Just starting out ... What would you choose?

[zeta123]

If you were to start from scratch knowing what you know now as a website designer, would you choose a MAC over a PC and what would the "must have" applications be (Frontpage, Dreamweaver, What graphics apps, etc .)

[FlyByProgrammer]

I've done everything on the pc and have had no complaints. I really couldn't tell you the differences between a mac and pc coding wise. In terms of software, I suggest finding some good tutorials and using notepad to start off. It's slower than jumping into some suped up software, but you'll learn more and you'll learn faster. Once you have a grip on html, try expanding to css, dhtml, and javascript. But for a software, I definitely recomend notepad. I still use it to program a lot of the time. For graphics I use adobe photoshop. It's good software but definitely takes time to learn how to use.

[Compguy Pete]

Mac or PC -

Well this is a hard choice... If I was to do it over again I would still stay with PC. I have tought web design on both, and PC is still easier for most people to learn.

1. PC's are cheaper you can get 2-3 times the PC for the cost of a Mac.
2. File compatablity... We'll this one is harder however once you learn how to move files back and forth this issue no longer means anything.
3. Options, Options, Options! The PC has many more options for quicker and cheaper upgrades on hardware. In most markets you have to mail-order upgrades or addons.
4. Standard Software - Cost is really the same for both.

Software to buy -

Dreamweaver is hands down what you need to develop website. it can be very WYSIWYG for the newbie and is powerful enough to give the hardcoder the tools he/she needs to get the job done.

Photoshop - In most cases the price tag is out of the limits of most startups so I recommend getting Photoshop LE. Photoshop LE has exactly what you need to do graphics for websites and a little of what you need for doing print work. For a cost of around $100.00 it cannot be beat.

FrontPage - Well it comes with most of your versions of MS Office, I have seen some very nice sites with FP and I have seen others that scream HELP ME... The problem is not the program it's the designer. I have been forced to use FP for one of my clients based on Hosting requirements. So I'll create the site in Dreamweaver then import it into FP, upload it and then edits are done though FP. It works what can I say...

Operating on a PC gives you a lot of other shareware and other apps that just havent been brought over to the mac. In many circles the Mac is considered better for Print Production and the PC for Web Production. Issues like Color are no longer an issue and haven't been for years, since teh introduction of Windows 95. Programs like Photoshop were no where near the quality back in the Windows 3.1 days.

[starrwriter]

Originally posted by zeta123
If you were to start from scratch knowing what you know now as a website designer, would you choose a MAC over a PC and what would the "must have" applications be (Frontpage, Dreamweaver, What graphics apps, etc .)

I would use:
PC -- Much more software available
Namo WebEditor -- better than Dreamweaver and much cheaper.
Real-DrawPRO instead of Photoshop or Fireworks -- much cheaper and easier to use.
Two small apps for design shortcuts: Web Page Builder Toolkit and HappyLad Image Mapper.

[DaveSW]

And if I were to start again I'd go straight for html-kit (www.chami.com) because it's free, and probably psp8 for graphics. For Flash I'd still use www.koolmoves.com because it's far easier to use. Unless I had lots of money of course. In which case I'd stick with html-kit but get a copy of photoshop and maybe flash.

[pyro]

I would stick with Dreamweaver, as it has excellent PHP support (including code hints). For graphics, I'd use Photoshop and maybe Fireworks. Also, for flash, I'd probably just stick with Flash MX. It does have a fairly steep learning curve, but you can start simple and work up...

[Dark Dragon]

I too have utilized both the PC and Mac...and I choose the PC as well.

Like it was mentioned earlier, PC's are easier to learn and are WAY better with the memory management.

When I used Macs in college..I frequently ran out of memory even though thee were empty blocks from previous applications.

The File system is easier to maintain too.

And I would have both DreamWeaver and GoLive, Flash, Photoshop and FireWorks...all great programs.

[Daot Lagorille]

Leaping into a thread like this one is risky at best, as some of the nicest people I have known have perished in the eternal damnation that is the dreaded "Mac vs. PC" debate.

To hell with that, I say.

I also say that I too have "crossed platforms" and have found that the bottom line is this:

IF you are planning on creating any database-based (how is one supposed to say that, anyway? In my line of work, I am constantly forced to talk about these things, and have used everything from "database-web-applications" to "database-driven web site". What the hell? Am I going crazy? Am I making a mountain out of the proverbial "syntax error"? What is a poor sap like me to do, I ask? Please help...soon) web sites/applications, it is WAY easier to use PC.

I'll say that again:

It is WAY easier to use PC.

The reason for this is as follows:

It just is. Actually, the real reason is because that is what I learned on. No, the actual reason is that it is infinitely easier to install and run database servers and web servers for testing on your local machine than it is on Mac, and you will find that this helps immensely while you are designing you super-databased-blinged out ****.

If you are making plain old HTML web sites, then, in my moderately well-informed, yet surprisingly fragmented opinion, it just doesn't matter.

Just like in Meatballs, remember?

"It just doesn't matter.
It just doesn't matter.
It just doesn't matter.
It just doesn't matter.
It

*is banned from forum*

[FlyByProgrammer]

^^^ Someone give this guy a medal ^^^