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Microstock Photography Forum - General => General Stock Discussion => Topic started by: Artist on May 07, 2012, 11:19

Title: Microsoft or Apple....?
Post by: Artist on May 07, 2012, 11:19
If you were supposed to buy(or recommend) any of the either product which one will you prefer and why..?
Title: Re: Microsoft or Apple....?
Post by: cthoman on May 07, 2012, 11:36
I don't think it matters. I've used both and they both get the job done. I'd say buy whichever system you are used to or most comfortable with.
Title: Re: Microsoft or Apple....?
Post by: digitalexpressionimages on May 07, 2012, 11:47
I wouldn't ask for opinions. Mac fans will obviously say Apple and PC fans will say Microsoft. Even if you did a poll you'd find bias would determine the outcome as fans of each would vote for their favorite.

Think about what you're going to need it to do and then visit one of the many sites out there that do benchmark testing. Compare speed and functionality in the area you're interested in and decide from that.

Also keep in mind price and how long you'll be able to use it before needing to upgrade.
Title: Re: Microsoft or Apple....?
Post by: Perry on May 07, 2012, 11:59
Apple. Easier and less frustrating.
Title: Re: Microsoft or Apple....?
Post by: PinnacleAnimates on May 07, 2012, 12:00
never used Apple. But I have seen there products always in high demand....
Title: Re: Microsoft or Apple....?
Post by: Wim on May 07, 2012, 13:03
Games/Office => PC
All other => MAC

I've used windows +10 years and now mac about the same, I've never looked back to win except for playing a game.
Especially if you're into image editing or audio, a mac is the way to go, the workflow is much better.
I always giggle when I go back to the windows interface, Mac looks so much better, the unified neutral gray is perfect for image editing/photography.
Don't get me wrong, Win7 is very fast and stable compared to previous releases, but it just doesn't cut it where workflow is concerned, it doesn't feel smooth, only aggressive, the apps do not compliment eachother, where with mac it all feels like one.

Advantage PC => PRICE! Apple is VERY expensive!
Title: Re: Microsoft or Apple....?
Post by: cathyslife on May 07, 2012, 15:00
The industry standard for many years for the printing, graphics and publishing industry has been Mac.

Apple is expensive because their products last and the OS works. Most PCers I know have to replace their equipment about every 2 years because it, well, just doesn't run any more.

If you are doing a lot of spreadsheets and office publishing, Microsoft on a PC would suffice. If you are doing heavy graphics work and want to be compatible with most others in the industry, choose Mac.
Title: Re: Microsoft or Apple....?
Post by: Kngkyle on May 07, 2012, 15:18
Microsoft. More customizable/upgradeable and cheaper.
Title: Re: Microsoft or Apple....?
Post by: stockastic on May 07, 2012, 19:38
I think Microsoft is set for a big comeback in the consumer market, with Windows 8, Windows Phone, and cloud services.  I could be wrong, they have a history of taking a good thing and screwing it up royally.
Title: Re: Microsoft or Apple....?
Post by: CarlssonInc on May 08, 2012, 00:43
Since Windows 7 performance/functionality is neck and neck. Apple's products however are genuinely beautiful, but comparing like for like they are overpriced/a lot more expensive.
Title: Re: Microsoft or Apple....?
Post by: nicku on May 08, 2012, 00:50
For audio Apple - for the rest ( including photo processing Windows 7 professional )

very important the hard were.

I have worked with both. for the price of a Apple you can get a much better PC.

PS. The Nvidia Quadro graphics are the s**t the s**t, the s**t. give an example: 3 Canon 7D video (around 350MB/min) running in the same time (on different programs) CPU at 40%.
Title: Re: Microsoft or Apple....?
Post by: lagereek on May 08, 2012, 01:16
I do all PP, raw, etc, in Mac, have always done so but for uploading and general administrative work, I use PC.
Title: Re: Microsoft or Apple....?
Post by: Dantheman on May 08, 2012, 02:04
The industry standard for many years for the printing, graphics and publishing industry has been Mac.

