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Subject: Mac or PC??????

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slfranklin
Posts:17

03/08/2008 3:21 PM	Alert
I am ready to purchase a new computer. I'm currently using a Dell but would like to experiment with PhotoShop and was wondering if the program would work better on a Mac or just as well on a Dell. Any input would be very helpful. Thanks everyone! Sally

1Painter42
Posts:156

03/09/2008 4:23 PM	Alert
Adobe programs work pretty well on both pc and mac, provided you have the memory. We have both at work, but always prefer to use the macs because they are faster, but that may be because they upgraded our macs more recently than our pc's. I myself have a definite Mac bias, having been a Mac user since I first started my graphic design classes and adobe programs were only mac programs (that was a few years ago) I think Macs work better than PC's in general, and have an iMac at home that I use for all my graphic work, for scanning and manipulation of photos, and for updating my website. (plus my iTunes) The mac I have now is about 3 years old, and I have no desire to get a new one yet, because it still works great! Someone at work did tell me their brother bought a mac to run windows vista on, because it worked better than the pc. You should get whatever you are comfortable with, but... once you go mac, you'll never go back!

Justine www.remingtoncreations.com

slfranklin
Posts:17

03/09/2008 10:43 PM	Alert
Thanks so much for your advice. Sally

Wy Guy
Posts:6

03/10/2008 6:35 PM	Alert
Hi Sally: I don't know about memory requirements on the Mac, but in the Intel environment Photoshop does use a lot of memory. However in the regular 32 bit computer, it will only be able to use 2 GB of memory. If you have a machine with 4 GB of memory (the max in a 32 bit machine), there will be some memory that it can't use after the operating system takes what it needs. I ran Photoshop CS2 on a 32 bit Dell workstation with 1 GB of memory. I often need to have a number of images open at the same time. Opening the first two digital camera images (10 or 12 megapixels) was okay, but things really began to bog down on the third image. Opening a fourth was unacceptably slow. It would have helped to add another GB of memory, but I'm not sure how much. When I upgraded to a new computer (and CS3) I chose to get a 64 bit based machine with the 64 bit version of Windows XP and 8 GB of memory. With the 64 bit system, Photoshop can use up to 3 GB of memory. This machine easily handles 10 or 12 images open at the same time (and backing up files in the background, disk reorganization, etc). If you go with an Intel based 32 bit computer, I suggest you get 2 to 3 GB of memory, but I don't believe that 4 GB is worthwhile unless you are letting the computer do a bunch of other stuff at the same time. Photoshop won't be able to use more than that 2 GB. Regards, Jim

slfranklin
Posts:17

03/13/2008 9:28 AM	Alert
Thanks Jim, It's an investment, so I want all the advice that I can get. Sally

culmbc
Posts:4

03/14/2008 4:43 PM	Alert
Absolutely Mac. I got a Mac Mini a few years ago and absolutely love it......will never go back to PC

Wy Guy
Posts:6

03/15/2008 6:07 PM	Alert
Hi Again Sally: One thing that has not been mentioned in replies so far is software availablility. There is a much wider range of software available for the PC than there is for the Mac. However, the Mac has some niche applications where it is thought of as superior (e.g. desk top publishing). You will need to know (or make a best guess) as to all the software you might likely use and then find out if this is available for both the Mac and PC. If not all of it is available for the Mac, you will either want to get a PC or get the Intel chipped version of the Mac and also get one of the two versions of software that allow you to also use the Windows operating system on the Mac. If you have other software needs not compatible with the Mac OS, you should talk with other users or the manufacturer to find out how that software operates on the Intel Mac under Windows. Good Luck, Jim

wkozier
Posts:2

04/19/2008 8:17 PM	Alert
Is the Artist's network programed to work with all Mac systems? I'm having a problem adding a pix from my desktop. Advise. walt

Grace Dobush
Posts:34

04/24/2008 8:46 AM	Alert
Is the Artist's network programed to work with all Mac systems? I'm having a problem adding a pix from my desktop. Advise. walt We actually work on Macs here at The Artist's Magazine/ArtistsNetwork, so it's unlikely to be a compatibility problem! Make sure your file isn't too big—there's a size limit of 100 KB. Try saving a version as a lower resolution for web use in a photo editing program. (The FAQ on uploading photos is here: http://forum.artistsnetwork.com/Home/tabid/53/forumid/16/postid/10033/view/topic/Default.aspx )

Kassie

Posts:140

05/01/2008 7:38 PM	Alert
I began my graphic arts career doing typesetting. When I switched to design I worked on both PC and Mac. I found the Mac easier. I also liked the Option button on the keyboard for accessing things like ¢ cents. ® resgister mark and other neat little things. Another thing you might want to be aware of, depending on the program you are using, when you want to reduce a photo adjust the dpi down to 60 instead of the suggested 72. Sometimes the jargon used can throw you. Kassie

BarryKeller

Posts:52

05/14/2008 2:06 PM	Alert
I have a real bias for PCs. Anything you purchase for a Mac will be more expensive, not because it is better, but because there are less users (and therefore a smaller market from which to garner a profit) and much of the time there is only a single source for hardware. On the plus side you will get less viruses on Macs because who wants to infect 10% of the market when you can infect 90%? Compatibility between releases of the Mac OS however is spotty at best, requiring you to boot multiple versions of the OS to support different releases of hardware and software. My stepson has a Mac and really wishes he didn't. He has to have four separate versions of the OS to have all of his hardware/software working. I think that is a nightmare anyone should try to avoid. On the other hand, I can't think of a single piece of hardware or software written for Windows that will not run on XP and I have never had to support multiple Windows OSs to run what I own, no matter how old it is. My two cents. -Barry

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