Windows or Mac??

[RichSnyder]

I'm a long time computer user - unix, linux, windows, mac, etc. But I'm fairly new to digital imaging. Played before with Print Shop Pro, but it's time to get serious. My home PC is showing some age and most of the software is due for an upgrade or replacement. So, going PC or Mac is not going to save me much on software.

Just wanted to see what the Sony Forum people were using.

Are you using Mac or PC? Why did you choose one platform over the other?

 

[Ulysses]

Windows.

I'm a glutton for pain, I guess. Oh well... it's still fun most of the time.

--

Ulysses

 

[Shay Stephens]

Windows here too. I have more experience with it and like being able to build and upgrade my own computers. Linux is not polished enough yet to keep me using it happily.

--
Shay

My Sony F707 Gallery: http://www.shaystephens.com/portfolio.asp

 

[TrekSF6]

First of all I want to say that I use both Mac and Windows machines. I own a Mac and a pc at home. At work I mainly use Macs. They are both good platforms. However, for at home I would recommend a PC. Hardware as well as software is much easier to find. Especially hardware. The choices are endless and they are cheaper because of the competition between vendors. I have built my last two PC's from scratch. This way you get exactly the components that you want.

One other thing.. Windows XP is so stable its almost unbelievable. Crashes and freezes are a thing of the past.

Look at AMD processor based machines. They are a bit cheaper and are just as good or better than Intel or Mac.

Most software is developed for the pc first anyway. Updates usually are available for PC first because that is where the market share is. Personally I think its a no brainer to buy a PC for home use.

I'm a long time computer user - unix, linux, windows, mac, etc.
But I'm fairly new to digital imaging. Played before with Print
Shop Pro, but it's time to get serious. My home PC is showing some
age and most of the software is due for an upgrade or replacement.
So, going PC or Mac is not going to save me much on software.

Just wanted to see what the Sony Forum people were using.

Are you using Mac or PC? Why did you choose one platform over the
other?

--
Scott A.
--------
F-707

 

[Erichatch]

Mac

I have a heavy investment in mac equipment and software, but it's getting pretty irksome not to be able to find mac versions of a number of software programs. Still, I DON'T want to give Bill gAtes the satisfaction.... or replace the thousands of dollars of software I now own.

--
Scott A.
--------
F-707

--
Eric
F707
http://www.pbase.com/erichocinc

 

[cUrVe]

... because being a graphic designer, that's the environment i was introduced to way back in '87. but never got my own mac til 94-95 when i was heavily into freelance/contract work from home. since then i've had 5. currently using 2, a laptop and a desktop.

--
cUrVe
http://homepage.mac.com/curve

'the hardest thing to see is what is in front of your eyes.'

 

[Marty Scher B]

I manage a network of 1100 PCs and have supported PCs my entire 15 year IT career.

IMO

PCs have over 95% of the desktop market, so almost all software products are developed for the PC and may or may not have a version for the Mac.

This also includes many hardware devices like image banks or GPS units, many of which do not any Mac connectivity.

Is the Mac better? Maybe, maybe not, but who cares if you don't have any software to run on it? I know I do not want to be part of the 3%.

Good luck.

I'm a long time computer user - unix, linux, windows, mac, etc.
But I'm fairly new to digital imaging. Played before with Print
Shop Pro, but it's time to get serious. My home PC is showing some
age and most of the software is due for an upgrade or replacement.
So, going PC or Mac is not going to save me much on software.

Just wanted to see what the Sony Forum people were using.

Are you using Mac or PC? Why did you choose one platform over the
other?

 

[Ulysses]

Specifically, I've never been happier with Windows than with XP. It can still glitch out on you occasionally. While I've never had a total lockup with it, I have had to reboot in order to recover sufficiently to run a rogue program.

But overall, I can say I actually enjoy XP, good for its imaging help, too. I have loaded a lot less "accessory" programs since XP.