Apple is expensive because their products last and the OS works. Most PCers I know have to replace their equipment about every 2 years because it, well, just doesn't run any more.

If you are doing a lot of spreadsheets and office publishing, Microsoft on a PC would suffice. If you are doing heavy graphics work and want to be compatible with most others in the industry, choose Mac.

I don't really understand why a Mac is more compatible than a PC, both use the same file formats etc. (for example if you use software from Adobe). A Mac gets just as slow after 2 years compared to the newer models.

Speeed/ Benchmarkwise both are also neck on neck. It mostly depends on the hardware. If you have a intel i7 with enought ram etc. both will run very fast.
I know a lot of people who change from a small Windows Netbook (€200) to a Macbook Pro (€1500) and keep raving about how much faster Mac OS is than WIndows :) Obviously this comparison isn't really fair.

Stability is also about the same. At home i use Windows 7 and at the University only Macs (Mac Pros). Funny enough the Macs crash just as often/seldom as Windows PCs.

Pricewise there also isn't such a huge difference. I build my own PC a few months back and hardwarewise it's a bit faster than the 27'' iMacs. I payed about €900. But most people forget that this price is withouth a Monitor. A similar monitor to the one's build into the iMacs also costs quite a lot!!

In my eyes both the Apple and Windows camps are really over exaggerating. A Mac doesn't really run faster more stable or change the way we use PC's. Its Design might be nicer more user friendly?!. But it also isn't true that Macs are so much more expensive, since the Monitors and Cases etc. are of a very high quality (buy a PC and add an expensive case and an Eizo display etc. and you'll see).

PS: For example software from Adobe runs practically at the same speed stability on both systems!
Title: Re: Microsoft or Apple....?
Post by: sharpshot on May 08, 2012, 02:11
If I was starting now, I would use Linux.  I use Linux on my netbook and laptop and will probably switch over on my main system one day.
Title: Re: Microsoft or Apple....?
Post by: Fran on May 08, 2012, 02:41
Having worked at Microsoft before and now working at Apple I would suggest..... Apple! :D

Jokes aside, it's now a matter of taste more than anything, both OS are very good and will do what you need very well. I'm personally using OSX cause I need it obviously for work, but I also find it very consistent and well designed. It appeals to "me". But I would have no problem using Windows 7 (and Windows 8 when it comes out) as I did in the past.

Try them out and choose. You will be fine with both.
Title: Re: Microsoft or Apple....?
Post by: Perry on May 08, 2012, 03:06
Let's not forget that you can put Windoews on Mac, but not (really) the other way around.
Title: Re: Microsoft or Apple....?
Post by: heywoody on May 08, 2012, 05:43
Apples are really nicely designed but I'd rather spend money on processing power and RAM than on a label
Title: Re: Microsoft or Apple....?
Post by: Microbius on May 08, 2012, 06:05
I've always struggled to understand why people talk so much about the OS when comparing Apple and PC. I don't know about you but I spend most of my time inside the same couple of programs (usually Adobe CS or in a web browser), not faffing about with the OS. My main concern is to get the biggest bang for my buck in terms of speed. The OS is usually in the background so as long as it doesn't get in my way or slow things down (and neither do now), not that bothered.

I think about switching to Mac whenever I need to upgrade, but I can never justify the extra expense for a slower system.
Title: Re: Microsoft or Apple....?
Post by: jbarber873 on May 08, 2012, 07:04
Apple stock, of course. Microsofts stock hasn't gone anywhere in 10 years.
Oh wait, you mean the computers.
I'd go with microsoft. Apple is becoming a consumer electronics company.
They don't really care about the graphics community any more.
And this is from someone who has owned over 50 apple computers starting with the first mac.
Title: Re: Microsoft or Apple....?
Post by: bunhill on May 08, 2012, 07:07
I think about switching to Mac whenever I need to upgrade, but I can never justify the extra expense for a slower system.

