On Nov 18, 2008, at 8:47 AM, Jeff Speir wrote:
We also use OSX almost exclusively for our virus crystallography
projects, for the same reasons given by Bill and Anastassis. Every
now and then we have to spend time re-compiling some programs with
larger parameters or up to 64-bit, so don't want the added hassle of
tinkering with the hardware. More expensive, yes, but cost savings
in other areas, namely time and maintenance. Also provides wide
software compatibility between productivity/office and command line
applications on a single machine. The Macs have good 64-bit hardware
and OSX 10.5 runs 64-bit on the command line - the 32-bit and 64-bit
programs run together transparently.
MacOS X.5 runs 64-bit GUI apps as well.* The CLI/GUI split that you
mention was a limitation of MacOS X.4.
Ian
*Marketing link: <http://www.apple.com/macosx/technology/64bit.html>
Currently having fun with an 8-core Mac Pro using 64-bit multi-
threaded CNS v1.21. We can now run a capsid refinement in just
under 50 minutes (uses all 8 cores and 3Gb of RAM), a remarkable
speed increase. Many thanks to the CNS authors and contributors,
and all the other software authors for OSX compatibility and
support . Linux would work fine as well, but for the reasons given
OSX on the Macs has been a highly productive solution for our needs.
Cheers,
Jeff
On Nov 18, 2008, at 7:42 AM, Anastassis Perrakis wrote:
On Nov 18, 2008, at 16:26, William G. Scott wrote:
On Nov 18, 2008, at 7:01 AM, Mischa Machius wrote:
For linux, I would recommend a commercial solution,
For linux, I actually ditched the commercial solution for Ubuntu,
because it was vastly easier as a non-expert to maintain.
Having said that, like you, I have found running Mac OS X to be
the most cost-effective in terms of time and utility.
Same here. Lets also say that I have seen many people in the lab
switch from Linux and Windows to OSX, but nobody from OSX back to
Windows or Linux. That must be saying something.
We still use btw Linux workstations for stereo and I am happy with
them as well.
As Harry says, choose what you are most comfortable with(*).
A.
(*) If thats Windows Vista though, take a break and meditate,
think of the bigger picture of life,
donate to the Bill Gates foundation which is what Bill Gates should
be remembered for,
and find the nearest MacStore. ;-)
Bill
