You know, back in the day, it was normal for everyone to have two computers on their desktop. There would be a generic PC running Windows with a 14" monitor for word processing and email, and there would be another machine for "actual work". If you were an engineer, it might be a SPARC or RS/6000 workstation. If you were a designer, probably a Mac or an SGI.
Nowadays you can get one box to do everything, a Mac is a Unix workstation that can run a PC in a VM. Why wouldn't organizations switch?
They wouldn't switch because of the tremendous cost involved. You have to replace a bunch of already functioning boxes, and for what?
You'd have to expect a pretty large decrease in IT support staff to recoup that cost. For businesses, it's all about the bottom line on the spreadsheet, and the cost of switching from any one OS to another is rarely going to be justified.
Much more likely is a company supporting both for a time, and switching over to the new OS on all new purchases, or allowing employees to choose.
But most companies (in my experience, before some little punk says "but where's your data") tend to replace all their kit every 3-5 years anyway. Those "old" computers didn't suddenly get slower. Unless you're in a business where raw CPU grunt matters, there's no real reason, but they do it anyway.
It's funny, loads of companies in the late 90s ripped out their Unix CAD workstations and replaced them with high-end PCs running NT . No-one batted an eyelid at that. Now we're talking about replacing average PCs with Unix workstations and everyone's like shyeah right.
I think that cycle is a lot longer than 3-5 years now, especially with the economy the way it is. It probably was that way for a while (and was probably even shorter before that) but there seems to be little justification for it anymore. We're finally at a point where a computer from 3 years ago can do everything we need it to do today, and not too slowly either. That's a relatively new development.
Can someone explain to me why designers should use Mac? I can't see any significant differences between Photoshop and Illustrator run in Windows and Mac.
I can't tell you why they SHOULD, but I can tell you why some might want to:
Personal OS/Interface preference. I've used Windows 2k and XP for years. I find the OS X interface to be cleaner, easier, and faster to use. I just prefer it. Just like I prefer my new car over my old one. No logic, no stats, just what I feel happier/more comfortable using.
OS Level ColorSync support, which extends through screen calibration, printers, Safari, Preview, Photoshop, etc...
Built-in screen calibration. No, it's not as good as a $ hardware/software package, but it's pretty good, and good enough for web work certainly.
The ability to run any OS/browser combination easily (Parallels or VM Ware). Macs aren't a majority, but they're up there, and depending on your site's demographic, making sure stuff looks right/works on the Mac can be very important. I run OS X/Safari, OS X/Firefox, WinXP/IE6, WinXP/IE7, WinXP/Firefox, Vista/IE7, Vista/Firefox, etc... on my Mac very easily. I can also run my Windows VM at whatever screen size/resolution I want to see how things will look on a 1024/768 display, without hosing my main display/work area.
For whatever reason, using Photoshop on a Mac is easier/better looking for me. I can't back that up, but it's a strong difference for me.
Apple displays generally have better color gamut, than the displays from major PC vendors. Even the photographers I know who choose to use Windows (which is fine), usually use Apple displays, unless their using a very high buck non-consumer display.
I'm sure other folks are much happier using PCs, which is fine. These are just some of my reasons.
There used to be a difference and Adobe and Apple were very good friends many moons ago. Some people can't help but cling to a past where Windows was still only glare on Bill Gates's glasses. (I probably have my history wrong, but you get what I mean)
Shhhh, there isn't. But don't bring that up because it's very cool to use a Mac, it makes you so creative and cutting edge. Rainbows and unicorns and dogs shitting ice cream and all that.
Comments
You know, back in the day, it was normal for everyone to have two computers on their desktop. There would be a generic PC running Windows with a 14" monitor for word processing and email, and there would be another machine for "actual work". If you were an engineer, it might be a SPARC or RS/6000 workstation. If you were a designer, probably a Mac or an SGI.
Nowadays you can get one box to do everything, a Mac is a Unix workstation that can run a PC in a VM. Why wouldn't organizations switch?
They wouldn't switch because of the tremendous cost involved. You have to replace a bunch of already functioning boxes, and for what?
You'd have to expect a pretty large decrease in IT support staff to recoup that cost. For businesses, it's all about the bottom line on the spreadsheet, and the cost of switching from any one OS to another is rarely going to be justified.
Much more likely is a company supporting both for a time, and switching over to the new OS on all new purchases, or allowing employees to choose.
But most companies (in my experience, before some little punk says "but where's your data") tend to replace all their kit every 3-5 years anyway. Those "old" computers didn't suddenly get slower. Unless you're in a business where raw CPU grunt matters, there's no real reason, but they do it anyway.
It's funny, loads of companies in the late 90s ripped out their Unix CAD workstations and replaced them with high-end PCs running NT . No-one batted an eyelid at that. Now we're talking about replacing average PCs with Unix workstations and everyone's like shyeah right.
I think that cycle is a lot longer than 3-5 years now, especially with the economy the way it is. It probably was that way for a while (and was probably even shorter before that) but there seems to be little justification for it anymore. We're finally at a point where a computer from 3 years ago can do everything we need it to do today, and not too slowly either. That's a relatively new development.
Can someone explain to me why designers should use Mac? I can't see any significant differences between Photoshop and Illustrator run in Windows and Mac.
I can't tell you why they SHOULD, but I can tell you why some might want to:
Personal OS/Interface preference. I've used Windows 2k and XP for years. I find the OS X interface to be cleaner, easier, and faster to use. I just prefer it. Just like I prefer my new car over my old one. No logic, no stats, just what I feel happier/more comfortable using.
OS Level ColorSync support, which extends through screen calibration, printers, Safari, Preview, Photoshop, etc...
Built-in screen calibration. No, it's not as good as a $ hardware/software package, but it's pretty good, and good enough for web work certainly.
The ability to run any OS/browser combination easily (Parallels or VM Ware). Macs aren't a majority, but they're up there, and depending on your site's demographic, making sure stuff looks right/works on the Mac can be very important. I run OS X/Safari, OS X/Firefox, WinXP/IE6, WinXP/IE7, WinXP/Firefox, Vista/IE7, Vista/Firefox, etc... on my Mac very easily. I can also run my Windows VM at whatever screen size/resolution I want to see how things will look on a 1024/768 display, without hosing my main display/work area.
For whatever reason, using Photoshop on a Mac is easier/better looking for me. I can't back that up, but it's a strong difference for me.
Apple displays generally have better color gamut, than the displays from major PC vendors. Even the photographers I know who choose to use Windows (which is fine), usually use Apple displays, unless their using a very high buck non-consumer display.
I'm sure other folks are much happier using PCs, which is fine. These are just some of my reasons.
I didn't say anything about who should do anything. Just telling you how it actually was.
Certainly, back then, if you needed colour management, Mac was by far the easiest/cheapest solution.
There used to be a difference and Adobe and Apple were very good friends many moons ago. Some people can't help but cling to a past where Windows was still only glare on Bill Gates's glasses. (I probably have my history wrong, but you get what I mean)
Shhhh, there isn't. But don't bring that up because it's very cool to use a Mac, it makes you so creative and cutting edge. Rainbows and unicorns and dogs shitting ice cream and all that.
Don't knock the pettable, portable, ice cream dispensers...
What's the name of your guide dog?
Lots and lots of vba written for Excel.