Mental
Well-known member
Which is better lap top for digital photos...the Mac or PC? And why? Thanks
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Mac v. PC
- Thread starter Mental
- Start date
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Each has its own adv and disadv. It's a matter of one's own preference. I opted for mac because of its simplicity and overall 'feel'. But it's unfortunate because there are very limited 3rd party companies that develop mac compatible softwares.
Gallery - http://www.photo.net/photodb/user?user_id=396863
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Gallery - http://www.photo.net/photodb/user?user_id=396863
Greg Hammond
Leading Member
The Macintosh version of Photoshop works fabulously, and there are versions of CaptureOne and all of the Canon utility software for the Mac. I think the choice is going to come down to what other applications you need to run on it, and how much you're wanting to spend. The Mac laptops aren't particularly cheap, especially the ones suited to heavy Photoshop use. Keep in mind not all of them will hold a lot of RAM - make sure you evaluate the capabilities before you plop down your cash.
The 15" Powerbook G4 1.25 GHz would be a really nice choice.
Greg
Mental
Well-known member
Thanks to both of you for the advice...i was about to just go pluck down around $1800.00 for a Mac, but i think i'll look around some...even thou i am still leaning towards the Mac...some of my friends say that the imaging is much better...when i went to CompUSA they just tried to sell me a computer
Bill Bertera
Well-known member
I've always been a PC person, but thought about getting a Mac for Photoshop, because I've heard they're better for imaging. But I talked to a lot of Mac-people who said that if you're just using Photoshop, it's not that much, if any, advantage over a PC. Most of their advantages come in their design & video-editting ability.
I'd go with a PC, and use the extra dough you save for a good monitor to plug into the laptop. I find it tough to judge brightness & colors on those laptop screens. They vary so much depending on how they're tilted and what angle you're looking at.
If you do go with a Mac, know that you can't plug extras (monitor, mouse, keyboard) into an iBook, but you can into a Powerbook.
good luck.
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http://www.redbill.us/gallery.htm
I'd go with a PC, and use the extra dough you save for a good monitor to plug into the laptop. I find it tough to judge brightness & colors on those laptop screens. They vary so much depending on how they're tilted and what angle you're looking at.
If you do go with a Mac, know that you can't plug extras (monitor, mouse, keyboard) into an iBook, but you can into a Powerbook.
good luck.
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http://www.redbill.us/gallery.htm
Chris Ventura93896
Forum Enthusiast
I am a graphic designer, and I use a PC at work all day, and a Mac for freelance work. The mac is a better choice, not just because of a single program, but because of the efficiency the entire system provides in terms of speed, file management, ease of use, and stability.
If you use OS 10.3 Panther for a week, you will never want to use windows again. The mac just functions better.
You can also plug in a monitor, but the monitor on the Ibook will just mirror screen content.
I would get a PowerBook 15inch 1GHz machine. Get it with the base 256 meg of ram. Then order a memory upgrade from dealram.com. A 512 meg chip will run you about 85 bucks, so you could get 1 GIG of ram for about 165.00. That will save you a lot. Don't pay over inflated prices for memory from CompUSA or as a add on from Apple. You can put it in yourself. The PowerBook G4 15 is a great machine, at a fair price without paying a premium. It will allow you to upgrade to 2 megs of Ram, has built in USB 2.0 and Firewire 800; has video out that will drive a 23 inch Display, fantastic design, 1 inch thick, and it runs OS X.3 panther.
If you use OS 10.3 Panther for a week, you will never want to use windows again. The mac just functions better.
Very much true, yet misleading. The mac is more known for graphic design work where color is critical, ease of use, stability, and product build.
I would agree, but then again, if you truly want good color you will be better off purchasing a Large CRT. And the prices for CRT's are dropping fast. Get a 19" CRT for about $200.00
Thats a wrong statement! You can plug an extra keyboard and mouse into any Ibook using USB! Where did you hear that? Also the new Ibook's have firewire as well for plugging in external high speed devices.