Do you factor in re-sale / used prices - i.e. how much you will get back on your equipment when you have finished with it ?

Eg - in my experience a used 5 years old Macbook will sell for something like 1/3 original price on eBay. In good condition and well advertised it will go for more (especially if somewhere along the way you upgraded the drive and RAM using OEM parts). Even broken Apple equipment and parts have a good resale value. See how much a 2006 Mac Pro desktop is still worth for example.

All of our equipment gets recycled like this.
Title: Re: Microsoft or Apple....?
Post by: Dantheman on May 08, 2012, 08:15
I think about switching to Mac whenever I need to upgrade, but I can never justify the extra expense for a slower system.

Do you factor in re-sale / used prices - i.e. how much you will get back on your equipment when you have finished with it ?

Eg - in my experience a used 5 years old Macbook will sell for something like 1/3 original price on eBay. In good condition and well advertised it will go for more (especially if somewhere along the way you upgraded the drive and RAM using OEM parts). Even broken Apple equipment and parts have a good resale value. See how much a 2006 Mac Pro desktop is still worth for example.

All of our equipment gets recycled like this.

This is totally true. I will never really understand why someone will buy a 5 year old pc for so much, but thats the way it is. Guess it has to do with Apple's good Image!
Title: Re: Microsoft or Apple....?
Post by: Microbius on May 08, 2012, 08:43
I think about switching to Mac whenever I need to upgrade, but I can never justify the extra expense for a slower system.

Do you factor in re-sale / used prices - i.e. how much you will get back on your equipment when you have finished with it ?

Eg - in my experience a used 5 years old Macbook will sell for something like 1/3 original price on eBay. In good condition and well advertised it will go for more (especially if somewhere along the way you upgraded the drive and RAM using OEM parts). Even broken Apple equipment and parts have a good resale value. See how much a 2006 Mac Pro desktop is still worth for example.

All of our equipment gets recycled like this.
You know what I hadn't even thought about that. I haven't ever tried to resell my old PCs either. I have a load in the loft. I wouldn't let them go without taking the HDs out and smashing them with sledge hammer, and I never get round to doing that. I guess I would run into the same problem with a Mac, not wanting to sell it on with the hard drive in there. I don't trust formatting the drive to completely remove the data beyond retrieval.
Title: Re: Microsoft or Apple....?
Post by: bunhill on May 08, 2012, 08:49
I think about switching to Mac whenever I need to upgrade, but I can never justify the extra expense for a slower system.

Do you factor in re-sale / used prices - i.e. how much you will get back on your equipment when you have finished with it ?

Eg - in my experience a used 5 years old Macbook will sell for something like 1/3 original price on eBay. In good condition and well advertised it will go for more (especially if somewhere along the way you upgraded the drive and RAM using OEM parts). Even broken Apple equipment and parts have a good resale value. See how much a 2006 Mac Pro desktop is still worth for example.

All of our equipment gets recycled like this.
You know what I hadn't even thought about that. I haven't ever tried to resell my old PCs either. I have a load in the loft. I wouldn't let them go without taking the HDs out and smashing them with sledge hammer, and I never get round to doing that. I guess I would run into the same problem with a Mac, not wanting to sell it on with the hard drive in there. I don't trust formatting the drive to completely remove the data beyond retrieval.

It is easy enough to fit a new drive and it invariably adds value for minimal cost.
Title: Re: Microsoft or Apple....?
Post by: Wim on May 08, 2012, 09:17
The mac works fluent from one app to another, like it's one big app, and the uniform interface helps with that too. I don't get that with windows, it's all seperated from each other and feels more agressive then smooth.

An old friend of mine got me into macs, he also used both OS and when I asked him why on earth I should change to mac he said "WORKFLOW"

If the workflow is better then work can be done more quickly, even on a slower machine.