Windows here too. I have more experience with it and like being
able to build and upgrade my own computers. Linux is not polished
enough yet to keep me using it happily.

--
Shay

My Sony F707 Gallery: http://www.shaystephens.com/portfolio.asp

--

Ulysses

 

[OracleGuy]

only thing you can go with a mac is format and load mkLinux

And even then, I wouldnt even trust it with my photos. Go PC.

I'm a long time computer user - unix, linux, windows, mac, etc.
But I'm fairly new to digital imaging. Played before with Print
Shop Pro, but it's time to get serious. My home PC is showing some
age and most of the software is due for an upgrade or replacement.
So, going PC or Mac is not going to save me much on software.

Just wanted to see what the Sony Forum people were using.

Are you using Mac or PC? Why did you choose one platform over the
other?

--
Jarett §§ DSC-F707 Lover!
http://www.uglyduck.com

 

[RichSnyder]

I think I'm leaning towards XP. I love OS X, but the hardware cost is a little ridiculous. Before XP, I might have leaned towards mac, but I think the color callibration issues has reached the point of equality between the two platforms.

Anyone run into any showstoppers with XP? I'm planning on using a Canon S9000 printer and I haven't decided on the graphics card or monitor yet. Everything else has little to do with the color calibration.

Thanks for all the info! Greatly appreciated.

 

[Shay Stephens]

What I like with XP is the built in EXIF reader and the fact I can plug in my cameras and it will treat it like a hard drive without loading drivers which is pretty sweet. And now I don't crash mid editing of a photo anymore either.

--
Shay

My Sony F707 Gallery: http://www.shaystephens.com/portfolio.asp

 

[RichSnyder]

Thanks Shay,

I really like OS X, but XP is such an improvement over 98/2000/Me that it really takes away much of the "need" to go mac/os x. Plus, I was checking out a Power Mac tower/LCD display combo at CompUSA and the colors on the screen were not what I was expecting from Apple. Verified that the screen was set to millions of colors. But the water drop photo that was posted earlier looks much better on my cheap 19" CRT than on the 17" Apple display. The colors are noticeably smoother on the CRT.

BTW - nice online gallery. Did you take all the photos with a 707?

Thanks!
Rich

 

[craig cleveland]

Are you using Mac or PC? Why did you choose one platform over the
other?

I have used Macs since 1984. Ran my office off 2 Macs networked to a Mac SE/30 server. Never needed an IS department.

Macs can be easily networked - mine is an old performa with a Polaroid scanner with 15 in monitor running OS 9, an iMac with a flatbed scanner, and the iBook with OS X. All the work is done on the iBook with a 17in monitor.

As far as stability - I never had a computer down in all the years except for sending in an old Powerbook for a case replacement when it got cracked.

As far as color on a monitor, that can be adjusted with ColorSync software. You may have seen a monitor that wasn't calibrated.

As far was support - I've never seen "Mac-on-call". I know that there are many jobs out there simply to support the instability and problems seen with PC's. Most every large company has an IS department that spends big bucks just to keep the PC's running.

As far as cost - you get what you pay for. No additional cards needed, no problems with built in networking, and a ton of software and hardware. I use Photoshop 7. Some just want to use the less expensive Elements - and their photos may show it. Get a Mac and you will never regret it.
IBM => I Buy Macintosh

Craig

 

[Harvey F]

Hi Rich,

My first computer was a Mac Powerbook which I used for about 4 years.

I bought my second computer, a Dell two years and it came with Windows 98 Second Edition and I liked it very much. I became interested in digital photography a year ago and when Windows XP came out I had heard that XP was very good with music and photograpy, so I purchased it and installed it on my system. WOW !!! I was amazed. What a difference it makes. I had a friend of mine help me install it and for me it loaded beautifully. I am thrilled with it. I no longer get the blue screen kiss of death. My computer does not crash anymore. Whenever there is a XP update a flashing icon informs me on the screen. It says click here to upload and it does it for you. I am not computer savvy and I find XP is a joy to use.
I would recommed Windows XP. I don't think you will be sorry.