You can also plug in a monitor, but the monitor on the Ibook will just mirror screen content.
I would get a PowerBook 15inch 1GHz machine. Get it with the base 256 meg of ram. Then order a memory upgrade from dealram.com. A 512 meg chip will run you about 85 bucks, so you could get 1 GIG of ram for about 165.00. That will save you a lot. Don't pay over inflated prices for memory from CompUSA or as a add on from Apple. You can put it in yourself. The PowerBook G4 15 is a great machine, at a fair price without paying a premium. It will allow you to upgrade to 2 megs of Ram, has built in USB 2.0 and Firewire 800; has video out that will drive a 23 inch Display, fantastic design, 1 inch thick, and it runs OS X.3 panther.
Kjeld Olesen
Veteran Member
Neither lab top is good unless you attach a CRT monitor. For general PC versus Mac comparison you should read this comparison
http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/content_page.asp?cid=7-4869-4882
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Kjeld Olesen
http://www.acapixus.dk
Kjeld Olesen
Veteran Member
Seems to have moved to
http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/multi_page.asp?cid=7-4869-4882
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Kjeld Olesen
http://www.acapixus.dk
iMac therefore iAm
Veteran Member
Bah. A great photo still looks great on a laptop, and a bad photo still looks bad.
Anyway to answer the original question my name probably gives my choice away. I love my Powerbook G4 - best Mac I've ever owned (and I've been a Mac owner for 14 years, and use them at work). I also work on PC's and if I was faced with a choice of a free PC laptop of my choice, or spending $2000 on a Mac laptop, I'd still go with the Mac. Granted, a lot has to do with what you are used to, but Mac's just work better, are easier to troubleshoot, and you can use one without any Microsoft software (which is the PC's biggest downfall IMO). I find that Mac software - unlike much PC software - is written by people that actually use it and know what to do with it. I can't tell you how many PC apps I've used where you can tell the designer is doing what they're told and has no real clue how the app is to be used. Mac's are by no means perfect, but with the OS and hardware made by the same company, the problems pale in comparison to the Windows world.
Plus as someone who is visually oriented - and aren't we all to some degree? ;-) - the Mac interface is simply much more aesthetic and pleasing.
If you've never used a computer, the Mac is the way to go. If you're a PC person - then you might be better off staying with a PC. That said, everyone I know personally (about a half dozen) who switched from PC to Mac are glad they did... including one who was a die-hard PC person - he LOVES his Mac.
'Me fail English? That's unpossible!'
Anyway to answer the original question my name probably gives my choice away. I love my Powerbook G4 - best Mac I've ever owned (and I've been a Mac owner for 14 years, and use them at work). I also work on PC's and if I was faced with a choice of a free PC laptop of my choice, or spending $2000 on a Mac laptop, I'd still go with the Mac. Granted, a lot has to do with what you are used to, but Mac's just work better, are easier to troubleshoot, and you can use one without any Microsoft software (which is the PC's biggest downfall IMO). I find that Mac software - unlike much PC software - is written by people that actually use it and know what to do with it. I can't tell you how many PC apps I've used where you can tell the designer is doing what they're told and has no real clue how the app is to be used. Mac's are by no means perfect, but with the OS and hardware made by the same company, the problems pale in comparison to the Windows world.
Plus as someone who is visually oriented - and aren't we all to some degree? ;-) - the Mac interface is simply much more aesthetic and pleasing.
If you've never used a computer, the Mac is the way to go. If you're a PC person - then you might be better off staying with a PC. That said, everyone I know personally (about a half dozen) who switched from PC to Mac are glad they did... including one who was a die-hard PC person - he LOVES his Mac.
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'Me fail English? That's unpossible!'
If you want a fast computer, get a PC. Macs are painfully slow for everyday use: starting programs, etc.
If you want a polished "feel" and overall quality (hardware and software) get a Mac, even though some PCs do not feel so archaic these days, especially some Sony models and newer HPs.
