Greg E Posted November 4, 2020 Share Posted November 4, 2020 I currently use version 2015 (Fundamentals, Architect) for production of technical construction drawings for small architectural projects. My old iMac is, well, old. I am upgrading to a new iMac. Can I continue to use the 2015 software on the new machine and IOS? Quote Link to comment
zoomer Posted November 4, 2020 Share Posted November 4, 2020 (edited) I think you mean latest Apple desktop operation system called "macOS" (As there is no VW version for running on iOS devices like iPhones or iPads, or tvOS on Apple TV, or watchOS on an Apple watch) But unfortunately no (!) anyway. VW 2015 will no more run on more recent Apple desktop Operation Systems as Apple changes too much with every new OS and kills legacy. I am not sure wich macOS (or even previous OS X) version was current at 2015. (probably OS X 10.10 Yosemite) Usually each VW release will only support one next macOS version, released a year after the release of the VW Version. E.G. VW 2021 will support Big Sur and may get a final SP6 that will offer support for the macOS after Big Sur, coming next year. But you can find those compatibility charts and hardware mins pecs on VW's website. If you are upgrading to a new Intel iMac (which is a very good idea), you will get most likely at least macOS 10.15 "Catalina" with your iMac and can't downgrade it down to older macOS/OS X versions. (And it doesn't make lots of sense either) In a few weeks they will even deliver with macOS 11(!) Big Sur (which is much better anyway) So I would better think about upgrading to VW 2021, if that's feasible. But if you want to keep running your VW 2015 (great release at that time !) you could : a) Switch to a (likely much cheaper) PC with Windows, which should not only run VW 2015 but maybe still support even older VW Versions. b) Install Windows in Bootcamp directly on your new Intel (!) iMac. This will no more work with coming ARM based Apple desktops with "Apple Silicon" which will come during the coming 2 years phase where Apple is switching from Inetl CPU with X86 architecture to its own CPUs and GPUs ! c) Run VW 2015 in a Virtual Machine Windows installation, on your iMac with macOS, by using VMWare or Parallels virtualization Software. You could basically also create a VM to install an older OS X or macOS version, which is compatible with your VW 2015. This option will also no more work with coming ARM based Apple desktops with "Apple Silicon" ! Edited November 4, 2020 by zoomer Quote Link to comment
FlyingHoward Posted November 4, 2020 Share Posted November 4, 2020 Hi Greg, Speaking from my own experience here as I have 2015 Designer running on a 2010 MacbookPro with Mac OS High Sierra [is quite sluggish but is not my work machine though]. As I wanted to find out for my amusement, Vectorworks 2015 will not install on my current iMac running Catalina [not for me anyhow]. HTH Quote Link to comment
Pat Stanford Posted November 4, 2020 Share Posted November 4, 2020 The OS compatibility list is below: Quote Link to comment
Greg E Posted November 5, 2020 Author Share Posted November 5, 2020 Thanks all for responses! To clarify, I have a late 2012 imac currently running Mojave. VW is sluggish, but so is everything else. I need a new Mac. Perhaps I will keep this old machine just for VW. I do worry however about the potential for a crash and burn event, which we know would likely occur mid-project at a most critical moment! 2021 VW also an option, but not exactly rolling in the dough at the moment...... There's also the learning curve with new VW that makes me nervous. Quote Link to comment
zoomer Posted November 5, 2020 Share Posted November 5, 2020 4 hours ago, Greg E said: I do worry however about the potential for a crash and burn event, which we know would likely occur mid-project at a most critical moment! 2021 VW also an option, but not exactly rolling in the dough at the moment...... There's also the learning curve with new VW that makes me nervous. I feel with you .... in both, being afraid machine or data loss if there is no redundancy, balancing risk vs insurances, and being forced to keep up with Software changes. Even if I upgraded into every new VW version so far. Quote Link to comment
Pat Stanford Posted November 5, 2020 Share Posted November 5, 2020 Another option would be to make a virtual machine out of your Mojave machine and run it under Parallel or VMWare or similar on your new Mac. The substantially higher speed of the new Mac might make Mojave, even virtualized, run really quickly. Quote Link to comment
matteoluigi Posted November 6, 2020 Share Posted November 6, 2020 but, stupid question apart from mac os versions, are there any plans for porting Vectorworks on ARM? Does Apple really plan to switch completely from intel to ARM? Quote Link to comment
Nicolas Goutte Posted November 6, 2020 Share Posted November 6, 2020 (edited) 5 hours ago, matteoluigi said: but, stupid question apart from mac os versions, are there any plans for porting Vectorworks on ARM? Does Apple really plan to switch completely from intel to ARM? The second question is with a high probability: yes. Apple has done full transitions already two times: Motorola 68000 to PowerPC, PowerPC to Intel. So the first question is probably yes too, in the long term (certainly not VW 2021, as macOS 11 is not officially released yet, but VW 2021 is already finished). Edited November 6, 2020 by Nicolas Goutte Quote Link to comment
matteoluigi Posted November 6, 2020 Share Posted November 6, 2020 1 minute ago, Nicolas Goutte said: certainly not VW 2021, as macOS 11 ist not officially released yet, but VW 2021 is already finished sure, apple already announced Rosetta 2 for running intel-applications on ARM Macs... Quote Link to comment
zoomer Posted November 6, 2020 Share Posted November 6, 2020 5 hours ago, matteoluigi said: are there any plans for porting Vectorworks on ARM? Yes there are. Just that it is not only up to VW to port their stuff, they also have to bring all their 3rd party libraries developers to also provide ARM ported versions. E.g. Siemens Parasolid Modeling Core. So likely not for VW 2022. But they targeted that VW 2022 will at least run via Rosetta2 and are already testing and positive about the result. 5 hours ago, matteoluigi said: Does Apple really plan to switch completely from intel to ARM? Yes, they will do. During the next 2 years. Quote Link to comment
roberto.bissanti Posted November 21, 2020 Share Posted November 21, 2020 Hi to everybody, During last year and until now I worked good with VW 2015 and my MacBookPro 16" with macOS Catilina (now I've installed 10.15.7). Sometime, rarely, I've noted some error but sincerely I'm work with my VW version very well. Now I would be tempted to install BigSur, but I'm really worried that VW 2015 won't work anymore. Has anyone made any attempt on the virtual machine as well? Quote Link to comment
Greg E Posted November 23, 2020 Author Share Posted November 23, 2020 I would also be interested in hearing from anyone who has actually tried the virtual machine option that has been suggested. Thank you all. 1 Quote Link to comment
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