Graphic design student's uses of a mac (?)
I'm a high school student who is fairly tech-savvy... but with PC's. I have never touched an Apple except for the old 1980's ones.
I am preparing for a job in web/graphic design, however, and have noticed that some of my favorite designers use Macs rather than PC's. I've done a bit of research, and have pretty much decided to either bribe or threaten my parents to buy my one for my birthday.
However, I'm having trouble answering their questions about *why* a Mac is better than a PC for web/print design. I'm going to the Apple store soon, hopefully they'll be able to answer their questions... I'm pretty sure that may convince them, but just in case... I'd like your guys input!
Thanks! Hopefully no body disses me, because I'm sure this question's been answer millions of times!
~Sapper
Potential convert
I am preparing for a job in web/graphic design, however, and have noticed that some of my favorite designers use Macs rather than PC's. I've done a bit of research, and have pretty much decided to either bribe or threaten my parents to buy my one for my birthday.
However, I'm having trouble answering their questions about *why* a Mac is better than a PC for web/print design. I'm going to the Apple store soon, hopefully they'll be able to answer their questions... I'm pretty sure that may convince them, but just in case... I'd like your guys input!
Thanks! Hopefully no body disses me, because I'm sure this question's been answer millions of times!
~Sapper
Potential convert
Comments
Anyways, here's Apple's page on Design/Print in case you haven't seen it, it looks like it's a bit dated though:
http://www.apple.com/creative/designprint/
Apple's general Pro page:
http://www.apple.com/pro/
ex: I have a Dual 200Mhz PowerMac 9600 from early 1997, and I still use that for my main photoshop computer. It's snappy enough to get things done fast. I may have a Voodoo5 Radeon 7000 in there, and probably about 1.2GB ram, and a fast 10,000rpm hard drive, but a new G5 will out perform this easy, but it's still fast.
I have a old PowerMac 7100 66Mhz, that I use for music writing in my "mini-studio" It works perfect for me.
And if you want even older, I have a Mac from 1989, that's right 15 years old. Not a single part has ever been replaced. I use it for typing, and a large alarm clock, but hey, I can type on it and it keeps up with me! lol
I'd tell ya to get a mac. I think the Dual 1.8Ghz will suite you fine. w/ a 20" cinema, and you will have one of the fastest, most stylish computers on the block!
If you were web i'd say keep a PC handy, as some things you can only code I hear currently only on PC like .net and the like (eww) but other than that if you think you're confident figure out a way to try out a mac for a month or so and see if you like it. Though speed and video games aren't the strong points right now in terms of usability Mac OS is far and beyond that of windows in a lot of ways. I won't say Microsoft sux, I mean Bill did do a good job making PC's available for everyone. Try it out and see if you like it. If you want to video work I say right now get a mac Final Cut Pro is just so good, and much easier than any other program out there for the same purpose, and pretty fast now with G5's out. For print, its really you're personal preference. If you do a lot of work like me, right now computers are so fast its not about how fast your computer is but about your working environment and what you like. However I have our whole agency on macs, and we get a lot of strength using just one platform, especially with music sharing , and well applescript, filesharing (god what a breeze on mac), everything is just much more elegant. But then again its my personal preference, if you're been branded windows, at first it'll be hard to understand how easy things can really be. Like using a computer.
Honestly man unless you are doing video (which Final Cut Pro is the best) it isn't going to matter much. XP is just fine for web and desktop publishing. It really is a matter of history I think. Scott Kelby (if you use photoshop you should know him) is a strong mac user who although PS is the same on mac and PC (set up wise) he will only use a mac.
All in all it's up to you, truthfully you can do just as much on a PC (minus video) as you can on the mac equally easy, but it's all about preference.
<standard pro-mac statement>
Although I do know if you used a mac for a month or two full time your preference would switch from PC to mac
</standard pro-mac statement>
Moving between open folder windows and open document windows has traditionally been a much faster and cleaner experience with the Macintosh operating system. With the arrival of OS X 10.3's Exposé feature those of us working on Macs will only become faster. Wait until you're working between Photoshop, Illustrator and a web design app. Navigation is important, the Mac's interface is the least cluttered and has only been getting better.
Viruses? I have no downtime trying to scrape the goop out of my system files. This keeps me up and running (and laughing) while my PC counterparts sit around and talk about the latest virus updates. More money in my pocket.
That damned START key down at the bottom left of the Windows keyboard is an abomination to keyboard commands. I hope that there's a way to turn it off because when you're working in ANY application as a power user you are going to need to issue key commands with those modifier keys. Having that idiotic START menu leap up onto the screen fills me with rage. That alone is worth changing platforms.
Graphic designers have long appreciated the simple uncluttered work environment of the Mac. The attention to detail in the fit and finish of the OS is what keeps us there.
If you attend a school for graphic design much of your decision may be affected by that school's requirements..but know this: most any designer out there teaching was likely raised on a Mac and most proficient on a Mac. You'll spend less time having them fight the OS and more time learning your apps.
Go to the Apple store, play with a machine for an hour or two. Go to your local PC reseller and play on those machines. Get a feel for them and then decide for yourself. If it costs an extra couple hundred dollars remember that you get what you pay for.....
AppleScript is also good for doing tedious stuff. As well as integrated PDF creation, although I think that may be in XP as well.
I will say that I am glad you can change commands in PhotoShop CS because I get really annoyed how ctrl-delete (backspace) is the background color and alt-delete (backspace) is the foreground.
It is screwy because foreground color is on the left and background is on the right, so it's reversed. I never knew which was which and just tried both until a couple months ago I realized I could remember it by left foreground right background because that is how they appear in the tools palette. (I hope I worded it all correctly because I am not proof reading it)
These three are available on both platforms...so it boils down to workflow and suppliers. If you've used a PC all your life, yes it'll take adjusting to a Mac. But once you get the hang of it, it's like butter.