If you go with PC, avoid budget-marketed mass-models from DELL: they put so cheap&crappy components in them, that some of their 1.8GZ P4 actually work slower than PIII 800MZ.
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Eugueny
If you want a polished "feel" and overall quality (hardware and software) get a Mac, even though some PCs do not feel so archaic these days, especially some Sony models and newer HPs.
If you go with PC, avoid budget-marketed mass-models from DELL: they put so cheap&crappy components in them, that some of their 1.8GZ P4 actually work slower than PIII 800MZ.
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Eugueny
I know Mac converts and PC converts. The bottom line is what you intend to do and what programs you need to run. Photoshop is Photoshop.
Also, neither my clients nor my images care what system they go on, as long as what I show them is how things print - and they do. (Exception: my model pics don’t really like to hear they are on FAT32)
If you have a need to appear cool and hip and make others aware of it, get a Mac. Design and style is their distinguishing factor.
If you want fire power, wide screen (15.4 min), and extra cash to pay for a registered copy of Photoshop go PC.
You will hear more PC horror stories because the market is 75% PC and 25% Mac. Also the XP Pro operating system is a far cry from days of Windows 98.
When Apple came out with OS X, Photoshop and a slew of other graphic design programs (which the Mac is a base for) did not run unless you were in backward mode. Most are fine now.
When Windows XP came out some games and some peripherals did not work. Most are fine now.
Both are systems that are on par with each other in general.
These are my personal choices for my laptop: firepower (RAM+Chip Speed), widescreen 15.4, USB 2.0 and/or Firewire, built-in wireless, IR Port, built-in Ethernet, long battery life (4 hours), Monitor out, svideo out. CD burner, DVD player.
All for about $1,500 and not a Mac.
Also, neither my clients nor my images care what system they go on, as long as what I show them is how things print - and they do. (Exception: my model pics don’t really like to hear they are on FAT32)
If you have a need to appear cool and hip and make others aware of it, get a Mac. Design and style is their distinguishing factor.
If you want fire power, wide screen (15.4 min), and extra cash to pay for a registered copy of Photoshop go PC.
You will hear more PC horror stories because the market is 75% PC and 25% Mac. Also the XP Pro operating system is a far cry from days of Windows 98.
When Apple came out with OS X, Photoshop and a slew of other graphic design programs (which the Mac is a base for) did not run unless you were in backward mode. Most are fine now.
When Windows XP came out some games and some peripherals did not work. Most are fine now.
Both are systems that are on par with each other in general.
These are my personal choices for my laptop: firepower (RAM+Chip Speed), widescreen 15.4, USB 2.0 and/or Firewire, built-in wireless, IR Port, built-in Ethernet, long battery life (4 hours), Monitor out, svideo out. CD burner, DVD player.
All for about $1,500 and not a Mac.
iMac therefore iAm
Veteran Member
As is overall reliability, build quality, customer satisfaction and useability - the reasons I use them.
Mac Laptops go up to 17"
I use 3PCs and 4 Macs. The 3 PCs account for 80% of my computer related headaches.
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'Me fail English? That's unpossible!'
Well said ;-))
Actually these days Mac sales account for
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Eugueny
Stanley W. Rogouski
Well-known member
I use an IBM Thinkpad, a Dell Workstation, and a nice stripped down build of Windows 2000 Professional on each. Neither crashes very much because I don't install crapware (anti-virus programs, Real Player, etc.). Both are nice and fast.
That being said, if my copies of Photoshop, Pagemaker, MS Office, etc. weren't for Windows, I'd go for the Mac in a heartbeat. The Mac has much better color management and a great photo viewing program (iPhoto).
I'm still curious about the question. Most people are pretty well versed in computers by the time they buy a digital SLR. Iif you bought your 10D before you bought your first computer, good luck. You're in for a world of hurt. Good luck and remember the software costs extrra.
