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synthwar

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Sep 2, 2003
1
0
Ok I'm new and this looked like the best area to post about graphics, so I'm really sorry if I should have posted in another area. Anyways I know why macs are better then pc's and those type of general knowledge things. I'm going into graphic design and thinking about it as my major and career. What I hear is that macs are much better especially for graphics and things of that sort then pc's, and I'm curious as to the reasons why it is. Thanks in advance.
 
My Reason's

I think as soon as you walk up to a mac you notice how incredible the screen is. Even the original macs were known for their screen quality. I'm sure it is some technical stuff that has to do with the resolution of the lcd, but im a designer, not a computer engineer.

Also I really enjoy the interface, it is something about using an interface that focuses on asthetics that makes the whole design process better. Pulling up illustrator with OS X pin stripes instead of windows grey is a huge difference.

The dock is really nice to minimize work and then hide it so as not to clutter your work area.

I think it is easier to save and maintain large groups of files for one project.

The mac just looks beautiful, it honestly inspires as opposed to the utilitarian pc world.

Unlike other areas, there are no major design programs that are not on the mac. The mac may not have every business program, but you can be sure that it has every graphic program.

Last, and Most importantly. It just works. Everything is so integrated and easy to use. You don't have things crashing every five minutes. The mac takes all the hassle out of using a computer so you don't spend an hour out of your design time worrying about why your computer isn't working.
 
in most ways i agree.

I am a graphic Designer
i just sold my PC two weeks ago and now im patiently waiting for my g5 to show up.. (1.6)

other then Macs Looking nicer.

i believe graphics and macs go hand in hand.. because desktop publishing and Mac computers came to the mac first. and since they have become something of a standard.

before it use to be an issue of fonts.. since most printer fonts were postscript and windows.. had trouble using them.

fonts are not as big of an issue now.. as opentype and truetype are cross platform.

A PC can do everything a Mac can do. sometimes faster.

but a mac will keep you working when a pc will give you a headache. i think it comes down to consistency and reliability

also the industry has been built around macs.. so if you give your files to a print shop.. they will likely run macs. and be able to accept your file with less hassel then if you run a pc.


also they will take you more seriously as a designer if you use a mac. and so will your clients

it sounds silly.. but its true

also on the comment of screen quality.. its not exactly screen quality.. but apple does make exceptional LCD's. if you take a PC monitor and connect it to a mac it will just look differnt. everything seems to look sharper from a mac. use to be that macs did antialias the text on screen and it just looks sharp.
whereas windows smoothed all the text and everything was slightly blurry. not sure if that is still the case..

macs do have much better colour accuracy then pc's outa the box.
i find that they render colour much better on screen then a pc.

just my 2 cents



sorry if im babbleing..
but sometimes its hard to explain why.. you just have to use one for a while and you will realize why.. youself
 
-synthwar

Here's annother piece. If you are looking into print, this will be critical. The Pantone color system is designed for use on Macs. In fact intel chips have historically been incompatible with the Pantone system, and I beleive this remains true - they can only simulate the system.
 
and now here's my 2 cents.....


....if you can only afford or have a PC, then I believe you should use it. Two positive things can happen. You'll be able to learn the software needed for our industry. The big three being Photoshop, Illustrator and Quark. All of them are cross-platform compatible. The other thing is that it will hopefully allow you to earn enough money to eventually buy a Mac.<smile>

Seriously, though one main reason to deal with Mac is that anywhere you go 8 out of 10 places use Macs and although you'll have a leg up on knowing the applications needed, you might find it a little difficult to navigate.

I've always been a person that will use what works best to get the job done and in this case the Mac is the hands down winner.

Also, although it is hard to believe, yes you will be take more seriously if you work on a Mac. Why...I don't know, I guess it's equivalent to the Business world. If you use a Mac in a Corporate environment to do anything other than Design then you're not taken seriously. I believe that's a good example???


~e
 
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