Mac or PC?
Discussions:
Mac vs. PC for Graphic Design
My main reason? It's what they used at my job back then so it's what I bought when I got my first home computer in 1990 and it's what I'm familiar with using. I have no compelling reason to switch. It is what it is and it's my choice. I get a chuckle out of the cute PC vs. Mac commericials from Apple but I don't have any major issues with a PC or Vista that some folks seem to have. But that doesn't mean I think one platform or the other is superior for graphic design or desktop publishing. There are designers using both quite successfully.
What about you? Do you have strong opinions one way or the other? Which platform do you prefer and why? Are you forced to use a PC when you'd rather use a Mac or vice versa? Chat about it. But, please, stick to your reasons for using what you use and let's not bash the choices that others make.
Comments
I have always used a PC but just weeks ago I decided to try a Mac and the new Lepard OS. I have to say that I found it difficult toget to grips with the Mac, especially for graphics. Maybe after all these years using a PC it was just too late to go for a Change (I am 80). Having said that the new Mac is a lovely machine and it was with great regret that I sent it back and ordered a new PC
I don’t understand the comment you quoted “…myriad font and color issues with PCs, not to mention the severe performance hit…” - I used a Mac for years in my previous job (prepress) and had way more font issues with it than I ever have with my PC. And colour issues? There are none if you know what you’re doing and understand your working environment. Performance hit? Don’t make me laugh. A top-end PC running the right OS will do anything a Mac can. I am very comfortable with both platforms, but still run into dinosaurs with this outdated, snobbish bias against PCs in the printing and design industries. The reality is, we all use the same software these days, and if you know your stuff there should be no difference in capability. I can do anything on my PC that I could on my Mac. And it’s cheaper!
I’ve always used Macs, ever since they first appeared as those little boxes with the smiley faces. I find PCs so cumbersome and laborious, so difficult to navigate around my files and locate my applications. But now that Macs are becoming compatible with PCs, and PCs are catching up with Macs, there probably isn’t any difference any more.
I use both Macs and PCs in my graphics design studio. I have a Power Mac (mainly for page layouts), a Powerbook (for presentations and a mobile workstation — in the office it is connected to external monitor, keyboard and mouse), and a Windows XP desktop PC (for Photoshop work).
When I first started out on the original G3 Power Mac Apple may have had a significant lead for design work, but these days the gap is almost negligible, with both platforms having weaknesses and strengths.
I used to always check my files on the Power Mac before I sent work out to the colour separators and printers. But these days I no longer find that necessary, as my suppliers now also use a mixture of Macs and PCs in their setup.
In fact, given the price differential between Macs and PCs (yes, Macs are still expensive compared to PCs when you’re only using it for DTP), I’d rather buy 2 x Windows XP dual-core boxes instead of the single dual-core Mac Pro I can get at the same price. It’s all about having a better workflow.
I, too, have had several people wonder why or even ~how~ I could do design on a PC. The only problems I had were because the print shop only had Macs, and they didn’t want to bother with PC stuff.
Many of the issues can be overcome if you know what you are doing!
Fonts used to be the problem, but I would overcome that by outlining the text, if possible, or only using Opentype fonts.
With the more design-friendly Adobe Acrobat, sending a PDF, which is both PC and Mac friendly, solves a lot problems.
Macs had a lot of advantages for Graphics and DTP at first. PhotoShop and Quark were only available for Macs and the pre-windows PC was not comparable. Things have changed and its better to stick to the devll you know.
Most professional graphic designers have been trained on and utilize a Mac for their work. I don’t know how any self-respecting designer could use the PC platform–the assertions regarding font and color issues is dead-on. There is a world of difference in the performance between Macs and PCs for professionally-designed print and interactive work.
That said, this is a site about “desktop publishing”(a term that professional designers would never use). I am willing to bet that most of the audience are amateurs and hobbyists who think that just because they have a PC with a few fancy fonts, that they, too, can design “eye-catching flyers and brochures for their friends and families”! Get a grip. Most professional designers have years of education and practice in the design field, and are trained on Macs with specific software. MS Publisher and even worse, powerpoint, just ain’t cutting it.
Bottom line is, if you have the notion that you have the talent for graphic design, take the time and spend the money to get educated in the field and purchase the appropriate tools for production of your work. There should be no doubt that the best platform for this type of work is a Mac.
I have never understood the devotion that some designers have to Macs. I have found their interface lacks an ease of usability - and figuring out how to use a Mac is far more difficult than it needs to be when you compare the ease of use of a PC. They have gotten better but I agree with a previous writer that it seems to be some sort of snobbery on the part of Apple that they keep their product a little less accessible. I have heard of but not experienced any performance superiority of Macs. I used to have a Mac crash on me several times when doing a video project, while the PC I had at home never gave me a problem. I guess you just get used to what you’ve been using, and in the design world, Mac got the head start so PCs will always trail.
