I want someone to tell me once and for all, what specifically are the graphics advantages of Mac vs PC?? My artist swears by mac, but we are a PC based company, mostly because back when we started, PC was the big dog in sign software. I know that MAC based sign software has really grown popular as of late. I'm sure this has been covered in this forum, but I am a newby to this site.
""Good judgment comes from experience; and a lot of that comes from bad judgment" - Will Rogers Posts: 3485 | From: Beautiful Newaygo, Michigan | Registered: Mar 2003
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hit your search button, & you will have plenty of intelligent & informative commentary on this topic to keep yourself busy while you wait to get more responses here.
I asked that question my self a year an a half ago, & was very impressed by the information that came forth.
I have worked on both platforms for several years. The main thing you have to keep in mind is that a computer is a tool - and you or your designer has to be comfortable using (and fixing/troubleshooting) it. The second thing you have to consider when comparing apples to pc's or oranges or whatever, is that apples are made by apple, and pc's are made by everyone, including my brother. Windows XP is extremely stable and it looks like Apple has worked out most of the issues with X. As far as PC manufacturers are concerned, I have had great experience with Dell over the years.
As far as your designer - if he/she feels more comfortable on a Mac... get 'em a Mac. Happy workers make happy work. While you are at it, throw in a nice Herman Miller chair as well.
But if your designer starts to talk to the computer and take it out to dinner... it has gone too far and may be time to look for a new designer.
Good luck,
Marty
-------------------- Marty Engel Berkley, MI Hill Mountain Signworks LLC
marty@hillmountain.com 248-890-8265 Posts: 58 | From: Berkley, MI | Registered: Dec 2002
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at one time the apple (mac) was the choice for graphics work. But the point of which is faster or "better" has become rather mute. All the graphics apps that used to be only available on the mac are available on the pc. also local support for the apple can be a pain. I know the closest place to me that still carries and services macs is almost an hour away. then there is cost. the initial cost of having a mac over the pc has dropped considerably, but it is still higher.
I use all pc's in my shop. the two main design stations run windows 2000, it is very stable. Not like the days when win95 was first introduced. But I still find the need, on occasion to have access to a "real" macintosh. I found a great mac emulator that is free runs very stable under win2000 and runs all the native macs apps that I need access to sometimes.
Here's some screen shots of the BasiliskII mac emulator.
startup
adobe illustrator 6.0
it will only run an older version of the mac OS, I think up to 8. This does limit the applications you could use somewhat. Make sure to read all the info about the emulator before you think it is just a simple install. Some knoweldge of the of both platforms is needed for an easier setup. here's a link to the port of this emu for the pc BasiliskII Mac Emulator
-------------------- Trevor Cluck cluck's deSiGN studio rear 105 E. Middle St. Gettysburg, PA 17325 Posts: 14 | From: Gettysburg PA | Registered: Mar 2003
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It's a matter of preference, but most (75-85%) of graphic design is still done on Macs, at the sign shop level it's probably 75% PC. I learned on a PC, but use both, I prefer Mac, with the files I work with Mac is more stable-IMHO. Mac were there in the beginning but (I have a Mac Classic that someone gave me with a card and a 4B that gathers dust) but with the major companies like Gerber using the PC format in the beginning, and Apples lack of interest or support in the signage industry doomed Mac to take a back seat to the PC. If I was all PC, I think the designer should use what you have, designers (employees) come and go, to accomodate every one of them at such a great cost will hurt you in the long run. And I dont think a complete platform change is a good idea, if you are invested in a large amount of equipment and software. But if you do, or want to do high end signage I suggest having a Mac lying around, as most environmental graphic designers use them. I agree that these are only tools, and only as good as the peson who uses them. If you do buy a Apple computer for your designer, you will now have to figure out how to archive new jobs in Apple compared to old jobs in a PC format, and when the designer moves on... you might be stuck with a computer that the next person may not know how to use, as easy as Macs are to figure out, there seems to be a mental block if you prefer one over the other, as I have noticed from my experience. Oh I forgot to add, do not use an emulator full time, or for lots of graphics work, they run slow, font problems and somtimes corrupt files or save incorrectly, I'm talking large complex vector files or bitmaps. They should be looked at as part-time tools, with the cost of them running so slow, you can buy a new Apple computer with the time lost from an emulator. Rick
[ March 24, 2003, 02:00 PM: Message edited by: Rick Chavez ]
-------------------- Rick Chavez Hemet, CA Posts: 1538 | From: Hemet,CA U.S.A. | Registered: Jun 2001
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However, I didn't read the full text of the article, and am not sure how you could fairly test this unless using the very latest of each model. **Just found Apple's response to this test, which says: "The reported tests on Adobe's Web site showing slower performance of After Effects on a Mac than a PC is more an application test than a platform test and is not indicative of all Pro application performance on the Mac. Other applications, such as Apple's Final Cut Express, run some of those same tests on a Mac faster than the results for After Effects on either a Mac or a PC." Mac vs PC; Mac's reply
...so the war of words goes on...In the end, it actually doesn't matter all that much to most of us as the newest models of both computers are fast enough these days for most work...
-------------------- "Don't change horses in midstream, unless you spot one with longer legs" bronzeo oti Jack Davis 1410 Main St Joplin, MO 64801 www.imagemakerart.com jack@imagemakerart.com Posts: 1549 | From: Joplin, MO | Registered: Mar 2000
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As far as the actual shop environment goes. I have a three year old Mac G4/500. Production wise I have it connected to an HP5000 through ethernet running a Mac native RIP/ PosterJet. Very fast. I also have a Graphtec FC 5100-75 and a Gerber GSx Plus running through USB and an Edge running off MacImprint through and installed PCI card. I can literally run any two and usually three of these units sumultaneously .
I do Edge and HP large format output for a number of local all PC signshops with literally no file transfer problems from Corel or Flexi from these shops. Often they bring me files or discs that they can't open so I can repair or translate the files for them.
Im my own un humble opinion I feel that I'd be severely limiting my capabilities by running a PC shop. Go dual platform, why bother?
-------------------- Bill Modzel Mod-Zel screen Printing Traverse city, MI modzel@sbcglobal.net Posts: 1356 | From: Traverse City, MI | Registered: Nov 1998
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