PC or MAC?

S

sunshine

Guest
My daughter does a lot of semi professional photography.

She needs a new computer and is investigating both types.

Any input between the two would be appreciated.

She has been told the MAC is far superior in the photograpy area.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks

Sunshine
 
T

Terry C

Guest
Sunshine, my son does the same and he say's the same about MAC that it is far more superior in the photograpy area.
 
Roberto

Roberto

Guest
MAC has continued to hold superiority in all areas of graphics, photography and video. Had a marketing/advertising business and used MAC exclusively. Many services did not suport PC based software files then. I've got one I bought specifically to edit video about 5 years ago. It sits in the closet in a back bedroom. Has the software and documentation but no monitor or keyboard. You can have it in exchange for a nice bottle of Merlot wine if you want. It's in Puerto Penasco. No I can't get it to Phoenix, maybe Tucson.
 
rockyptjoe

rockyptjoe

Guest
sunshine said:
My daughter does a lot of semi professional photography.

She needs a new computer and is investigating both types.

Any input between the two would be appreciated.

She has been told the MAC is far superior in the photograpy area.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks

Sunshine
Click to expand...

Not anymore....Photoshop/Lightroom work on both Macs and PC's....you can get excellent monitors for the PC and Windows is pretty stable (Win 7) now. I don't remeber the last time my computer crashed, and I sitll use Win XP Pro. Photoshop operates the same way on both machines (a couple of the quick keys are different) and does the same thing. BTW, the mac is now using the same intel chips that are in pc's (i know I'm oversimplifying a bit). I've always stayed away from Apple because of the "closed" operating system....and higher price!

It comes down to what interface/system she is used to....if she's used to the PC....I would stick with that....you can get sufficient horsepower and memory capabilities with a pc now, at a much cheaper price....tell her to save the money and use it for a couple of decent lenses!!! The computer or software won't make her a better photographer or help her take better pictures.
 
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rockyptjoe

rockyptjoe

Guest
Roberto said:
MAC has continued to hold superiority in all areas of graphics, photography and video. Had a marketing/advertising business and used MAC exclusively. Many services did not suport PC based software files then. I've got one I bought specifically to edit video about 5 years ago. It sits in the closet in a back bedroom. Has the software and documentation but no monitor or keyboard. You can have it in exchange for a nice bottle of Merlot wine if you want. It's in Puerto Penasco. No I can't get it to Phoenix, maybe Tucson.
Click to expand...

Roberto.....that was "then".....a .psd or .tif or .dng is not pc or mac specific.... Definitely mac's were superior back about 10-20 years ago.....I think that the impression still holds over due to some "snobbery" nowadays.....and the "sexiness" factor, as some people refer to it.

You're still going to be using a mouse or Wacom tablet (or other brand) for your editing.....and the same software (sorry....Photoshop is still the "standard").

If you're talking a graphics department in an agency....I won't get into a pissing contest over the issue with you (pc or mac)....but if you're talking just a photographer who will be using the system for workflow and some editing, due to the initial investment of hardware, they are better off saving the money and buying additional photographic gear. I shoot Canon, and with what I can save getting a pc over a mac, I can get an L lens (Canon professional level lens)....maybe even 2 (and yes there is a difference from the standard lenses you get with the camera)!

For me, it comes down to what type of computer and operating system I'm used to (and have used from about 1985).....the investment I have in software, and what I need the computer and software to do for me as a photographer. The computer and software are only tools!!! With a pc and mac today, we're no longer comparing a Yugo vs. a BMW.

I'm also cheap!!!:rofl:
 
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rockyptjoe

rockyptjoe

Guest
If you're a teacher or student (or parent of a student), you can get CS5 Extended for about $190. It's worth taking a couple of classes at your community college on Photoshop to get the student discount. The version is not crippled in any way. I may do that when my daughter starts back up in school again.

If you check bhphotovideo ( http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=photoshop+cs5&N=0&InitialSearch=yes) you'll find the full CS5 Suite for about $1600.....completely unnecessary for the normal photographer.....I'm still using CS3 Extended, and haven't learned to use all the features!

I always hear people talking about "creativity" when it comes to the MAC.....as if a piece of hardware, or software, all of them tools, will make you creative!!! Your mind is the source of creativity..... The tools only make the work easier or faster....

Shooting with a $39K Hasselblad will not make me a better or more creative photographer....the images will just be sharper, and can be blown up into larger formats!
 
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Manny Sanchez

Manny Sanchez

Vir sapit qui pauca loqui
MAC is ok, but to me its more of a cult or a status quo. That they have marketed very effectively. But they are overpriced and very closed when it comes to file formats and development. But just to look like "a cool kid" its good.

