Start networking and exchanging professional insights

Register now or log in to join your professional community.

Follow

What is the big difference when designing on PC or Mac?

I'd like to know what the big difference is when people mention designing, and video production is much better on a Mac. I've used both PC and Mac to design in Photoshop and Illustrator and I do not see any difference except the obvious OS controls. Can some one please enlighten me??

user-image
Question added by Fawwaz Siddiqui , Creative Director , FSD Media Corp.
Date Posted: 2013/07/09
Noor Ali
by Noor Ali , Freelance Graphic Designer , Sculpt The Future Foundation

In my opinion there isn't much of a difference in the programmes, obviously as you mentioned controls will be different, but the actual packages are the same.
It comes down to hardware and what you prefer.
I myself have been using mac since I was young, I've grown up with it and have gotten used to it and thus when I get given a PC to work with, I dislike it.
PCs are known for being easy to use and great for families, they've also got a bad rep for being slow among other things.
Macs were created with the creative in mind so at first were ahead of the game by miles.
Now a days however PCs are just as good.
So in my opinion no big difference.
Some people just prefer macs.
Thats my2 cents.

Anas Kiblawi
by Anas Kiblawi , Head of Creative , Bayt.com

The difference isn't a visible one.
End of the day you are using the same Adobe software on both PC and MAC.
The difference mainly comes when you need a lot of the memory used for any rendering or multiple tasks at once.
You see because the machines use different operating systems they have2 different algorithms for memory management.
And you ask any computer science grad and he’ll tell you that the Unix based algorithm will trash any algorithm windows uses.
This is when you will feel the difference with Mac you won’t have to reach that point where you have to restart your PC so the software runs smooth again.
That of course doesn't mean that you can start up by buying a PC with enormous memory so you won’t run into any trouble.
But with software upgrades you’ll reach the point where you need to change something on your machine sooner that a MAC.

Mayez Kabbara
by Mayez Kabbara , Social Media Senior , Alsayegh Media

Mac is more reliable to handle such heavy software like Adobe or Autodesk. But in the end of the day it is just a matter of preference. I for example prefer PC since i am more confortable using it and because i have a wider range of3rd party software that i can use alongside my project.

Deleted user
by Deleted user

Honestly there isn't any difference.
Back in the90s the predominant platform that advertising agencies used for doing their design was the Apple (or Mac if you will) so the beginning of my career was on the Mac.
Around1996 Adobe released a usable photoshop and illustrator for PC and that started to break the monopoly that the Mac had on the advertising industry.
In the Middle East most of the small agencies have very limited budgets and so they immediately jumped on the opportunity to increase the size of their studios for very little money.
You have to keep in mind that an Apple Macintosh is at least3 to4 times more expensive to purchase than a generic pc.
Back then as well the AVID (previously Digidesign) system was only available through the Mac so video editing on PC was still a dream.
Now everything has changed and the Mac and PC are pretty much the same.
I own both a mac and a pc and I design on both and in all honesty even though I use the mac more (its my studio computer...
the big gaming rig I also own that has design software on it is used by my wife and kids) I find the mac operating system very annoying and hate transitioning between my different applications.
But there is no denying that its pretty.
Its a very pretty Operating system but adobe has broken the monopoly that the Apple Mac had on the design industry so the performance is more or less the same.

Abdul Aleem Mohammad
by Abdul Aleem Mohammad , Design Consultant / UX UI Designer , Dubai Gov. Workshop

nothing, other than processing performance .....

Mohammed Tayeh Ali Sebaqe
by Mohammed Tayeh Ali Sebaqe , عامل حفر , أوراسكوم للإنشاء والصناعة

