Mac or PC?

[WickedMind]

What are you people using mostly, Apple Mac or a normal PC?
My teachers tell me Mac much better for designing. Though, I do good on my PC also, except that it's quite messed up these days

Getting a mac G5 soon! woohoo!

So, what do you prefer and why?

[prophet]

Yeah I have a PC but everyone says a Mac is better for graphics. Can someone explain why its technecally better?

[WickedMind]

I can't really explain it by providing facts. In my general opinion I somehow feel for Mac to be better. Heard they are specially developed for designing.
Working for sometime with Macs at my school now, first I hated it because all the commands were different. But once I got the drill, I loved it.
Works fast and simple.

Though, still don't see the exact difference with PCs :S

[kylekwan]

I have used both. And my most preferably is PC. Few reasons for that:

1. When it comes to customisable, of course PC. You can add any hardware component you need. In case you feel that your hard disk space is running small, just get an IDE or SATA and plug it in. If you run out of ram, just get one, plug it in. If you think your gfx card is under spec, get one, plug it in. But if you have a mac, you really wouldn't dare to pull any part out and plug a new one coz it might not boot.

2. I have my favorite 5 button mouse. And I like it very much.

3. It value factor. If you have 1500, you can get a good machine that can let you work in 2D. But if you get a power mac, you certainly run out of budget.

But if we really looking for stability go for mac coz you certainly know for sure you can trust on it. You won't doubt it at all.

If Value vs Performance, certainly is a PC. Just imagine you can get a dual processor machine with lots of HD space, ram and a good gfx with the price of a G5.

I'm just giving out my opinion in a non-bias form. Thanks.

[Inertia]

I remember being told that Mac's were always better for design, although I went in rather unbiased (despite only ever using a PC) and after getting over the initial transition I liked it, I picked up the short cuts alot quicker, but I felt very boxed in, and felt the PC gave me alot more freedom.

I think the only advantage Mac's ever had over PC's were stability back when PC's were primarily run on a Win 95/98 OS, although in my time of using Macs I found they froze an awful lot.

[br1an23]

MAC is awesome in design...
ive tried using MAC in designing when i worked in a printing company.. and it is cool... from hardware to software!

but now... im back to reality.. back to PC...

[Qeffects]

pc for me. i have always used one.
i went for a work placement for 1 week at a graphic design company, the only had macs. so i tried it out and it was just not as user friendly as i thought it was going to be. to be honest i felt it was a bit 'dumbed down'.
i'm actually just about to get a new laptop and i will probably go for the pc, after using the mac for the short period of time that i did i just didn't think it was as good as people say it is. i am pretty biased though, i only did use it for a week an apparently its really easy to get used to. my brother has a mac laptop but i just cant stand the thing.
it looks good, thin, good screen etc but i am another one to add to the list of 'pc users only'.

the upgrade-ability doesnt really bother me as i'm going for laptops only now so its not like i would majorly upgrade anyway except for ram which i can do just as easily in both.

the mac vs pc debate will always go on

[nyxxie]

I can't say that I'd choose mac over pc for graphics, cuz I've never used one!!!!! BUT, I don't think I want to use one anyway, PCs are good for me, I know all about them. A Mac is like an alient to me. However, if I HAD to learn a Mac then I would be totally willing to, if it meant a good job.

[dajma]

I love my pc, I have used it for years now. Macs I used them in school and they were not user friendly. I had the worst luck with macs. Pcs, are more easier to work with. Try both of them and see what you like before you purchase it.

[dzares]

i prefer a pc... but yeah like others i used a mac in school.

[Inertia]

I felt it was a bit 'dumbed down'.

I thought pretty much the same thing, it seemed far to simple.

[IntuitDesign]

I love my G5. Dual processors, 100GB of space, DVD burner. I use both everyday. Basically the differences are minor now. Mac uses Unix now. Math talking directly to the computer as do PCs. PCs tend to show darker graphics. Mac tends to show lighter. Computers have come a long way since I first worked on an Apple IIE!
That's about it.

peace
jc

[iDesigner]

I used to be a PC user since (DOS: Disk Operating System for the younger in here)

I switched to Macs (And it is spelled Mac, not MAC or mac.) Just to clarify that for you all. It's like spelling IBM, ibm, or Ibm.

I've grown sick and tired of the nonsense associated with the Windows Operating System. The keyword here being "Operating" which it clearly is quite innafective at living up to. It's a memory hog; full of security holes; programs written for this non-open system are severely flawed in most cases. It is not something I can use comfortably while running multiple programs at once. Just try downloading, burning, and running Photoshop at the same time on a PC. My 1ghz, 17" powerbook with 1 gig of RAM does quite well thank you.

If you like working on a project and having your OS crash and don't mind losing what you just spent an hour working on, then by all means, use your PC to do design work. I think it's only good for games.

There are a great deal of high quality programs for Macs that are inexpensive that are quite robust at the same time.

Do I have to mention: Spyware, Malware, Adware, Parasites, Trojans, Worms, and other programs that place hidden code on your PC. Internet Explorer is a virus.

Macs don't have any of these problems.

TIGER.

Macs are far superior to PCs as they run the best OS.

[shawngearhart]

I have used both PC and Mac. I HATE PCS! I LOVE Mac! I always say "PC" stands for "Piece of Crap". Mac is so much faster and easier. Go Mac. Once you learn it, you'll love it!

