MAC vs PC

It seems you have your mind made up so there is not much we can say.

My only comment is read the reviews as to how Windows 8 will integrate into your workflow with the applications you plan to use. So far the reviews I have read have been less then stellar with its total dependance on touch screen on tablets.

Allan

I am a photographer and the reason I used Macs since the late 80s is because I found the applications on the Mac to be easier to use.

I had to use a Windows laptop at work. I was asked to create a web page for the team. I found I could develop the web page so much faster on the Mac then Windows laptop even with the double testing both on the Mac and Windows laptop that I did all on my work on the web page on my home Mac.

Web development software on Windows claimed to be WYSIWYG but it wasn't even close. On the Mac, however I set things up that is what I ended up with on the web page.

I also found the Windows software had a habit of putting all kind of extreneous code in to my web page and made it almost impossible to follow accepted industry standards instead of the Windows pseudo standards.

Allan

Well with a Mac you have not to worry about viruses, trojans, and all that malware. All your applications and their data, are stored in the application folder. There is no need to clean registries or do mantinance, anything that needs to be done is done for you. I've had my Mac 3 years now and the only mantinance I've had to do was occasionally repair disk permissions, but even then that was just a routine test, and it found nothing wrong. Basically as a busy student, with a Mac you won't have to worry about being blue screened or getting infected or something.

Many Windows 8 PCs may have faster harware, but Apple uses it's hardware more efficiently, so effectively it runs smoother. I run a few CS6 applications, sometimes multiple at the same time, and have no trouble.

And also, the screen is pretty color accurate.

You aren't missing anything using a Windows PC. Except the cost of a Mac for lower specs.

If you buy a Business class PC from almost any seller, Dell, HP and the like, they are still offering Windows 7.

There is Nothing Special about a Mac, except the cost. And Mac do get Malware. Since no one writes viruses for Mac, at this time, you won't get one of those. But it really depends on how you use your computers. I've been running Windows for years without any AV software and have NEVER been infected with anything.

You stated; "All your applications and their data, are stored in the application folder."

Personally I never do that I always define folders for my project and force the applications to store their data instead. I find that by keeping my project files apart from the applications it keeps things more easily managable to me.

Allan

Macs are better built. The construction is solid with metal vs. plastics. An advantage with the Mac is that you can also run Windows programs on it by using a virtual machine config such as Parallels or VMWare Fusion or you can use tha Apple supplied Boot Camp to run Windows. I find the Mac is easier to use and holds up better than a Windows machine over time. I have been with the Mac since 2002 and have always been extremely satisfied with the quality and build of the Mac and the applications for it. I never plan to return to Wndows, nor do I plan to run any Windows programs on my Mac. I have found Mac programs for every use I have needed.

This. Plus Apple has great support. Even if you don't buy Apple Care, which I highly reccomend they do, I've had several friends get low cost or free replacement parts for things that have gone wrong (as they do in every computer, i.e. fans).

There are many people trying to write malware for Macs, because they are starting to take up a more prominant share of the comsumer market. OS X is just more secure, and harder to crack into. The one virus that did get into some Macs one time was a Java security hole, and even then Apple patched it very quickly. While as on Windows there are many security holes and such that can be breached easily by downloading a file. Trojans have been known about for a long time yet Microsoft has no prevention against them.

While I'd love to debate Mac vs PC more, this is a support forum. What was the Origonal Poster's main intention for support in posting here?

I have been an Apple user since spring of this year. The only problem I have with Apple is the price of their products. Other than that, they are very solid and stable, physically, hardware and software. I have never had my MacBook Pro crash and never had a virus or other malware. While I feel the user interface is simpler there is somewhat of a learning curve if you are used to Windows. I am and I didn't have too much trouble. Each display is individually color calibrated so you will have excellent color reproduction for your graphics and photos. Everything I want to do with a computer can be done on my Mac with the exception of Alibre Design. Overall I am very happy with my purchase and I am sure you would be too if you took the time to learn OSX. I don't plan on going back to PC.

P.S. bigluc23 is right. Apple has 5 star support. I am very impressed by that. They really stand behind their products.

OK - so my 2¢... I've been in the graphic arts business for over 30 years. The first computers that we put in were Mac's. Windows was long behind in the graphic arts field at this time (1986-1987) although we did have IBM as a client and had to use an IBM machine to produce their employee newsletter.

But Windows machines have caught up - and now the biggest question is which OS you'd rather run - Windows or OS X? I've stick with Macs throughout the decades except when forced to use Windows machines (as in the case with IBM) and have never had any problems. As a graphic designer, I just prefer the 'look and feel' of OS X over Windows machines. I use a lot of Adobe software and have for years - it just seems better on a Mac - but primarily because of the OS.

I wouldn't look at is as Mac vs. PC, but rather Windows vs. OS X... which is the simplest to use? In my mind, it's OS X. Most of the graphic design applications are now cross-platform and that's really the only difference.

Clinton

emanelfy wrote:

I was wondering if there were any other important factors and attributes, like software for example, that would be better if I went with a Mac instead of a PC.

Sorry to say there is no longer any significant feature or ability on Mac's that make it superior to PC's of the same quality.

PC's may get more malware, but built into Windows 7+ is System Restore which one keeps on a external drive or even DVD's and can restore their own machine from that, much like TimeMachine on OS X.