Wim
Title: Re: Microsoft or Apple....?
Post by: louoates on May 08, 2012, 13:38
I wonder why nobody has mentioned the constant maintenance of PCs with anti-virus fixes and third party system-cleaning software. Not having to worry about those issues is worth lots to me.
Title: Re: Microsoft or Apple....?
Post by: kingjon on May 08, 2012, 17:43
It's funny, every time the Mac vs PC issue comes up, someone will mention the Mac "fanboys". What is that (satisfied customers)? I've been a PC user for over 25 years. I recently got a Macbook pro. I love the Mac and my next desktop will be a Mac. It took about 15 minutes to learn how everything works. My wife uses the iPhone and iPad (and the iCloud) for her business. There's no going back to PC's now. I couldn't care less about Apple's image. We just love the products. Hey,  I am a fanboy!
Title: Re: Microsoft or Apple....?
Post by: Toon Vectors on May 08, 2012, 18:03
Let's not forget that you can put Windoews on Mac, but not (really) the other way around.

That's definitely a big argument in favor of buying a Mac if you're on the fence or anticipate a need for both.  I have a Mac Pro as my main rig, but spend nearly all of my time in Windows 7 by preference.  I don't often have a reason to boot into OS X, but I can when I need to which is great.
Title: Re: Microsoft or Apple....?
Post by: stratol on May 09, 2012, 19:57
Both will do the same job and will do it equally well.
Apple is prettier and easier to use if you aren't tech savvy, but costs considerably more money for a similar performing machine.
Windows is more complex and less friendly to new users, but a small budget can get you a very powerful machine.

You photos will not look any different if you process them on one instead of the other.
Title: Re: Microsoft or Apple....?
Post by: grp_photo on May 10, 2012, 01:09
Nowadays there is no real difference between the OS the only difference is marketing and price, even the hardware is the same anyone here remember NuBus, PowerPCProcessors and all the other special hardware Apple once had?
Title: Re: Microsoft or Apple....?
Post by: antistock on May 10, 2012, 06:18
Let's not forget that you can put Windoews on Mac, but not (really) the other way around.

wrong.
actually i can run OSX on a 500$ laptop.

ever heard of "Hackintosh" ??
Title: Re: Microsoft or Apple....?
Post by: antistock on May 10, 2012, 06:21
Apples are really nicely designed but I'd rather spend money on processing power and RAM than on a label

exactly.
can't see what's the big deal ... and i could say that using PS or LR on a mac with a single mouse button is quite frustrating !
where exactly is the added value ? PS CS6 is using the GPU for many heavy renderings so it's indeed faster on a PC than on the average
macbook pro with a sh-itty Intel graphic card.
Title: Re: Microsoft or Apple....?
Post by: antistock on May 10, 2012, 07:07
why on earth I should change to mac he said "WORKFLOW"

If the workflow is better then work can be done more quickly, even on a slower machine.

typical Apple sectarianism.
there is no better workflow than becoming a skilled user, hardware and software are just a tool.
my laptop is 4yrs old and i still get the job done.
Title: Re: Microsoft or Apple....?
Post by: jm on May 10, 2012, 07:08
My first and last PC (Windows 95) was destroyed by Chernobyl Virus. From this moment on I am happy Mac user. (but not without reservations - wi-fi connection still doesn't work as it should on 10.7...)
Title: Re: Microsoft or Apple....?
Post by: DiscreetDuck on May 10, 2012, 07:12
I think Istock is best used on a mac, Shutterstock on a PC...   ;)
Title: Re: Microsoft or Apple....?
Post by: antistock on May 10, 2012, 07:22
Apple is prettier and easier to use if you aren't tech savvy

yeah but then again if you're serious about Photoshop it's still a 1000 pages manual to read, so what's the point ?
Title: Re: Microsoft or Apple....?
Post by: Artist on May 10, 2012, 08:11
I think Istock is best used on a mac, Shutterstock on a PC...   ;)

lol.. good approach  :D
Title: Re: Microsoft or Apple....?
Post by: Dantheman on May 10, 2012, 14:28
I think Istock is best used on a mac, Shutterstock on a PC...   ;)

Haha, nice one