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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 >>