If you grew up in the1980s, the concept of design might seem like a superficial and unimportant aspect of a computer.
But design is a big differentiator between Macs and PCs.
For the better part of three decades, former Apple CEO Steve Jobs focused on the outward appearance of his company's products with an enthusiasm unmatched by his competitors.
The unique designs that resulted from this obsession have given Mac products the "hip" image that they enjoy today.
This unconventional focus on design began with the very first Macintosh, introduced in1984.
Like many of the computers in Apple's current line, its CPU and monitor were housed in a single unit, reducing the number of cables necessary for operation and creating a sleeker profile.
Perhaps Jobs's and Apple designer Jonathan Ive's most significant success was the iMac, introduced in1998.
With its translucent, candy-colored shell, this model reversed Apple's flagging fortunes and represented the start of its rise to present-day popularity.
Today, some PC manufacturers are attempting to create more design-oriented models, but none have achieved the popular acclaim commanded by Mac products.
On the flip side, PCs don't come from a single manufacturer.
There are hundreds of different designs of PCs on the market, ranging from the utilitarian design of most business PCs to the space-age aesthetics of Alienware's gaming PC line of computers.
You might find some designs more compelling than Apple's approach, but there's no single vision guiding aesthetic choices when it comes to the design of the PC.
That's not necessarily a bad thing -- if you don't like one design, you can look to a different manufacturer to consider other options.
If you don't like Apple's design, you're out of luck if you absolutely have to own a Mac.
See you happy to help you and wish useful information.

Jayson Aglubat
by Jayson Aglubat , Graphic Designer/Information Technology , Local Government

Saving a File both are incompatible although using the same software but each of them have different software compatibility

i think the only differencxe betwin desinig on pc and mac is the time ...mac is better than pc and mac is based on unix system ....so when we desining on pc ...the system will be slowly and you must wait few moment before you can save and run you whatever you do ......
for exemple photoshop and illustrateur can t-ake lotof memory and when we use both ilustrateur and photoshop and flash the pc will be slowly

Abu Thahir
by Abu Thahir , UI/UX Designer , Cognizant Technologies

Manufacturers Apple Computers is the only manufacturer of Macintosh computers.
However, many different companies make PCs.
For this tutorial, let's consider a PC to be a computer that uses the Windows operating system.
Manufacturers like IBM, Dell, Gateway, Compaq, and many others sell computers that come with Windows pre-installed.
PCs are much more widely produced than Macs.
Processors Macs and PCs have traditionally used different kinds of processors (although, with the recent partnership between Apple and Intel, this may change soon).
Different processors can yield different strengths, and Apple has used this to try and differentiate itself from the PC market.
Macintoshes use a more graphics-based interface, while Windows is more text-centered.
Macs also offer powerful graphic and video software, such as photo and movie editors, so their processors are designed to enable these programs to operate quickly and smoothly.
PCs tend to be less geared toward these areas.
Interfaces The most noticeable difference between Macs and PCs is in the interfaces.
While many computer users will proclaim one or the other "superior" or "best," this is ultimately a matter of personal preference.
Some people simply prefer the aesthetics of the Mac.
Many Mac users are not professional graphic artists or video editors; some people like the look and feel of Macintosh computers, inside and out.
Price PC advocates often complain that Macs are too expensive.
However, Apple has introduced several affordable computers, such as the eMac and Mac mini series.
Also, many Mac users will counter that they are getting more power and capabilities than in a PC of the same price.
Users have to weigh the cost, capabilities, and included software of a computer to determine what brand and model will work best for them.
Compatibility While Macs and PCs existed in disparate worlds for years, new programs and efforts have increased compatibility.
Macs running Mac OS X Tiger, the newest version of the operating system, can open PC files and coexist on local networks with PCs.
The recent announcement that Apple will begin using Intel chips also signals that Mac - PC compatibility will only increase in the future.
Unfortunately, PCs have not made such extensive advances towards compatibility.
Many computers using Windows cannot open files stored on diskettes that have been specially formatted for Macs.
Also, PCs are unable to open several file types specific to Macs.
If you will be using both a Mac and PC, be sure to save files in formats that can be opened by both computers.

Kamruzzaman Ansari
by Kamruzzaman Ansari , Tech Lead/Solution Architect , HAVI Global

MRP (Manufacture Resource Planning) is more focused on planning for use of materials required to produce a business product, whereas ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) takes in the whole ecosphere of a business not just the manufacturing components, areas such as finance, HR, workforce, and property are all parts of an ERP system.

Mohammed Nour Hussain
by Mohammed Nour Hussain , Warehouse & Inventory Supervisor , ALAA FOR INDUSTRY (AFI)

In my opinion there isn't much of a difference in the programmes, obviously as you mentioned controls will be different, but the actual packages are the same.

PCs are known for being easy to use and great for families, they've also got a bad rep for being slow among other things. 

More Questions Like This