Help! PC or Mac

[dannot]

I'm sort of a noobie. Sort of because I developed my first site around 1995 and quickly moved away from "hands on" Web development to a broader role in marketing communications. I need to get back into the hands-on aspect quickly but have questions about which direction to go. I've seen threads about PC vs. Mac that are about a year old but alot has happened in the past year and I'm looking for the current perspective. Most of my experience is with PCs, I have done some Website maintenance using a G5 but the few sites I developed were with straight HTML (no tools) on the PC.

I need to invest in Adobe CS2 and a system that can handle it. Since there are performance issues with Adobe on the new Intel-based Macs with no specific date from Adobe regarding Universal Binary, should I just go with a new PC? Does anyone have any "real world" experience with development on the new Macs? Are the performance issues being exagerated? Adobe's standard response is that they don't support running CS2 on the new Macs... I don't have any preference but admittedly would like to get more experience on Macs but, more importantly, need to learn the software...

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[bathurst_guy]

Absolutely definately get a Mac. I have CS2 running on my Intel MacBook with no problems - expect it is a little slower to load at startup (> 1 minute first time, if you quit and reopen about 20-30sec); otherwise not a hitch. Oh - Photoshop CS3 Beta is available for download and it is faster to load (< 10 seconds - Faster than my PC!) So there is definately light at the end of the tunnel.

This is how I think about it: Mac can run Windows. Windows cannot run Mac.

Buy a Mac. If you don't like the OS install BootCamp and Windows on a partition or even through Parallels.

[bathurst_guy]

BTW, thank you. You have inspired me to write an article comparing todays OSX v XP

[MrMJS]

Hello,
My wife and I both use Photoshop CS2 and Studio 8. She has a 20" iMac with 2Gig of ram, I use a PC which I built and my PC runs all over her Mac. We've done speed tests with filters and my PC will finish well over a minute faster.

a power Mac will cost you over $3000 and I could build a super nice PC for $3000.

I never have any trouble with my PC either.. though I didnt build it myself with a true version of Windows XP Pro.

good luck with what ever you decide to do.

[bathurst_guy]

Which chip do you have MrMJS?

[bathurst_guy]

long but detailed article (http://66.160.136.31/MACvsPC/websitePDFs/MACvsPCCombined.pdf)

[russell]

...

[drhowarddrfine]

MrMJS is comparing hardware but, when you are trying to compare a PC to a Mac, I think you are comparing OSX to XP and hardware performance is a secondary question.

[MrMJS]

MrMJS is comparing hardware but, when you are trying to compare a PC to a Mac, I think you are comparing OSX to XP and hardware performance is a secondary question.

This is true but XP is going on 5 years old. I think they are both a good OS and it really comes down to personal preference. One thing I do like about my wifes Mac is all the fonts it comes with, other then that I hate the thing but its mostly because Im so used to my PC.

I wont buy a PC again though, I'll alway build my own. I think you get a much better machine that way... HP, Dell, Gateway they all load their PC's full of proprietary software and junk parts, though the higher end Dells are nice I'm sure but they still have a hacked version of windows and they don't even give you a restore disc ( some do though ). think about what else you will be using the PC/Mac for and think about software.

also, I just ran Photoshop CS2 and it took 15 seconds to load from a fresh start. I've used CS2, Dreamweaver 8 and Flash 8 on both computers and they are the same on both.

[dannot]

BTW, thank you. You have inspired me to write an article comparing todays OSX v XP

I'll keep an eye out for your article. I went to the Apple Store and spoke with someone who is currently using CS2 on a MacIntel without significant performance issues. I'm definately leaning toward the Mac. It will provide me with additional knowledge and fodder for my resume.

[drallab]

It all depends on what you are going to use the computer for...

I have used both a MAC and PC and both have their highs and lows.

If you are going to do alot of graphic work, then I would go with the MAC because in my experience, a MAC handles graphics better than a PC when it comes to editing them, especially with Photoshop.

If you are going to do alot of programming, I would suggest a PC.

I do use Photohsop 7.0 on a PC now, but that is only because I am a programmer and don't have access to a MAC with PS. I have also found in my experience that PS 7.0 is better than CS and CS2. PS does run fine on a PC, but I would rather have it on a MAC.

If you've seen the MAC/PC commercials, that pretty much says it all. MACs are good with graphics/videos/etc, basically eye candy and PCs are good with things like programming and development.

Yes, the hardware does make a difference, but hardware can be upgraded to your specific needs.

It all boils down to what you're going to use it for.... And if a PC, build one, it will be cheaper. :)

[MrMJS]

If you are going to do alot of graphic work, then I would go with the MAC because in my experience, a MAC handles graphics better than a PC when it comes to editing them, especially with Photoshop.


I was wondering if you could explain this better please. do you mean from a hardware point of view or a OS point of view? other then a few keyboard commands I haven't really noticed a difference.

[netbuddy]

ZX81

or

Failing that, the processor board from a vending machine.

In terms of level of support, a PC.
Mac has limited software and hardware support although people are becoming more aware that theirs an alternative to Windows, what they now have to understand is that you DONT have to change platform just to change OS, PC's will support many different operating systems that a Mac wont.

So what do you wnat to do today?

[sickskiier346]

What are the pro's and con's of both Mac's and PC's?

[drhowarddrfine]

I've hardly ever used a Mac but I've worked at a lot of graphics companies. Particularly, Silicon Graphics and Pixar, along with several advertising houses. For whatever reason, Macs are everywhere and used for everything; by the thousands in SGI's case. Since the Mac is virtually the only computer used in such situations (from what I've seen) I would assume there is some advantage to its use and that's all I have to say about that, Forrest.