Windows PC's have a much larger selection of software and Microsoft supports Windows 7 until 2020, Apple only supports OS X versions for a few years at best, starts to deny security updates and new features etc.

A major problem on Mac's is the (now) annual OS X upgrades (paid) that hobble installed third party software which then need (usually a paid) upgrades, then the slow down that occurs when OS X is upgraded.

Apple has been dropping some of their hardware product lines, namely the 17" MacBook Pro (Xserver, Xraid) and the MacPro is looking like it's doomed, not having a hardware update in quite some time.

Apple is getting further away from the "Pro" market for their computers and further embracing the only consumer market for smaller gadgets.

Microsoft on the other hand is all for the buisness and pro market, PC hardware makers have a broad range of many choices of hardware to suit nearly everyone.

The majority of the Graphic Design industry uses Macs

Mac's are the creative's "status symbol" as desktop publishing started on Mac's.

The typographics on Mac's tend to be of a bit better quality on Mac's than generic Windows PC's.

With Mac's all the displays look great, however on PC's one has to hunt and find a quality display as most are centered on being cheap focused on price factor minded purchasers.

Everyone within my program has a macbook pro, however when I ask why I should get a Mac over a PC I have yet to get a good answer beyond cosmetic reasons.

If your going into a field that the files are mostly based on OS X, then your going to have to get a Mac.

It's the same thing if you would be going for engineering, as most of those files are in Windows formats.

Also you need to be flexible with employment, if they use Mac's then you need that training, you already have Windows training.

If your going into business for yourself and creating all your own files, then you can use whatever you want.

But Windows machines have caught up - and now the biggest question is which OS you'd rather run - Windows or OS X?

As a graphic designer, I just prefer the 'look and feel' of OS X over Windows machines. I use a lot of Adobe software and have for years - it just seems better on a Mac - but primarily because of the OS.

I wouldn't look at is as Mac vs. PC, but rather Windows vs. OS X... which is the simplest to use? In my mind, it's OS X. Most of the graphic design applications are now cross-platform and that's really the only difference.

I pretty much echo clinton's opinion here, except for the drastic UI changes Apple inflicted in 10.7 and 10.8, the now annual OS X upgrade cycle and the steps being taken to close the platform to outside sources of software.

One has to perform all these "tricks" to install software outside of Apple's influence now, it's not quite closed up yet like a iPad is, but it's getting there, just a few more OS X upgrades and it will be.

My 2¢ is to use a Windows 7 machine, at least it will remain just like it is until 2020 when Microsoft drops support, we Mac users don't have the foggiest idea what Apple is going to do in the next annual release of OS X, this is EXTREMELY disruptive to creative workflows.

So is Windows 8, but one can still buy Windows 7 machines and even have the option to downgrade 8 to 7, but if Apple does something horrible in OS X 10.9, then one has no other choice but to accept it or face no more security updates in a year or two. New Mac hardware only comes with the latest OS X version, so a workflow with several machines on 10.7 for instance is screwed when trying to buy a new machine to fit.

Apple's products have no longer become the ideal professional users machine, unless they have deep pockets to keep up with all the changes in hardware and software.

From a Graphic Designer standpoint, would you recommend getting a high end 13", or a standard 15"?

15" non-Retina high res/anti-glare with the largest SSD you can afford, 8-16GB of RAM would be the best long term option.

Keep in mind one has to buy third party software from Adobe that costs more than the machine sometimes.

A laptop generally works about 4.5 years with near daily use. A desktop can last almost twice as long, however with a Mac the security updates will drop after about 2 years if you don't upgrade OS X.

OS X requires a paid annual upgrade, along with third party software, a Windows 7 machine will last until 2020 with the same software with no paid upgrades required and free updates until 2020.

Cost wise, a Windows machine is the best long term choice, if your Windows 7 machine dies in 4 years, the software licenses can be transferred to a new machine with the same OS version. However when one buys a new Mac, it comes with a recent OS X version and no option to install a earlier version and a new or paid upgrade is in order for all third party software, so the costs are much higher.

Another advantage of generic PC's is the third party hardware choices. Apple tends to put in proprietary hardware connectors that is incompatible or causes a inferior solution than their own offerings.

Sure Windows is harder, but the options are better in software and hardware selections, solutions and options.

Apple's Phil Shiller has publicly stated Apple is for the 50% consumer market, thus inversely is not too concerned with the needs and requirements of the professional users of their equipment.

The big uproar over the changes Apple made to Final Cut Pro X has caused Hollywood to start moving to Avid on generic PC's as it's more professionally oriented.

http://arstechnica.com/apple/2012/01/video-pros-apple-needs-to-acknowledge-the-p ro-industry-and-fast/

http://arstechnica.com/apple/2012/01/more-fcpx-fallout-top-reality-producer-ditc hes-apple-for-avid/

OS X might be nicer and simplier to use, however other factors like stability and attention to the needs of users is also a factor.

With 10.7 and 10.8 Apple has been introducing radical changes that very disturbing, so has Microfost with Windows 8, but there isn't any requirement to use it as Windows 7 will be supported till 2020 and possibly extended if Windows 8 fails in the market place.

Surely in your case a dual OS solution is in order, only problem is cost for another license of expensive third party software.

Guess it comes down to where your files and money is coming from, if OS X, then a Mac.

Sure a lot of files are cross-platform, however their fonts and formatting are not. Files transferred between the two always seem to require a bit of tweaking, unless they ar ePDF's.

Good Luck 🙂