I’m sorry to have to pint out that your poll is a bit skewed because it asks do you use a mac or PC at work/home etc. and doesn’t stress “for design, graphics or printing”, just general use and as we all know PC’s have market share in the business world due to the Microsoft foothold. When considering design there is no real choice as Mac’s far outperform PC’s. Just go to any printing company or poll printers and you will find your answer quickly enough. Or try other creative companies such as film studio’s or stock photography houses and you’ll get the same answer. I use a Mac at home and have both Mac and PC in the office with the Mac for all design work and PC for connecting to proprietary company databases. To say you use a particular tool in the past which is why you continue to use it today is thinking which I hear from my employees often enough. “We’ve always done it that way” is what I hear and I always cringe because with this thinking you stifle creativity and innovation. This is very bad for anyone involved in the creative process as well as for businesses who continually shell out big bucks to Microsoft because they know of no other way or don’t want to update their legacy systems or learn something new. For me I’m glad for all the PC users as it means less virus and spam and spyware for the mac community. Keep going PC users rejoice!…
I think people should learn to accept things as they are, Paeticularly when they cannot be changed, Running either platform is like choosing a specific brand in a car. Both manchines do the same job, but it is just a matter of preference, When something is good enough, there is no need for an attack on others. But life is like that and if Mr. Steve Jobs wants to play like a clild bashing and ridiculing the PC, so be it, let him have fun. The one good thing about this matter is that we all have choice. My first introducition to a computer was a PC. I asked around for advice on what to get when I was ready to buy my first computer. In the end it came down to what I was able to afford at the time. So, guess what I got and still have happily ever after. I must admit that at my firts job I was forced to work with a Mac, and the biggest headache was those infamous fonts -”open the fonts!!!”-my boss used to tell me when I had forgotten to load the fonts and a piece of printing was illegilble after print. I did managed to learn hot to use Suitcase eventually. But if someone asked me today to ‘open the fonts’. I woudl say, NO! You go open the fonts on your machine, I will work in mine, thank you!
My first machine was an Apple 11c. Then I had a Commodore 64. Both machines were fun because you learned the programming language of the machine. Then in the mid 90’s, I bought my first PC because that was what Circuit City sold. Then Microsoft launched the usability era with Windows 95 and computers have never been the same since.
The fact that there is more than one way to do so many things on a PC is why PC’s just work. You learn what is easiest for you and use that method. I’ve looked at Macs but where is the intuitive use the commercial talks about. They seem counter productive.
But in the spirit of fairness I would like to have a Mac so I can “learn” how to use them. It would be nice if you sat down at a keyboard and started working and the kind of machine it was didn’t matter. Of course, I’d rather just tell my machine what I wanted to do and it would.
I have always considered this site as a PC oriented site so the results of the last survey did not surprise me. I am sure that it will be the same with this survey. I am a dedicated Mac user and have been since 1985 even though my office opted for the PC platform as our Tech head saw the opportunity to build a larger staff with that platform. I have retired and now produce a monthly newspaper using Ragtime and would never think of using anything else. I introduce seniors to computers as a volunteer activity but if their work world was PC, I hook them up with a PC friend. At that age it is difficult to make the switch. Although I have never had a virus in all my years of using a Mac, this may end with the crossover to the UNIX platform - time will tell. I also have never had to take any of my computers into a repair shop even though I am not particularly adept with technical problems. I am happy that different platforms are now coming into use. Linux is a welcome addition. I just don’t think that domination by one platform is the way to go although it has made Mr. Gates very wealthy. However, I think it has limited creative thinking.
The only reason I use a PC at work is that my office (city government) will not support Macs on their network.
I have always thought it was not so much the tool as the skill and creativity of the user that counted for the most. Granted, certain tools might offer a bit of an edge in one situation or another, but even a poor tool can produce good results in the hands of a skilled user, and a first grade professional tool will produce a lousy job in the hands of a hack. The Mac v PC wars boil down to personal preference these days, and great results (or really poor results) are produced with both.
Loyalty to a brand is all it is. Either that or Mac users have so much money invested in their equipment/software that they swear by it to justify the money. I find that most Mac users are very closed minded when it comes to using the PC. I bet they could really create good stuff if they were to open their minds. I use a PC, but wouldn’t be opposed to getting a Mac (if I had the money).
I was a little offended by Michele’s comment, and have to wonder why she was even on this site, being the professional she is.
