why should i use this operating system?

[zouayaj]

Im starting a graphic design business where i will be creating designs for tshirts, logos, printed materials, and web pages. I know i have to use the MAC OS since it is more powerful, however... why should I use this system? and why shouldn't I use the other systems available to me? also, what hardware should I use with this and why?

[Buzz]

Hi zouayaj,

It's Mac not MAC. MAC indicates an acronym. Mac is not an acronym, it's an abbreviation for Macintosh.


Forgive me, but honestly, if you are "starting a business" in design should you not already know the answers to your questions? It seems like a very novice question to ask considering you are starting an entire venture dependent upon the equipment.

Generally through experience and/or schooling designers learn what each system is capable of doing and why they prefer one over the other.

In reality, the Windows and Macintosh operating systems and their hardware are really fairly comparable. The only real advantages Macs have is the fact that any new, intel-core Mac will run either the Mac OS or Windows OS. They will even run both Mac OS and Windows OS on the same machine. PCs can not run the Mac OS without special emulation software which is not considered desirable for a professional printing workstation. In addition the Mac OS can use any font available - Mac or Windows. Windows can not use Macintosh type 1, type 3 or Multiple Master fonts. (Multiple Master fonts are a dead format and the Mac is also losing support for them.)

As for what hardware to get, you need to be more specific about your workflow, the software you intend to run, exactly what you'll be outputting for - Web presses , Sheet-fed presses, screen printing, gravure, flexography, World Wide Web, home-based printers, direct to plate? The general files sizes you expect to work with -- if you are a big Photoshop for print user then you'll require more hardware than a Photoshop for web user.

I know your post is only four sentences, and I may be reading a great deal into it, please correct me if I'm wrong. But the impression I get is that you feel design is something that merely takes a machine to do. It's not, it takes professional experience or a formal education, sometimes both. An artistic flair and a computer does not make a designer.

[PCCam]

How is a "mac" more powerful than a PC? Do you mean the OS? Or the hardware?

[gimpy530]

Everyone has thier own opinions on that, but overall the Mac operating system works better than Windows........the hardware itself (particularly on the Intel based Macs) are just about the same as you can find in a PC

[renegade600]

you don't have to use that system if you don't want to. However if you want to get into the business or be employeed in the business as a graphic artist then you will need to learn macs.

You can do the same in windows and linux so its up to you which system to use.

[Matt_s]

But the impression I get is that you feel design is something that merely takes a machine to do. It's not, it takes professional experience or a formal education, sometimes both. An artistic flair and a computer does not make a designer.

very good post. good form. probably the most intelligent thing i've ever read on this forum.

edit:

better yet, very sig worthy.

May I?

[PCCam]

I get to use PC and Mac side by side at school, and i find the pc processors much better than the mac intel ones.

[Matt_s]

I get to use PC and Mac side by side at school, and i find the pc processors much better than the mac intel ones.

I dont know about that. PCs do have their advantages, but they do not over power Macs in the graphics department. i've used Macs for editing video and the same with PCs, and there is no comparison that can be made. Mac wins, hands down.

[gimpy530]

What processor did the PC have? What Intel proccesor did the Mac have? Originially when the Macs got Intel it was the "Intel Core Duo" now it is the "Intel Core 2 Duo" which is faster.......

I have seen some benchmarking for Mac vs. PC and it's always not very conclusive......the reason for that is simply that any program works best in the OS it is designed for.....that's why iTunes, which is made for Mac, works far better in the Mac version as compared to the Windows version

Oh and the CPU that are in Macs.....same as ones you can get for a PC

[Buzz]

Macs now have the Intel Core 2 Duo processors

[gimpy530]

Yes that's what I meant