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Since the advent of computer and cyber technology, the world is advancing more and more in this field. Each day, we get to see a new and advanced form of computer technology. This rapid advancement in technology has not only brought ease for us but has also initiated a healthy competition among different levels of technological advancement.
One the well known technology talk is the PC vs. Mac debate that has been raging for more than a quarter-century (since the invention of Mac computers). However, making sense out of this discussion requires considering the situation and many other factors involved in computer buying.
Both Macs and PCs have their respective pros and cons. The Macintosh computers come with which means that the hardware and software work together beautifully, but also that only Apple controls the prices and the features that will be made available. However, when it come to Macintosh operating system personal computers, the lion’s share nonetheless goes to the Windows Operating System, developed by Microsoft and run by machines raging from Dell and IBM to Abel’s Computer Stable and Laundromat. A diversity of hardware manufacturers means lots of choices for buyers, but a lot of diversity in quality.
This post will give a balanced discussion on the subject of choosing between a Mac and a PC from the point-of-view of a designer regarding their different features.
Many creatives prefer a Mac because they are easier to create things like brochures layouts, and other design elements.
Designing Software
In today’s techno-savvy world, apart from a designer’s true aesthetic sense and creative instincts, the second most reliable partner for a graphic designer is the designing software.
- For graphic designers, the basic and the most common industry standard software choices are Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Indesign and Quark Xpress, and all of these are available for both Mac and PC. Even the designers who choose to work on the open source route of Gimp, Inkscape and Scribus also have the option of choosing either platform.
- When it comes to shareware and freeware, Windows Operating System generally has a wider range. However, Macs get the score for the advantage of being able to run open source software and is very successful in doing so.
- Apple Macs get an extra point to being able to run Windows OS, in cases where there is no equivalent of a Windows application available. This can be done via Boot Camp or by using emulation software such as Parallels Desktop. However, this will certainly increase the cost as this requires the purchase of a Windows operating system.
Photo Editing Software
Photo editing software is basically the main tools that photographers use to manipulate their digital images. Both Mac and PC have a wide variety of photo editing or graphics software which is available on their respective operating systems. Photo editing software is widely used by both professional and amateur photographers, mainly to satisfy the creativity needs of the photos and to deliver the perfect product to the clients.
- Photo editing software is of two types i.e. professional photo editing software and tools, as well as simpler and affordable software for hobbyist or amateur photographers. The main differences between the two types of software highly depend on the way they are used and how an individual photographer needs them.
- The availability of the photo editing software varies in both Mac and PC. Some you can find on both Mac and PC, and some are specific for a particular platform only. If you are looking at the professional photo editing software, plugin, image noise reduction tool or an image viewer, both PC and Mac operating systems have a wide variety of solutions that will fit every individual’s needs. However, the main lead that the Mac has over PC is that with iLife, it comes in abundance and that too, for free.
- Macs allow both amateur and professional photographers and designers to enjoy more advanced tools there and then. On the other hand, Microsoft Windows users might have a clear idea that PC’s built-in photo editing software is not so good.
- Apple Mac’s built-in photo editing software gives a much exciting user experience, user-friendliness and straight out-of-the-box availability.
Hardware Configuration
Computer hardware configuration can help you make one of the most crucial decisions. Better hardware configuration has one simple rule “the better specs, the faster the resultsâ€. If we look at both the computers from 2D usage, you would not find much difference between the two. One of the most efficient parts of the computer for graphic designing tasks is the CPU. You will probably need more RAM and a good graphics video card to speed things up, in order to take advantage of current multi-threaded applications and multi-tasking needs. In this regard, comparing Mac with PC computers, one against the other is not a good idea. Both the computers can be upgraded according to your specific needs.
- This discussion can take a decisive route considering the cost of equivalent hardware specifications. In many PCs, Multi-Core CPU is the benchmark. Today you can buy a Mac with up to 12 Cores with the Mac Pro and all you have to do is to pay for it. But it does not end at the CPUs only, the screen and hardware architecture also count a lot.
- PCs always have the advantage of being cheaper than the Mac, but being cheaper doesn’t mean that it will be good to work on as well. You get what you paid for and in many cases; you will find out that it is quite the case.
- PCs also surpass Macs in having more available custom parts in the market. You can always buy the latest hardware advanced technology instead of waiting for a company to adapt the technology and implement it (like in Macs). On the other hand, Mac computers are built to last. They are all manufactured by Apple, optimized for optimal compatibility with other hardware parts and software and you get a perfect and fully featured product, right out of the box.