Regards,

Harvey F

I'm a long time computer user - unix, linux, windows, mac, etc.
But I'm fairly new to digital imaging. Played before with Print
Shop Pro, but it's time to get serious. My home PC is showing some
age and most of the software is due for an upgrade or replacement.
So, going PC or Mac is not going to save me much on software.

Just wanted to see what the Sony Forum people were using.

Are you using Mac or PC? Why did you choose one platform over the
other?

 

[RichSnyder]

Harvey,

I think I have to agree. XP has the market share and thus the first thought of support from companies.

Thanks again,
Rich

 

[Carlos Heiss]

I'm a long time computer user - unix, linux, windows, mac, etc.
But I'm fairly new to digital imaging. Played before with Print
Shop Pro, but it's time to get serious. My home PC is showing some
age and most of the software is due for an upgrade or replacement.
So, going PC or Mac is not going to save me much on software.

Just wanted to see what the Sony Forum people were using.

Are you using Mac or PC? Why did you choose one platform over the
other?

--

Look at the new iMac + iBook. Photography AND video. Would never go PC/and any Windows again, this very painfull duo! Life should be more enjoyable and I wouldn't be recommending something only because "NOW IT DON'T CRASH!"

 

[Beverly Martin]

Life should be more enjoyable and I wouldn't be recommending something only because "NOW IT DON'T CRASH!"

Couldn't have said it better. All that "not available" software is just taking up way to much room on the hard disk of my G4 dual processor. Such as PS7, MS Office X ( which, incidentally, has features not yet available in the Windows version), Quicken (originally written for Mac), iMovie (not availabe for Windows), iDVD (not available for Windows), iTunes (Doesn't Microsoft license Quicktime from Apple), InDesign, and the list goes on and on.

And most are carbonized so they run in either OS X or OS 9.x. I wonder how many XP applications run in NT? Or can XP and NT even coexist (run at the same time) on a PC? How many programs developed for NT run seamlessly (or at all) on XP? When the next generation of MS garbageware comes out will users have to sheel out more mega bucks to upgrade all their software?

I'm not into movie making or music production but I hear Final Cut Pro and Tech Tools Pro are kicking Windows butt in those fields.

And we won't even get into the 50,000+ viruses out there for Windows.

Wonder why 90+% of the attendees at the recent NAPP (National Association of Photoshop Professionals) convention were Mac users?

The ONLY innovation spewing forth from Redmond is in the high-tech mansion Gates built on Lake Washington with $ that unsuspecting consumers line up at midnight to shell out for bug fixes.

As someone else said... You get what you pay for.

UNIX and Mac, a marriage made in heaven.

 

[RichSnyder]

Beverly,

If I was going to do any video editting Mac would be the obvious choice. But for image editting of relatively small files -- 20MB, I don't think there's going to be much difference.

Don't get me wrong, I love OS X. But the hardware prices put it out of consideration very quickly. Minimum of $2000 for the tower and then $999 for the 17" display. Then you have to add some more memory, etc. Quickly you're pushing $4000. That's a lot of bucks that could be spent on a killer dye-sub printer or some other output device. For around $1200 you can piece together a killer PC that may or may not run circles around a Mac depending on the benchmark and application.

My heart says, "Buy a Mac." But my head and wallet say, "Buy a PC." Two to one vote. The PC wins.

 

[Beverly Martin]

My heart says, "Buy a Mac." But my head and wallet say, "Buy a
PC." Two to one vote. The PC wins.

Rich,

You are probably correct if all you want to do is manipulate small files. I do all of my photos on my 707 at fine quality at 2560x1920 and they usually are under 2 meg. When I bring them into my computer though I immediately convert the keepers to Photoshop format to prevent any further JPEG color (or grayscale) degradation. I can later downsize or reformat them depending on what I want to do with them. The file size grows very quickly to 15-20 meg. Its not unusual to be working with 50+ meg PS files once you start manipulating them

Its the little things on a Mac that make life so much easier. My new Mac has DVD-RW as well as CD-RW capabilities. My digital camera folder is over 3.5 gig. Rather than break it up for backup/storage on CR-RW's (700+ meg) I format a DVD-RW for files and can store/backup 4.5 gig to it.

