pursue an MS in a different field (CS, for instance). Make sure you're going to be mostly an RA. It's more fun, but be flexible.

 

[science03]

Seriously consider getting an MS. Especially while you're still used to being a college student. An MS is rapidly becoming the entry-level degree in most fields of engineering, if it isn't already. Pick a professor who has research interests and contracts similar to what you're interested in. Note that you can usually pursue an MS in a different field (CS, for instance). Make sure you're going to be mostly an RA. It's more fun, but be flexible.

I did put a lot of thought into this. The problem is I am eager to get into industry and I know it is good to go for an MS after you have a few years under your belt.

 

[jjcs]

I did put a lot of thought into this. The problem is I am eager to get into industry and I know it is good to go for an MS after you have a few years under your belt.

I'm not sure who gave you that recommendation. Talk it over with your professors a bit more. Note that as an RA, you'd be working, not just taking classes or grading papers.

Another thing to note is that its harder to find time to pursue graduate school while working full time. Quicker to get it out of the way in 2 or so years (at least as far as an MS). Whatever route you choose, good luck!

 

[mi7chy]

Find out what companies you're interested in working for or the leading companies in the field then find out their software, tools and OS requirements. For example, for mechanical engineering Tesla uses CATIA, Labview, FloTHERM, Icepak, Altair, Altium, etc. so majority Windows x64 then Linux. And, for AI/ML they develop on Linux x64 with PyTorch, Tensorflow, MXNet, Nvidia/CUDA, etc. So, best bet is x64 and Nvidia GPU.

https://www.tesla.com/careers/search/?department=14
https://www.tesla.com/careers/search/?department=3

 

[science03]

Find out what companies you're interested in working for or the leading companies in the field then find out their software, tools and OS requirements. For example, for mechanical engineering Tesla uses CATIA, Labview, FloTHERM, Icepak, Altair, Altium, etc. so majority Windows x64 then Linux. And, for AI/ML they develop on Linux x64 with PyTorch, Tensorflow, MXNet, Nvidia/CUDA, etc. So, best bet is x64 and Nvidia GPU.

https://www.tesla.com/careers/search/?department=13
https://www.tesla.com/careers/search/?department=3

Yea this is why I have a P17 ThinkPad. However I always have this craving for one of the new MBP's. Even so far where I was ready to just use RDP or Parsec and remote into my ThinkPad from the MBP haha.

Not sure if Parsec'ing into a ThinkPad that is 20 feet away sounds crazy or not....but it would allow me to move around the house and have long battery life. I could also get away with this with a baseline 14 or 16 as I would be doing it all remote.

 

[science03]

I'm not sure who gave you that recommendation. Talk it over with your professors a bit more. Note that as an RA, you'd be working, not just taking classes or grading papers.

Another thing to note is that its harder to find time to pursue graduate school while working full time. Quicker to get it out of the way in 2 or so years (at least as far as an MS). Whatever route you choose, good luck!

I will look into it again after the feedback here.

 

[satcomer]

If you want tp learn about making Mac OS Software then get the book C++ Pocket Reference to start with!

 

[leman]

If you want tp learn about making Mac OS Software then get the book C++ Pocket Reference to start with!

Is this some sort of a weird joke?

 

[science03]

Is this some sort of a weird joke?

return 0;

 

[LinkRS]

I will look into it again after the feedback here.

I completed my MS in Software Engineering while working full-time. It took 24 months, and I took one 8-week course at a time, spread out over the 2 years. It was tough, but I did it .

 

[bobcomer]

I am a mechanical engineering undergraduate in my senior year. I currently have a Windows laptop that does pretty well. I depend on a lot of x86 software so this was an obvious choice when I purchased it my freshman year.

Once I graduate, things will change. My future employer will issue a work laptop for all my x86 software. Here is where I am a little hung up based off where I plan to go next in my career path:

I am taking a deep five into Python and engineering use cases (data analyzing, dipping into ML). I already have a decent foundation with C and am currently using it to program Arduino projects.

My dilemma: I have this romance with the new M1 Pro's. I love the battery life, I love the build quality, the design, the speakers....there is a lot to like.

However, this deep dive into Python will be on my own time and my own dime outside of work. Should I be sticking with a Windows laptop perhaps a ThinkPad? I am having a hard time finding what the M1 Silicon is actually good as aside from content creation. It seems like for any sort of enterprise work it just isn't a glove fit. Is this the case?

I see YT videos with software engineers using MacOS, and I hear about a lot of companies issueing their dev's Macbook Pro's......this confuses me. How do you not run into compatibility conflicts? M1's can't really run any enterprise software.

Just a little confused here....but it seems like for anything development related a ThinkPad running VS, or dual booting into Linux to pump out Python and utilizing beans and gcc makes more sense than flowing all that on an M1.

Again, what the hell are these good for outside content creation and why would one buy one rather than a Windows based laptop like a ThinkPad? Even with ML there is no way it holds a candle to even a dGPU with CUDA capability.

Well, I'm an IT guy and I use Mac's at home because they're different. At work it's all Windows, windows apps, windows utilities, networking, you name it, Windows.

I think you may be able to do all you want on a MBP, but it wont be as easy unless you're pretty close with some Mac heads that do pretty much the same as yourself.

Remember they're all computers and all can do pretty much the same things, so really, choice of hardware is dictated by the software, so start your search there, if all you expect to need runs on a Mac, get that. You can always buy a cheap Windows laptop if you need it for one app. I have 2 Macs (Intel Mini, and Studio and 2 Windows PC's (one laptop and one desktop) on my desk at home, and more on the shelves if I need more! You really don't have to decide on one or the other, have both.

My job is more Pidgeon holed than yours, and I really need Windows for that. (and some linux, but I run it in VMs)

So I'll reiterate, pick your software, then buy the hardware to match, you'll have a much more enjoyable experience!

I really don't suggest expecting a Windows on Arm running in a VM to do what you need for Windows. There's questions both on licensing, and just what can and cannot run. For me, who's been running VM's for 30+ years, it's definitely sub optimal enough for me to keep Windows machines at home too.