Why macs for graphics?

[pk]

Wow! Way to go! Too much fun!

(You are aware, of course, that you can get different results favouring either platform depending on the software and the tests, yes?
http://www.digitalvideoediting.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=32620-1&afterinter=true)

I go for the most common software packages, three of them to be exact, and the most common tests (i.e. what the clients usually like).

I also test with Reason - how many breakbeats can they run at the same time before the sound goes all sluured and minced-up.

It's a bit like Jenga with snippets of James Brown instead of lumps of wood.

It's what I like to do in my spare time at work (when not here of course).

A bit like cock-fighting without all the claws and mess and noise.

You should try it - very therapeautic.

 

[jæd]

One day a thread like this will end without descending into a tedious PC v Mac geekathon.

Editor has told it like it is. Industry-standard apps are available on both platforms, PCs and Macs will very soon all run on the same hardware, the file formats are interchangeable, therefore the hardware choice is it's purely down to personal preference and has no real bearing on creating graphics.

Yep, but as the Editor has pointed out before, Macs tend to be more secure and less open to viruses...

 

[pk]

Can we have an Apple Mac forum, Editor?

*scarpers out of here before the ban button gets unleashed*

 

[dennisr]

My two-penaths worth (as a mac based dtp operator..)

As others have said - for most uses there is not much in it as far as i can see - don't really know about video editing (but it seems a pretty equal playing field) and for website stuff - i think pcs have many advantages. For print design though i still use Macs - more compatability with the equipment the printers themselves have generally which is still important although with pdfs this is becoming less so. Also the best of the speciaised progs (ie font management, barcodes or similer) I need for this type of work still seem to be mac-based. But that my impression.

As for compatability - the impression I get is that Macs have to be able to read most formats (being the underdog in terms of numbers) wheras windows computers seem to have endless problems with certain format files - thats a big advantage (if true ... its just my impression) when dealing with loads of customers who don't have a clue what they are sending for you to lay out. A lot of logos and similer also arrive in mac progrmme formats anyway - as other designers tend to use Macs. The big pain is typefaces - not a major problem for web based graphics but a huge one for print. With the advent of the new cross platform typefaces this is becoming less of a problem though.

So - for dtp I'd stick to Macs - the other deciding factor (other than cost) has got to be the platform that the friends you are going to call on when the computer goes down are familier with. If PC engineers charge the earth, Mac engineers charge the earth and the moon. I maintain my own computers though and find Macs easier to deal with in that respect. I find macs easier to use but thats my experience.

 

[cybertect]

If PC engineers charge the earth, Mac engineers charge the earth and the moon.

Damn! I knew I was selling myself too cheap when I was a freelancing Mac troubleshooter

 

[editor]

Yep, but as the Editor has pointed out before, Macs tend to be more secure and less open to viruses...

And as the Editor has pointed out before, they cost a lot more and there's less choice of hardware/software.

 

[Iam]

And in the blue corner...

*scarpers*

 

[editor]

You should try it - very therapeautic.

And the list of more interesting things I could do with my time stretches off into infinity...

 

[cybertect]

Macs tend to be ... less open to viruses...

there's less choice of ... software.

Same thing, really

 

[Gerry1time]

ach, didn't mean to start a battle! pretty mental people fighting over (sort of the subject of) my girlfriend though...

for what it's worth, i'm typin this on my work mac in the living room, but could just as easily be typing from my pc upstairs. Using both daily i can't decide between the two, both have pluses and minuses, hence asking in a way.

As i said, think she'll go with a pc, just for cost, and the fact that she knows them better than macs at the moment. On the maintenance point, hadn't thought of that, ta. I only know how to fix pcs really though, so that helps confirm pc.

anyway, ta for advice all, glad to know she's probably sorted either way (no intention of doing any video work whatever by the way, she's an illustrator), shall go surf ebay...

 

[e-fluent]

Graphics uses the latest hardware so Apple can fleece early adopters.

 

[twist]

Yep, but as the Editor has pointed out before, Macs tend to be more secure and less open to viruses...