Even allowing that it is true that an "equivalent" PC system is cheaper who knows what tomorrow may bring? In the late 80's when "Desktop Publishing" was just a buzz phrase my OS and PageMaker ver 1 would each fit on a 400k floppy. Even in my wildest dreams I could not imagine the technology that would be available today. Apple works very hard to maintain backward compatibility. I know that my chances of waking up one morning and having my OS and software being obsolete are less. Even with the totally redesigned OS X operating system most older applications run fine in "Classic" mode.

Maybe a PC is just fine for an experienced computer user. But I see so many of my friends who know nothing about computers listen to the Dell dude and buy a Windows system. Then it sits in the corner and becomes a dust magnet because they can't figure out how to use it. My friends that buy Macs (usually the cheaper iMac) are burning CD's, making movies, getting on the internet and happily puting along within hours (not days).

I usually don't get involved in the platform war word games but when someone starts spewing the partyline tripe about no software available, cheaper PC, garbage I see red. It just simply is not true.

 

[Harvey F]

Hi Beverly,

My first computer was a Mac Powerbook that I puchased about ten years ago. It was a lot easier to use than the PC's at that time. I chose it because I am not a savvy person when it comes to computers. I bought a Dell Desktop two years ago for several reasons.

I got a very good computer with the programs I wanted and it was less money than had I purchased a Mac.
There are more programs to choose from than with a Mac.

Windows has made operating a computer (especially Windows XP) much easier that it used to be and the difference in operating ease is a lot closer than it used to be.

The most important reason though is I have a very good friend who is very good with computer's and when I have a problem he is always able to help me. I would be lost without him.
When I had my Mac it served me well and I did enjoy it.

Regards,

Harvey F

My heart says, "Buy a Mac." But my head and wallet say, "Buy a
PC." Two to one vote. The PC wins.

Rich,

You are probably correct if all you want to do is manipulate small
files. I do all of my photos on my 707 at fine quality at 2560x1920
and they usually are under 2 meg. When I bring them into my
computer though I immediately convert the keepers to Photoshop
format to prevent any further JPEG color (or grayscale)
degradation. I can later downsize or reformat them depending on
what I want to do with them. The file size grows very quickly to
15-20 meg. Its not unusual to be working with 50+ meg PS files once
you start manipulating them

Its the little things on a Mac that make life so much easier. My
new Mac has DVD-RW as well as CD-RW capabilities. My digital camera
folder is over 3.5 gig. Rather than break it up for backup/storage
on CR-RW's (700+ meg) I format a DVD-RW for files and can
store/backup 4.5 gig to it.

Even allowing that it is true that an "equivalent" PC system is
cheaper who knows what tomorrow may bring? In the late 80's when
"Desktop Publishing" was just a buzz phrase my OS and PageMaker ver
1 would each fit on a 400k floppy. Even in my wildest dreams I
could not imagine the technology that would be available today.
Apple works very hard to maintain backward compatibility. I know
that my chances of waking up one morning and having my OS and
software being obsolete are less. Even with the totally redesigned
OS X operating system most older applications run fine in "Classic"
mode.

Maybe a PC is just fine for an experienced computer user. But I see
so many of my friends who know nothing about computers listen to
the Dell dude and buy a Windows system. Then it sits in the corner
and becomes a dust magnet because they can't figure out how to use
it. My friends that buy Macs (usually the cheaper iMac) are burning
CD's, making movies, getting on the internet and happily puting
along within hours (not days).

I usually don't get involved in the platform war word games but
when someone starts spewing the partyline tripe about no software
available, cheaper PC, garbage I see red. It just simply is not
true.