Long live the Mac...

[iDesigner]

I'd like to help in qualifying whta Shawn just stated. PC's are faster. That being said, they also crash many more times than Macs, and are not as fluid to use. This has to do with the OS, not necessaryly the hardware. The Mhz. thing is quite the myth now isn't it? My 1ghz screams along quite well, and I don't even have to turn it off, as I just put it to sleep by closing the lid. I went through two Compaq laptops that burned out from me doing this... why? The processor runs way too hot for one, and they use garbage for the guts of the machine. Dell is notorious for this as well, and just try to get support, which you will need often. You will be routed to an offshore IT service. No thanks.

I like to work and my work-flow cannot be interupted by faulty equipment and inferior operating environments.

The only thing a PC accels in over a Mac? Gaming. You can get gobs of framerates from a PC and there are far more games developed for the shear size of the PC market. We are talking design here though. Do you need to speed through your design? Spend a few hours trouble-shooting your wireless sometime on a PC... I have many stories in this regard.

I just open my Mac, and I'm live... while I see other PC users pulling their hair out trying to get the network to recognize them. If you don't mind this, go ahead, buy the less expensive PC.

[lovethebomb]

i have used both, and for design i would say macs are better. pcs are good for everyday things like email, internet access, etc, but macs win when it comes to design, video editing, photo editing, etc.

[SenterBrands]

macs are made for graphic design... pcs are just a lousy counterpart. I love my new shirt I bought on ebay. it says "Introducing Windows Longhorn..." then it has a graphic of the OSX logo underneath it. LOL gotta love that.

[iDesigner]

I was working on a DELL for a friend, and was running my Mac along side it.

My Mac: 1ghz 17" powerbook.
His DELL: 2.8ghz laptop.

His took longer to startup, shutdown, and to run any application.

I was running Photoshop, Illustrator, Downloading, and Burning a Disc for him at the same time, and it was still faster than his DELL, running 1 program.

When you also add up all his computer's 'seisures' and 'freezes'. The downtime alone justifies buying a Mac over a PC. It's not a matter of speed even... it's a matter of working with a tool that lets you concentrate on the job at hand. Can you imagine using a hammer to put on a roof, but the head comes off every 15 nails, and you have to set it back in and secure it? Or, the handle breaks every 200 nails and you have to replace the handle? Would you use that brand of hammer again?

Me either. I use a Mac for my work, and my PC for play.

[pentool]

Hmmm... well, I've read quite a few comments here with varied personal experiences, which is very interesting. Seems like people like most what they have and got used to. One issue the comments fail to mention is WHY a PC or a Mac is better for design?

The comments are mainly biased - naturally - based on what people own and what they experienced, but none of them really spells out WHY is on better over the other regarding design. Which, in my humble opinion, shows that none is really "better" or "worse" than the other. Both has pros and cons.

Yes, PCs can be slow as hell even if you run only one program, if you allow all junk embed itself in the background process, sucs as never used fax, anti-virus, camera control, picture "taker", this and that "monitoring" processes, DVD/CD burning "watchers", speed "controllers", startup "accelerators", blah blah you name it. If you surf warez and/or porn sites, then yes, you can end up with crap in your system. However, if you have a CLEAN machine, if you don't use warez, don't surf porn sites, then both platforms are fast and runs smooth.

I have seen Macs coming to a halt because of a badly configured network. I've seen Macs crashing Adobe CS apps like crazy. Not to mention, you can put 1500 fonts in the wrong places on a new Mac OS X (if you don't know where to CORRECTLY install your fonts) and you can kiss your Mac's speed good-bye.

On the other hand, regardless where I've worked in the past, I've never seen a Mac opened up sitting on a bench. Only PCs were taken apart with various parts scattered all over.

I wish Mac windows could be resized from any side (just like on the PC); I wish on the Mac, the menu, window, and dialog box items could be freely navigated by the keyboard (just like on the PC - no, I'm not talking about Cmd control commands). I think these are the only 2 issues I really miss on the Macs.

I think people call Macs "better" for design is because: 1: it's a trend, and 2: not enough experience on both platforms. If the software you use has a really good UI (latin for user interface) and you have a really good monitor, then as long as you keep your system free of junk and garbage, they both should run just fine and will make no difference in your design, whether you do design for print, web, or any other interactive media.

Sure, PCs can have more HW related problems because there are so many different manufacturers making so many different quality products in so many parts of the world. Not to mention, you can put together your own PC using mix and match parts of various sorts. Which - needless to say - can introduce conflicts and driver compatibility issues. You don't have this problem with Macs, cuz you can't build your own system so freely.

One thing for sure, I do like the new Mac displays (the new all in one flat monitor thingies). They are really bright, sharp and nice. So if anyone has money to burn and willing to get me a present.... I'm here!

[SenterBrands]

I beg to differ on a trend or not enough experience. i have over 10 years in design and have personally worked on both platfroms daily side by side for various different reasons. I honestly like the mac over the pc because of the side by side comparison of virtually 2 identical machines. At my daily job we have intel pentium 3 pcs on dual 2.0 processors with 3 hard drives equaling 38 gigs of space. Then there are quicksilver macs (g4) single processors with a 40 hard drive running right beside them. mind you both have the exact same amount of programs and ram (2gigs). The mac blows the pc away on a daily basis.