It is arguably better to know that you are naked and take some sensible precautions than to believe you are adequately clothed and die of hypothermia.

Sometimes, the security argument is defeated by other factors, and the sooner you stop flogging that horse the sooner you will become an effective Mac advocate.



Now, about why my system of choice id the one everybody must use ...

 

[netbob]

I do a fair bit of design stuff and have always used windows (with a brief flirtation with linux).

One thing to bare in mind is the cost of software. Illustrator and photoshop arent cheap and it can be easier to 'find' software for PCs.

 

[Zaskar]

I do a fair bit of design stuff and have always used windows (with a brief flirtation with linux).

One thing to bare in mind is the cost of software. Illustrator and photoshop arent cheap and it can be easier to 'find' software for PCs.

Quite a lot of mac software is easy to 'find' too in my expirience.

 

[cybertect]

Hmm. I think we're talking about this in the context of someone who's using this software to make money.

Not that any software publishers would agree with it in any situation, while Warez might be acceptable in the context of 'trying it out' or being an occasional user ( the "I was never going to pay for it anyway" argument)

a) if you ever get a visit from the Federation Against Software Theft, you're likely to end up paying many times over for it. Courts take a very dim view of this kind of behaviour.

I do seem to recall Maxwell's late European newspaper being caught with their pants down after a FAST audit discovered they had 200 unlicensed copies of Quark Xpress installed on their Macs.

b) you're in ethical doo-doo if you're using Warez professionally, particularly if you're someone who relies on copyright on your own work to generate your income.



Basing your choice of platform on the availability of cracked copies of commercial software is a fool's game, IMO.

 

[editor]

Graphic designers looking to buy a new Intel Mac should note that Photoshop CS2 will run at greatly reduced speeds and that there is zero prospect of an Intel-optimised version of the application appearing - you'll have to wait until CS3 is released, and that could be up to a year away.

http://blogs.adobe.com/scottbyer/2006/03/macintosh_and_t.html

 

[jæd]

Graphic designers looking to buy a new Intel Mac should note that Photoshop CS2 will run at greatly reduced speeds and that there is zero prospect of an Intel-optimised version of the application appearing - you'll have to wait until CS3 is released, and that could be up to a year away.

http://blogs.adobe.com/scottbyer/2006/03/macintosh_and_t.html

Yep, but now you can install the Windows version in the mean time...

 

[zenie]

Yep, but now you can install the Windows version in the mean time...

I don’t think it will make a difference whether you use the PC or mac copy of CS2 it will still run slow won’t it?

 

[Iam]

Yeah, but on the Mac you'll be able to run other applications at the same time, too.

 

[editor]

Yeah, but on the Mac you'll be able to run other applications at the same time, too.

What a silly boy.

 

[Iam]

What a silly boy.

Aww, bless.

 

[editor]

Aww, bless.

Any chance of you contributing anything remotely useful and on topic here?

No?

 

[jæd]

I don’t think it will make a difference whether you use the PC or mac copy of CS2 it will still run slow won’t it?

Apparently the Mac Book is the best laptop to run Windows Xp (http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/03/22/mac_fastest_core_duo_laptop/) so it'll probably run blazingly fast...

 

[Iam]

Any chance of you contributing anything remotely useful and on topic here?

No?

Any chance of you giving up your pretence at supposed disinterest in the PC vs. Macs debate?

No?

 

[FridgeMagnet]

Apparently the Mac Book is the best laptop to run Windows Xp (http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/03/22/mac_fastest_core_duo_laptop/) so it'll probably run blazingly fast...

http://joyoftech.com/joyoftech/joyarchives/802.html

 

[editor]

Any chance of you giving up your pretence at supposed disinterest in the PC vs. Macs debate?

I posted up a piece of information that was highly relevant and, I'd imagine, rather useful for anyone considering buying a Mac for graphics right now.

You've just posted up pointless shit.

 

[Iam]

Jeez. It's really worth this, eh?

Well, you have my sincerest apologies.