- With Mac computers you will get Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, DVD reader and burner, wireless Magic Mouse and Wireless Keyboard that has the WOW-factor embedded on them. But if you want a new Blu-Ray burner drive, you will probably need to wait till the company itself puts it in the computer.
Product Design
In terms of product design, without any doubt Apple certainly has the favorable position.
- Every time Mac introduces a new product like the iPhone, iPad, iMac, PowerBook G4, MacBook Pro or iPod, etc, it has the most unique and coolest designs as compared to PC’s product design. We must give a big credit to Industrial DesignApple who has done wonders to Apple’s product from the day one. Even though everyone has its own opinion about what is beautiful and what is not, I would be surprised that someone will argue about the product design of Mac not being cool.
- There are some nice PC product designs out there and you can greatly customize them too. But in my opinion, Apple unanimously wins the crown in terms of product design.
To Conclude…
Traditionally within the Graphic Designing or print industry, Apple Macs were very much the best, but in my views a Graphic Designer should not invariably choose an Apple Mac when setting up their studio or upgrading equipment.
Long time ago, there may have been some issues when sharing files across the two platforms, even when produced in the same software, but that isn’t the case today. Windows PC lovers accuse Mac users of being the ‘all-so-cool guys’ or ‘fancy-pants cult’ and Mac fans are of the views that Windows PC users are the orthodox nerds or random owners of generic junk. However, both should realize that the only thing that really matters is that when choosing between Mac and PC, one should go for the platform that fits your needs, taste and of-course, the budget.
As someone who supported Mac’s professionally for two years I would debate the point that Mac’s are built to last. If they do last, you will get much more use out of them than your average PC. But hardware flakiness is a well known secret.
Still i cannot stand the software! I’m not a Fanboy at all, i think Apple products have the sexiest designs out there. I just feel like their prices are way too high and the if i would get one, i would only use bootcamp.
It’s always been an interesting debate. I think it really depends what you’re used to and what suits you. Check out what others are saying about the Mac or PC debate and have your say!
This is one of the poorest written articles I’ve read in my life. It’s entirely one sided and the reader can clearly see your a fan of Mac’s from the beginning. You opt to skip over the long list of benefits a PC has over a Mac and you even try to discount some of the benefits as flaw’s. Clearly a fanboy article, I’m upset I wasted my time reading it.
As opposed to Pcs, macs are much more simple to use, I love siting at a mac and working on one, the operating system is much more simple and everything is just there to navigate in front of you without having to go to too much effort to find things.
Although pcs are cheaper to buy than macs I think it is all down to the user to and what they are most comfortable in using. Prices of mac’s are much higher, but that reflects the Apple brand and hopefully you are getting much more quality for the money.
The fact that Apple offer a range of computers also, you can easily find something that will fit in with what you want to sue it for with a variety of different specs.
It gets me down now when I have to use a Pc as they are so much more complicated. Before I went to do a graphic design course I had never even come across macs and now they are everywhere, I think its macs all the way!!
Mac’s are sleek, but I couldn’t get a quad core i7 processor, 500 gig drive, ok graphics card, 4 megs of ram (upgradable to 8), and rock solid performance (run it about 6 hours a day, beat the heck out of it) in a laptop on the Mac side for about $800. I can and have on the PC side. And if I really wanted to I could hack the thing and run the MacOS on it.
I respect Macs, and the boys in Redmond better come up with something mind blowing, cause all the young hipster kids all use Macs. As the older web geeks age, the future is trending towards Macs and mobile devices. Maybe Google will evolve an Android based OS out of its mobile efforts that will put both Apple and Microsoft on the fence big time in the next few years.
On average, Mac is much expensive than PC. I will say Mac is overpriced.
I detect quite a bit of unfair bias in this article. This coming from someone who is a Mac fan, by the way.
Mmm I agree with the others – this post is definitely written by a Mac fan. As a PC user for more than 20 years (I had an Amstrad PC1512 with the Sega Megadrive slot) – I have to say Apple is like the Bentely of computers. But that is exactly what they are…you can have the same specification in PC for half the price. I have been using a Mac Core i3 with 4gb for 18 months and enjoy using it but couldn’t justify the price tag in owning one – however for web design I do prefer them!
Macs are “different” thats all. People loves to be different than “the others”. Those price tags are the result of poor minds manipulated by Steve Jobs very well ! I have both, a mac and a pc, and the only reason for me to spend that much money on a mac is to give it a try, the so called “difference” is not worth the money.
This is one of the excellent post, MAC vs PC i found this is first comparision..
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