We started using a Mac system for our special needs son when he was ten on the recommendation of his teachers, our first experience with Macs. Then I completed a 1200 hour Digital Design certification program which used Mac computers and was told Mac computers are the industry standard for graphics. I taught Photoshop for four years using Mac computer labs at the same school. We had a large advisory board of approximately 50 members who represented all aspects of the graphics industry. A majority of those reps used Mac systems.
At work, in other fields, I used PCs for years, but they had industry specific software, not Microsoft or Adobe. Much down time with the PCs in those fields.
For the past six years I have run my own photo restoration and redesign business from my home using a Mac G4 system. However, my husband has a PC laptop which he uses infrequently. So, I installed the Adobe Creative Suite which I use frequently when away from the house working with clients. By far, I prefer the Mac system. There is a lot less down time with my Mac. The PC drives me up the wall with problems on top of problems. Both systems are maxed out with memory and have similar software installed. So yes, I much prefer a Mac computer system. As far as the difference in working with graphics on the two platforms over the years the systems have evolved to the point there is much less difference from one platform to the other. However, for ease of use and lots less stress due to problems, I vote for a Mac system.
Interesting discussion–I was trained in graphic design on a Mac in college. I’m still a professional designer, but since I work for a tiny company, I also do web design, content magangement, server management, online commerce, and programming.
My experience with Windows has been uniformally terrible–complicated applications are always crashing, always patching and updating things, fixing gaping security holes, etc. I hate it.
So, everything in my office runs on Linux. I just finished a 40 page ‘owners manual’ for one of our products and got it to the printing press. I’m finishing up a 300 page book. All in Linux, with zero problems so far, even with hi-res color brochures on shiny paper.
I admit it has not been until recently that Linux was even worth mentioning for desktop publishing. But for me over the last few years, the combination of OpenOffice for text editing, The GIMP for photo editing, Inkscape for graphic design, and Scribus for layout and PDF generation has been excellent. Scribus automatically deals with CMYK color too, and gives output in PDF-X/3 right out of the box, with color managament.
All of the above software was FREE.
DAN
I used a PC for about 2 years for all my freelance design work. At my office job I used a Mac for all the design work. The problem I had then was with the fonts and moving from one platform to another. I used the Open Type fonts and ran into a few glitches here and there so I avoided bringing any InDesign files from work to home to work on. Today I work on the silver iMac, I maxed out the RAM at 4 gigs and running Leopard. So far, so good. I still have all my design applications on my laptop PC and use it once in awhile when traveling. Either way, I can do design work on either platform.
As a publisher, I’ve had to deal with everything from CP/M systems, UNIX based mainframes, and Windows-run systems—as networked terminals and stand-alones—as well as all Mac OS’s. From my experience:
• All computers will eventually have problems. None is perfect.
• Networked PCs have more problems than stand-alones, and the problems have to be fixed by IT (job security).
• Stand-alone PCs are less stable and less user friendly than Macs. (Just having to deal with the security software is a drag.)
• The Mac is by far the least buggy and most intuitive of all the systems I’ve operated.
I value my time, so I use Macs in my home office.
I was the Production Manager for a weekly classified paper, and we’ve used Macs since 1989. The owner decided to change to PCs because they were cheaper and could match up with his business PCs. The Windows machines bogged down production and cost a lot in overtime. I retired because of the change.
I am a seasoned PC user and find Adobe and Microsoft applications (among others) excellent. I have both PC and Mac at home. (I also have an Atari, but that’s another story).
Recently however I have been impressed by the speed of the Mac. Mine is my father’s old slot-loading iMac which I ‘hotrodded’ by replacing the G3 motherboard with a G4 from FastMac, yet it still only runs at 550 MHz. Nevertheless it runs the Mac’s second latest operating system (Tiger) smoothly, better with some programs than my Pentium III PC. And boot-up is much faster. Mac aesthetics are pleasing too.
Personally I prefer Word to Pages, but the latter may be better in that it combines wordprocessing and layout in one application, whereas with PC you need to go to Publisher or FrontPage.
I suspect that quite soon this controversy is going to join Betamax vs VHS and IBM golfball vs daisywheel in the technology archives.
