hulk2012, you are overcomplicating this
I’m going to collect the (consistent) advice already dispensed here, add a touch of my own, and put it in list form
- Stop asking about Cinema 4D, stop thinking about rendering. You’ve got these people here telling you exactly which software is used in the industry and you keep bringing up irrelevant software and making it hard for yourself. Install some I.D. software and just start learning.
- That software should be Rhino. Really, it should be Solidworks, but you’re hesitant to install Windows, which leads me to…
- You should install Windows. You’re wasting so much time/energy trying to piece together an OSX workflow, even though I.D. is a Windows world. Using Boot Camp doesn’t put any of your existing work at risk (not sure where you’re getting that idea). I’ve used Boot Camp for years, on personal and workplace computers. To be safe, back up all your data externally anyway.
- You said 90% of your classmates are on Windows machines using Solidworks and this puts you at a “disadvantage”…do you realize how funny that sounds? “Guys I’m really stuck. I don’t know how to use I.D. software. Unfortunately, everyone around me is using the exact software I need to learn.” You are wasting a valuable resource: co-learning and help from your peers.
- Learning curve is going to suck no matter what software you use. modo’s learning curve is not “weeks” for someone inexperienced. NURBS is how the I.D./engineering/manufacturing worlds operate, so you’re going to have to learn it if you want I.D. work in the future. So it’s not a very efficient use of your time to learn polygonal modeling. I think everyone should learn poly modeling, but as a supplementary skill later on.
- To summarize: NURBS = Solidworks, Rhino, Alias, Inventor, MoI, etc. At this point just pick one and get to work; it’s a long journey.