MOVING AWAY FROM MACS
Sensamic,
I switched to Macs about 11 years ago for video editing, art, photography, graphic design, and a little animation: G5, Mac Pro, MacBooks over the years. Reluctantly I have finally given up on Apple. Since I mostly work in Adobe, having moved on from Final Cut Studio, it shouldn't be too bad. I might continue with MacBook Pros but not until they have a 32GB RAM option. I need a hard core desktop for work.
DISAPPOINTMENTS:
I have been disappointed with Apple's desktops, displays, software, latest laptops, and OS updates in the past few years. Adobe is geared for NVIDIA and Macs are focused on AMD. FCPX can perform amazingly on the latest hardware but I rely on so much of the Adobe suite that Premiere is a better fit for me. Adobe has its issues but I don't question their commitment to meeting the needs of content creators long term.
Apple keeps stripping out the little useful things from the OS for no apparent reason to me. I depended on color tabs for quickly organizing files and the way spaces used to allow desktop grids really helped me as I frequently have 6 or 7 apps open at once. I have been able to salvage some of these things with Pathfinder but I am still peeved and always worried about what they will arbitrarily remove next. iTunes went from being useful to useless. Calendar hasn't improved much for me, etc. That said, I'd still probably prefer it to Windows 10 but most of the time I will be in an Adobe interface so I can probably live with it.
NEEDS:
4K video production has become an everyday reality for me so that drives my need for greater and more cost-effective horsepower.
SOME OPTIONS:
Linux: I'm not a programmer. So no.
Hackintosh: It's tempting to try to marry the best of both worlds. I had some bad experiences with these things when Apple switched to intel years ago. I hear they're much more stable now. It may be a valid option for some but in a professional workflow, one can't afford to tell a client the project is offline and off schedule because your Hackintosh broke due to an OS update. If I built a Hackintosh it would have to be a second computer.
The Surface Studio: Looks great and I am tempted to go that route. It is certainly more intriguing than anything Apple has put out in a while for creative computing. However, the upgradability seems akin to an iMac and if I'm going to go PC, I'M not sure I want to lose out on its biggest virtue: expandibility.
I already use Wacom tablets and if I want the touch / pen interface, I can still go with a Cintiq although this is much more costly. If all I did was graphic arts I might well go with the Surface Studio but since I spend a bit more time doing video, I think I will go for a custom PC. But I may try to find a Surface Studio and play with it in person before deciding.
CUSTOM PC BUILD: 4K video editing, After Effects, Lightroom, Photoshop, Sketch Up, Maya?
A PC friend helped me put together this price/component list. This machine should last at least 4 years.
CPU: i7 6900 / 3.2 GHz / 8 core (Might wait for Broadwell E): $1100
Motherboard: Asus X99 Deluxe 2 / USB C: $400
GPU: EVGA GTX 1080 / superclocked: $640. Will eventually add another.
or Titan X
RAM: G.Skill Ripjaws DDR4: 32GB, 64 GB, eventually 128 GB: $190, $400, $700
Thunderbolt 3 PCI card: $65
Sound Card: ?
Case: Phanteks Enthoo Pro ATX Full tower: $110
Liquid CPU Cooler: NZXT Kraken X61: $120
PSU: 80+ Platinum: EVGA Supernova 1000W / Full modular ATX
PCI SSD: Boot Drive: 512 GB M2 slot: Samsung 960 Pro: $330
PCI SSD: U2 slot: Media cache drive: 512 GB Samsung 960 Pro: $330
PCI SSD: U2 slot: 1TB: Art/Photo online projects drive: $630
Keyboard: $40
OS: Windows 10 Home/Pro: $130/$199
Monitor: Doesn't matter since I won't have any money left over anyway.
Base Costt: $3935
Upgrade Cost: $4894
Maxed Out: $6753 (Titan X GPU, 128GB RAM)
COST BENEFITS
PC Workstations aren't any less costly out of pocket than Mac Workstations when it comes to video editing but they can stay relevant longer. With a build as you go strategy, you don't have to kill yourself cash-flow wise and can take advantage of falling component prices over time. Still might have to rob a liquor store though.
AESTHETICS
One way to escape the hideousness of PCs is a bit of custom craftmanship.
Custom PCs are a sounder economic value if not aesthetic value, unless you are ready to step up and become the poorman's Jony Ive. Or you can, as Frank Sinatra would say, (by way of Phil Hartman) 'Just put a bag over your PC and do your business.'
