Can a Graphic Designer Leave Apple Behind for Windows?
It’s true, I’ve got a foot in the Apple world and the PC world. Because I’ve worked as an in-house graphic designer for tech companies over the past 6+ years, I’ve spent most of time using a PC to do graphic design work. I’ve found that companies who have a small design staff require their designers to adapt to PC’s so they can interface with the rest of the organization (Microsoft Outlook for meetings is a big one), and so the network guys don’t have to go out of their way to give anyone special treatment.
But now that I’m working from home I have a PC running a AMD Athlon 64 Processor 3800+ 2.4Ghz, 2GB of RAM and Microsoft Windows XP Professional version 2002, and a Apple G4 Dual 1 GHz PowerPC with 1.5 GB RAM running Mac OS 10.4.7. And you know what? I think I prefer the PC. (Big gasp here)
Perhaps it’s my history with Apple which all started with the upgrade I made to my G3 (the pretty blue one). I needed all sorts of attachments to hook my former printers and scanners because their abandonment of Apple Talk. Then when I upgraded to my current G4, Apple switched rebuilt their system completely and I had to replace all my software with OSX compliant software to avoid that nasty “Classic” loader thing that took forever. And now, I’m ready to upgrade design software again, and found the whole “Intel Processor” issue with my Adobe Suite. While I appreciate Apple trying to stay ahead of the game, it seems that it might be worth my money to switch to PC.
Or perhaps it’s just a feeling… the way the clicks work, the keyboard, the mouse… the interface… perhaps it’s only a matter of personal preference? Now Apple allows you to run Windows, which is old news, but it even confuses the issue further in the ongoing MAC vs. PC debate.
So what I’m curious about, is how many graphic designers chose PC as their computer by choice? I know there is this passionate debate about MAC vs. PC, but when you put all the feelings aside, is one better than the other for specific tasks? And what about graphic design tasks, which computer to you prefer? In my opinion, it seems that the PC has caught up in the graphic design world, and now it’s a matter of preference. What are your thoughts?
December 29th, 2006 at 11:01 am
I’m a design student and I use a PC at home, but have to use a Mac at uni. Personally, I don’t think there is too much of a difference, seeing as the programs that are used are the same, but little things about Macs still really annoy me, like how they can’t add a proper 2nd mouse button - anyone whose used the mighty mouse. i’m sure will agree, is not so mighty. But theres only little differences like that.
December 29th, 2006 at 11:37 am
I tend to agree with what you said about PCs and MACs being similar… it seems that the differences that they once exhibited are no longer relevant, and now it’s just down to personal preference. On my MAC at home, I’ve switched my standard mouse for a two button mouse, but it seems that all the functionality of a “right click” still hasn’t been implemented by Apple. And to believe that I was once a hard core believer of the simplicity of the one click mouse!
January 14th, 2007 at 3:24 pm
Nikesh:
MacOS has supported two-button mice since the 90s. Just plug in any you prefer.
I should note that I’ve never actually needed the second mouse button when using a Mac. Everything is either right there on the toolbar or up in the menubar. I believe that’s a sign of superior interface design, but your opinion may vary.
February 28th, 2007 at 11:58 pm
Apple will release Leopard in a month or so. When they do, you should compare it to Vista, since those will be the operating systems to work with over the next 3-4 years. However, since Apple uses Intel processors, as you noted, which allows a Mac to run Windows/Vista natively (not the same as VirtualPC, in fact I’m typing this on FireFox on Windows XP on a MacBook Pro - thanks Parallels!.), and since Apple hardware is leaps and bounds ahead of all other hardware manufacturers in design (and I’m not talking about looks), just buy a MacBook Pro, run whatever OS you want and be one happy guy.
Sean
April 9th, 2007 at 5:53 pm
Firstly, thanks Brad for linking your site to my blog. I’ve had some traffic recently because of the link. I appreciate it.
I’ve been a Mac man for many years (since the Macintosh was first introduced), and for that reason I suppose I’m biased to Macs. The bottom line is that I prefer Macs for their stability and their user-friendliness. I feel like I’ve had pretty good luck with Macs so far, and switching to a PC plaform is not, for me, an option at this point. If, or more likely when, I eventually add Windows to my world it’ll be on a Macintosh (probably a Laptop). I’m not suggesting that there aren’t problems with Mac’s. Macs are machines, and by virtue of that fact are going to have problems from time to time. I’ve had my beefs with Mac in the past/present, but over the years I’ve heard most of my friends (who are mostly PCers) complain bitterly about their computers, operating systems, system crashes, viruses, etc. and wishing that there was a better option. I just smile and nod consolingly– and occassionally I mention Macs as an alternative. The two biggest reasons I get for not switching over is 1) the investment they’ve made in their PC’s. They’ve poured thousands of dollars into software, hardware, etc. and just can’t stomach switching over to a new system and essentially starting over. And 2) they don’t want to have to learn a new OS. They’re familiar with Windows XP, they know the shortcuts, and where the menus will lead them, and they don’t want to have to learn a new system.
I know there are many that would never consciously sell their PC’s and buy a Mac, or even take one if it was given to them as a gift, but I’m sold.