Personally, give me a HPZ600 + Adobe Creative Suite and I can create anything.

Im PC all the way!
 
brokenwave

brokenwave

Guest
It doesn't matter anymore

I am a working professional photographer and can tell you that for photography, Mac's were better than PC's until 4-5 years ago. Today they both use similar parts, available software is similar, Mac's do have some nice bundles with them. On transfer speeds, USB3.0 or E-sata connections are really fast compared to USB2.0 Thunderbolt is new and will only be marginally faster near term.
Bottom line is price for the features you get.

Imac 21.5" $1200-1400
Imac 27" $2100-2400
Mac Pro Book 15" screen Laptop $1800-2100

PC HP
AMD CPU-$600-800, 22-23" monitor $225, 27" mon $350, 30" mon $1200=$800-2000.
But for the $1000 option you would have a fast computer with a 27" monitor.
Laptop
Dell XPS Studio or HP Envy/Elitebook $1000-1400 with a 17" screen.
Bottom line you need a Quad core processor, 500+GB hard drive, and 6-8GB of Ram, which will cover her for the next 3-4 years before the computer becames slow due to the next generation of software updates.
I use a 6 core CPU PC with 2- 24" monitors and a 4 year old HP laptop and that still does the job. Next Laptop will be a quad core.
Hope that helps.
 
rockyptjoe

rockyptjoe

Guest
On the USB3.0 are you actually seeing much of an increase in speed over 2.0-? Read some reviews that indicted that the connection hardware (cables) were not available to get the advertised speeds...that you would need to have fiber optic cables to do so.
 
Stuart

Stuart

Aye carumba!!!
Staff member
Love it Manny! Especially the "gargling" part. Hahahah! But in all fairness -- isn't this comic prophetic about technology in general, regardless of who made it? I mean, no sooner than you buy a cellphone, laptop, PC, whatever these days, the next best thing is usually on sale before you even walk out the door!!
 
S

sunshine

Guest
So true Stuart

Bought my IPad in Dec and today they announced a newer thinner, lighter one.

Also bought Mobile me - $99 per year.

This month a newer version will be released.

Life goes on ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Sunshine
 
Manny Sanchez

Manny Sanchez

Vir sapit qui pauca loqui
Stuart said:
Love it Manny! Especially the "gargling" part. Hahahah! But in all fairness -- isn't this comic prophetic about technology in general, regardless of who made it? I mean, no sooner than you buy a cellphone, laptop, PC, whatever these days, the next best thing is usually on sale before you even walk out the door!!
Click to expand...
True, I guess we just need to learn to be happy with what got.
 
jerry

jerry

Guest
The Apps on the ipad are the difference...(from a forum)
Apple has made significant improvements that will trump the other 3 tablets until some things change.1. Price – The fact that the new iPad2 is offered at an even better deal than the Xoom and probably these other tablets speaks for itself that when it comes to price Motorola, Samsung and LG will not be able to beat Apple unless they cut down on margins. We will see in the next month or so if Motorola seen their sales dwindle will drop the price to a more reasonable amount.2. Innovation – Even though the iPad2 screen is still the same and some features have not changed still speaks volume for what Apple can push. Bluetooth connectivity, dual cameras, slimmed down version, same amount of battery life, 1.5GHz dual core CPU. People not attuned to what this may mean will look at the speed of both a Motorola Xoom and a iPad2 and think that the Ipad2 is 33% faster than a Xoom. Something which it isn’t, but only geeks know this.3. Apps, Apps, Apps – It doesn’t matter if you have the best hardware in the world. If you ain’t got apps to run the stupid thing guess what, it is a useless and expensive piece of hardware. So Google and other companies are rushing to get more Apps to run on Honeycomb tablets and that is good, but when you have 0.01% apps of what it is offered by Apple and iTunes, you have to ask yourself, how can we compete with that when you are offering this to non-techs. This will increase for sure on Honeycomb, but it has a while to go.In six months we will have Quad core tablets that will be way faster then the iPad2 and by the time iPad3 roles around we should have 6 or 8 core CPUs that will beat anything Apple has to offer. Screen resolution will have to be improved so that HD video can be played natively on the new devices and that requires 1080p screens at 10.1 inches. Probably even better resolution ratios.Until then, even though I’m not buying an Apple device, this means that Apple will still dominate the market until Google/Motorola/LG/Samsung and the like are able to make progress on these 3 pieces.
 
S

sunshine

Guest
Very interesting Jerry.

I'll be sure to check with you when I'm ready to make a change.

Thank you for the information and updates.

Sunshine
 
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