I used PC’s exclusively for years when I got serious about design. In school they use only industry standards, so I not only had to use a Mac I decided to buy one so I didn’t have to spend long hours in the computer lab. I am happy to say that I am now dual-platform using my pc for some things and the Mac for others. My favorite is whichever I’m on at the time. Wavelab, my favorite audio mastering software, is only available on the pc. The pc needs some housekeeping for dedicated serious programs like Wavelab. A pc bought at a store comes with gobs on garbage on it that starts up automatically. If you are serious about design on the pc then clean it well by getting rid of all the junk that’s in there. PC’s will run much more reliably when not encumbered with all the stuff that comes (for free???) with them. So, no arguments from me about either platform. In defense of Macs, I would offer that for sheer enjoyment and productivity you simply cannot beat the iLife programs that come on Macs. Talk about useful software! But Mac vs PC? I’d rather argue about something worthwhile, like, why all the Harley riders dress the same. Terry
To Michelle,
I can’t beleive your arrogance! Who cares if the last generation predominantly used the mac for Design work. Its a new world now. And Pc’s are doing what they do best. And macs as well. It all comes down to preference. I know tons of designers who use pc. Just because of preferance. Not Industry standard mumbo jumbo. The quality comes in the art, and how well you use the applications. Not which machine is better. Thats the same as racism. Except not with humans.
And bashing anyone looking to better themselves in “Desktop publishing” Or Graphic design shows you are pretty bitter about something with your own. You need to get a grip. And stop hating on people. Fossil.
Having started out with the Apple ][e, graduated to the original Mac, then was moved to PCs on the job, I now use a Mac and coordinate 100 Macs at work. I have 2 PCs and a Mac at home.
By building my own desktop PC, I was able to afford both a desktop and laptop PC for what one Mac costs. I find that PCs have a definite speed advantage over Mac. I still use good old PageMaker on both platforms, and find the PC version easier to handle, with menu items more intuitively categorized.
I use Photoshop on the PC only, and enjoy freeware and shareware photo and graphic utilities for PC that solve little problems well for just the cost of time downloading or a small “donation.”
I have also noticed, through the years, many design flaws, rapidly-dying parts, and antiquated technologies (prior to Intel-based machines) in Macs, and do not appreciate their monopolistic nature–if you prefer their OS, you must overpay for their hardware. I strongly feel that if Apple had had the market share Windows enjoys, THEY would have been the defendant in the anti-trust lawsuit a few years back…
What I would like to know is, not so much regarding whether you personally prefer one platform or the other, but what are the issues surrounding the two. For example. I currently work for an American company in our UK office as a designer. I use a Mac, but the US are not happy about this as they all use PC’s, and although not a great deal of file sharing goes on, say we must get a PC for compatibility reasons. (One example given being encryption of PDF’s?). I wondered if I could simply supply them with PS files so they could create their own PDF’s?
Can anyone tell me of the issues between the two and whether this will slow our business down?
There is a lot to be said about what platform someone is trained on. It tends to becomes the platform of choice simply by familiarity, and nostalgia.
As for me, I’m familiar with using Mac’s and Winboxes professionally. They both get the job done, and over time the differences between are getting fewer and fewer as far as what one is able to accomplish.
My preference is for the Mac for a few reasons. One is the Unix core, I have found far more useful, open-source tools, that are often free and take advantage of the Unix core that I don’t often see on Windows. I also find the Mac interface less cumbersome to work with, and often find less “surprises” that I often see on Windows in the form of cryptic alert boxes, etc.
I’ve used a Mac at work for the past 8 years & a PC at home for the last 20. Of the two I have to admit that I find the Mac easier to use when it comes to desktop publishing (tho that may be because I work on it 8 hours a day). However I find I have more available & more control over my computer using a PC (tho with that comes greater system instability). My preference for creative business purposes would be a Mac and a PC for most everything else.
I have to laugh when I read this whole discussion. How can one proclaim the superiority of one platform over another when you can use the exact same products on either machine? Yes, we have an old Mac workhorse on the network, but it is running the same QuarkXpress 7 that the PC down the hall is running (and the PC runs it with far less crashing actually). I also have Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator on both machines as well. The software is the same. No difference. None at all.
A good monitor and color-calibration equipment is essential for pre-press no matter which platform you use. And my HP LCD for the PC is so much more color accurate to the actual CMYK prints than the old CRT on the Mac that it is practically useless except by picking from PMS color charts, as it ’should’ be done anyway.
Michelle’s assertion that one must necessarily be running MSPublisher for design work because one has a PC is ridiculous and laughable, not to mention ignorantly snobbish. Come on folks, move into the new milennium, it no longer matters, if the program is the same, then the files can be shared, we pass the Quark files back and forth from the Mac to the PC and vice versa. Make a PDF from whatever program you choose to ‘design’ with, whether it be MS Publisher or Adobe InDesign, Mac or PC and you can take it to ANY PRINTER to be produced.
As someone else so aptly put it, it isn’t the tool, but the creativity and skill of the person who wields it.