Most suppliers can handle both platforms but my experience is that it's still a Mac world in the print medium.
I would also venture to guess the majority of good design firms are on Macs. So if you're looking for work after school is done, get use to working on a Mac.
Funny thing about Quark : They don't offer a course for it any more. Its InDesign now at my school. I believe they weren't too generous with the software and Adobe is. I wish they offered both as I know I will be asked if I know Quark when I get back to the real world.
I think my printing experience is going to be a major plus when I graduate though. I know many graphics students right now that have never even stepped into a print shop.
As OS 9 is no longer in development and all new apps are now OS X only.
Just make sure the schools you are attending are using (or start using) OS X at least at certain degree.
If you learn OS 9 full time in school you maybe having hard time after you get out from school
What kind of Mac do you guys think I should get? I'll be doing word processing, listenging to music, internet surfing, graphic & web design on it. Minimal games (Alpha Centauri came out in 1998 so I'm not too worried!)
Originally posted by Sapper46123
I'm a high school student who is fairly tech-savvy... but with PC's. I have never touched an Apple except for the old 1980's ones.
I am preparing for a job in web/graphic design, however, and have noticed that some of my favorite designers use Macs rather than PC's. I've done a bit of research, and have pretty much decided to either bribe or threaten my parents to buy my one for my birthday.
However, I'm having trouble answering their questions about *why* a Mac is better than a PC for web/print design. I'm going to the Apple store soon, hopefully they'll be able to answer their questions... I'm pretty sure that may convince them, but just in case... I'd like your guys input!
Thanks! Hopefully no body disses me, because I'm sure this question's been answer millions of times!
~Sapper
Potential convert
If your parents aren't even going to be using the Mac, then why do they need an explanation? It's only been obvious that Macs have dominated the creative services sector since...forever!
Just tell them that it will benefit you by putting on your resume that you are both Mac and Windows proficient. It will help you in future jobs where Macs are most likely the preferred platform and you won't have to worry about the learning curve while on the job.
YOU are using the Mac, NOT your parents.
Originally posted by Sapper46123
I was thinking about getting a laptop, probably an iBook G4 due to my budget.
Er I dont think u should do that. Unless portability is a "must". An e-Mac would be faster and cheaper. The limiting factor in an iBook, is the resolution, it is pretty tedious to design on such a low resolution all the toolbards get in the way of seeing your work. Also, the output resolution to an external monitor remains the same - but I think u can get a "utility" to sort that out - . Finaly the total RAM capacity is 640mb on an e-Mac its 1gb.
As far as hardware features for dollar go, desktop systems outperform portables.
About platform choice, this is up to you. You can do exactly the same thing with the both. But if you are doing Web development, maybe the PC is a better choice, because of "MS standard" (ASP.net, more than 95% surfer use IE for Win, etc.).
If your are more in design : Go for the Mac ! You will discover a lot of creative way to do things, with help of AppleScript and ColorSync for print and Unix Tools for Web development.
But I will not buy an iBook G4. Like someone said the screen is too small. If you can go for a Dual G5 1.8 or a PowerBook G4 it will be a lot better.
There is another posssibility : eBay, but I think it's not good idea to buy *a first Mac* on eBay. Yon never know what you can get. You need to have experience or a friend who knows very well the Apple world of used Mac.
Originally posted by jeromba
No need at all for Quark "the dead" XPress. InDesign will be the standard in a few year (transparency, PDF, tables, etc.)
If you are serious about finding a job in the graphics industry, I would not follow this advice. As fantastic as InDesign is, it has barely made a dent in the industry. Look on any job website, the Quark knowledge out numbers InDesign about 50-1 in the graphics field.
That may change 3 years from now, but I assume you'll want a job before then. Sure it's a pain in the ass, but right now Quark is what everyone uses.
Originally posted by the cool gut
If you are serious about finding a job in the graphics industry, I would not follow this advice. As fantastic as InDesign is, it has barely made a dent in the industry. Look on any job website, the Quark knowledge out numbers InDesign about 50-1 in the graphics field.
That may change 3 years from now, but I assume you'll want a job before then. Sure it's a pain in the ass, but right now Quark is what everyone uses.
Just right know... i'm finishing a 64 pages cmyk magazine and two 12 pages folders in InDesign... all must be finished in 20 hours... all with photos, logos, transparency, tables, layers, photoshop layered files, etc...
You will need a lot of xtension to do what I do now.
I have used QuarkXPress for 10 years and I switch to InDesign with version 2.0 and Puma (Mac OS X 10.1) !!! Never had a problem with it and my files. I give PDF-X1a files to my printer without any problems at all... so... a LOT less than quark... no need to be scary about RGB, missing fonts or not the same version of them... so no reflow, EPS with JPEG compression , etc.)
Oh and btw... this is my job for living... I can't use something that don't work 200%... and Indy CS with PDF give me that and more.
Quark is really dead. PDF is king. I assume that a lot of agency are throwing away the cost to do "films?" and go to CTP. So PDF is the ticket and InDesign the ride to go.
Originally posted by jeromba
Quark is really dead. .
I don't know how people can be so naive. I'm not debating how good Indesign is, or that it can't do alot more than Quark. If he's looking for a job in pre-press, then he is going to have to familiarize himself with Quark - there's no way around that. Sure, he could hit the money pot and get hired by a company that works exclusively in InDesign, but that is not likely. You would be hard pressed to find a print shop using OSX let alone InDesign. Of course if he intends to stay strictly on being a designer or graphic artist, he doesn't need to know either.