[Hidden-tech] Mac or PC?

[B. Kimo Lee]

Hi Dina,

In my opinion, the level of PC system Alex is describing in his  
comparison below is way overkill for your graphic design work. If you  
were doing high-end video editing or animation, 3-D computer  
illustration, or photos to be output at high-rez as oversize fine art  
prints, you might start to need that kind of processing power. I  
wouldn't think you would be going in that direction with a book --  
just because of the small display size and maybe because of color  
accuracy issues.

It used to be a common sentiment that you could never have enough  
processing power. But I think that except for those who are super  
impatient, that isn't so much the case anymore. The days of turning  
off your monitor and leaving the CPU on to render something overnight  
are pretty much gone — except in really high-end work. Most of my Mac  
work is with low-rez Web graphics these days, but I still do some high- 
rez photo retouching and other image editing from time to time for  
some clients and the current crop of Macs handle everything fine. It  
does help to have more RAM memory when working with high-rez graphics  
files. MacSolutions.com sells 1 gb ram modules for about $36, and 4 gb  
modules for about $127 (for iMac G5). Check out some of the other  
designers on the list for their input. Silvana Gravini or Giannina  
Silverman might have some thoughts.

I still think one of the main things to use as your guide is what you  
are comfortable with. In my observation, people just seem to be wired  
differently. Some get frustrated by Windows, while others are lost on  
the Mac. Kind of like liberals and conservatives in political  
ideology, but I don't mean to imply that a certain type likes a PC or  
vice-versa — only that for whatever reason, the two don't seem to  
understand each other, and don't really need to. Just be able to live  
and work together. :-)

Best,
Kimo

PS: If you want to talk shop about systems options advice, contact me  
offlist...




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On Nov 3, 2008, at 10:27 AM, alex at afischerphotography.com wrote:

>   ** Be sure to fill out the survey/skills inventory in the member's  
> area.
>   ** If you did, we all thank you.
>
>
> While I agree there are some issues with PC purchases, especially  
> bottom of the barrel PC, I think Kevin misrepresents the question by  
> referencing a bottom end PC for comparison to a MAC.  Price wise, no  
> Mac is bottom end and cheap PCs, I agree are not worth it.   But a  
> moderately prices PC compares favorably and has some advantages.
>
> I have used both PC and MAC platforms over the years and have  
> experience with the quirkiness of Mac platforms and their lack of  
> flexibility.  On the PC side of things if you spend a little more  
> money $1,200 range) on a PC desktop, you can obtain a very fine  
> system.  The problem with Mac, until the Mac Pro, it was virtually  
> impossible to swap out or add hard drives, lower end or all in one  
> Macs are still limited.
>
> The problem with the Mac Pro is its expense.  I would love to afford  
> a Mac Pro, 16 Gig Ram capability, 5 one terra bite hard drive  
> storage potential with two installed and it is easy to swap them in  
> and out.  But when I reviewed prices for hat I need in software and  
> hardware, the difference is staggering.
>
> If you are simply looking to take something out of the box, and you  
> want it to work without having to install or purchase some  
> additional software, and photo or video storage is not an issue then  
> get a Mac, expecially cost is not an issue.  But, if your are  
> worried about Hard Drive's going bad, backing up files and easily  
> installing some compatible business software and still want speed,  
> i.e., 8 Gig Ram system with the ability to easily swap out  and use  
> all of Microsoft Office products seemlessly for as little of $1200,  
> then a PC is your best bet.
>
> My comparison: $1500 for a pc v. $10,000 for a similar Mac.
>
> The rest of Macs are useless if one of its components go bad or  
> flake out or you want to purchase a newer Mac and transfer your  
> files easily by installing an old hard drive into your new unit.   
> You have to send it into the Mac store for help instead of easily  
> doing it yourself.  The old joke is...what can you do with an old  
> Mac...turn it into Art, even the info on it.
>
> What ever you decide should be the result of a careful cost benefit  
> analysis of your needs and what you experience is using either  
> platform.
> -------- Original Message --------
> Subject: Re: [Hidden-tech] Mac or PC?
> From: Lynne_Rudié <lynnerudie at verizon.net>
> Date: Mon, November 03, 2008 9:06 am
> To: Kevin McAllister <kevin at inresonance.com>
> Cc: Hidden-Tech Tech <hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net>
>
> ** Be sure to fill out the survey/skills inventory in the member's  
> area.
> ** If you did, we all thank you.
> Well said Kevin! I couldn't agree more.
>  Lynne
>
> On Nov 1, 2008, at 3:13 PM, Kevin McAllister wrote:
>
>>   ** Be sure to fill out the survey/skills inventory in the  
>> member's area.
>>   ** If you did, we all thank you.
>>
>> The ancient question!
>>
>> I believe that too much emphasis is placed in the wrong area in  
>> this discussion always -
>>
>> Goes like this:
>>
>> - Mac is SO much more expensive, but people swear by it for  
>> graphics, video, creativity. Can I save money and just buy a  
>> cheaper PC?
>> - Computer is computer - buy the one you like.
>>
>> Having worked with, and supported dozens of institutions and  
>> professionals - parents and students - for 15 years, to me the  
>> answer is the same.
>>
>> The total cost of computer owndership is not the purchase price. If  
>> you save 500, or 1000 or 5000 in purchase price (forget 200) and  
>> you can't get your job done for hours, or days, or weeks, then you  
>> have lost potentially thousands of real dollars.
>>
>> The cost of frustration, loss of productivity, downtime, returns,  
>> rebooting, and freezes dwarfs any purchase cost savings —if there  
>> is any. Using a bargain basement PC with free, or low cost, stolen,  
>> or "borrowed" software for real work, to me is a very near sighted  
>> decision.
>>
>> Using a running PC or a running Mac to create in Photoshop or  
>> Office is mostly equal. That is true.
>>
>> Graphic designers create to share. Sharing nicely is what Mac is  
>> all about - not running Office or Adobe products.
>>
>> Printing those files, transferring those files, getting true color  
>> with printers, hooking up to peripherals, adding different cameras,  
>> etc is where the difference is staggering, and where all but the  
>> high end geek will lose time and money. Four trips to CompUSA and 2  
>> weeks of returns and the associated downtime loses all purchase  
>> savings for most graphic designers.
>>
>> My 2 cents
>> Kevin
>>>
>>
>>
>> Kevin J. McAllister | President, CEO
>> inRESONANCE ... Solutions that resonate
>>
>> kevin at inresonance.com | 413.587.0236 | www.inresonance.com
>>
>> _______________________________________________
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