That being said, if my copies of Photoshop, Pagemaker, MS Office, etc. weren't for Windows, I'd go for the Mac in a heartbeat. The Mac has much better color management and a great photo viewing program (iPhoto).
I'm still curious about the question. Most people are pretty well versed in computers by the time they buy a digital SLR. Iif you bought your 10D before you bought your first computer, good luck. You're in for a world of hurt. Good luck and remember the software costs extrra.
Stanley W. Rogouski
Well-known member
Actually the real question shouldn't be "Mac or PC." Both will work. The question should be "does it have a DVD burner." I'm astonished at the amount of CDs I burn backing up Raw files (since I'll shoot 4 or 5 256 meg cards a day 2 or 3 days a week).
iMac therefore iAm
Veteran Member
More like uninformed opinion from someone who doesn't use Macs and is obviously
threatened by Macs for some reason.
And Mercede's Benz probably accounts for the same in the car market.
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'Me fail English? That's unpossible!'
Chris Ventura93896
Forum Enthusiast
If you talk to people who use both, 90% of the time they will suggest purchasing a MAC. If you talk to people who use a PC, they will tell you how much faster the PC is. The Laptop, no matter what platform, will not perform as well as a workstation.
I am amazed at how many people will suggest a product when they never have used the alternative. I use High End mac and pc workstations and laptops on a daily basis. PC's may have a speed edge right now in the laptop market, but they do not have a speed advantage when it comes to workstations. PC's are far more difficult to manage and keep working efficiently. How fast is a computer anyway if it doesn't perfrom without a glitch 100% of the time?
Reliability is a major influence on productivity, and should easily increase or decrease a computers actual speed.
I purchased a G5 for freelance work, and It has not crashed or locked up a SINGLE time. Now that is efficient. My pc's at work, well lets just say I WISH we used macs.
I would love to sit here and tell everyone that the PC is better. I wish they were! They are inexpensive. But, in reality, you get what you pay for. And for me, and many others who have used BOTH DAILY, we know the mac platform outperforms the PC for overall productivty.
I am amazed at how many people will suggest a product when they never have used the alternative. I use High End mac and pc workstations and laptops on a daily basis. PC's may have a speed edge right now in the laptop market, but they do not have a speed advantage when it comes to workstations. PC's are far more difficult to manage and keep working efficiently. How fast is a computer anyway if it doesn't perfrom without a glitch 100% of the time?
Reliability is a major influence on productivity, and should easily increase or decrease a computers actual speed.
I purchased a G5 for freelance work, and It has not crashed or locked up a SINGLE time. Now that is efficient. My pc's at work, well lets just say I WISH we used macs.
I would love to sit here and tell everyone that the PC is better. I wish they were! They are inexpensive. But, in reality, you get what you pay for. And for me, and many others who have used BOTH DAILY, we know the mac platform outperforms the PC for overall productivty.
My systems have been incredibly reliable since windows NT and I have thrown a lot at them. That's my experience. As valid as any.
The only time my Mac gives me a headache is when I turn it on. I turn it off and my headache goes away.
iMac therefore iAm
Veteran Member
;-)Rodolfo
Leading Member
I value a notebook for portability, not for photo-rendering capacity. For the latter, they all are limited; pick for features.
For portability, I value size, weight, connectivity, and battery life. The Fujitsu P5020 is a slick and loaded sub-notebook that includes built-in flash memory slots.
A limitation for some is that there is no port replicator option, although it does support external and dual monitors.
Here's a link: http://webshop.fujitsupc.com/fpc/Ecommerce/buildseriesbean.do?series=P5
For portability, I value size, weight, connectivity, and battery life. The Fujitsu P5020 is a slick and loaded sub-notebook that includes built-in flash memory slots.
A limitation for some is that there is no port replicator option, although it does support external and dual monitors.
Here's a link: http://webshop.fujitsupc.com/fpc/Ecommerce/buildseriesbean.do?series=P5
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