I won't say money is no object, but I have a fairly decent budget for buying a new Photoshop machine. It occurred to me seconds ago that I've completely ignored Mac's in the search. I've used PC's (in 1983 I referred to them as a solution looking for a problem) since the TRS-80 hit the market, so it seems a natural progression to move towards and newer verson of something I already know. But Macs work! I've used OSX before and it is fairly intuitive, so I think it's worth a shot. My machine now does Photoshop, surfs the web, spends too much money on Jim's website, does email, and plays a couple of games for my wife. She has to have some browser to chat in one of the MSN chat rooms too. Mac can do all that, right?
Now, I hold a license for Photoshop CS2 on PC. Can I move that license to a Mac, or do I have to buy another license? Maybe there's an upgrade path?
Anyone have experience with both Mac and PC post processing? In either case, I'm looking at stuffing it up with RAM (4g) and turning lots of little spindles in a stripe set (Mac can do that, right?) to maximize disk I/O. Any other recommendations from either camp? Can I transfer my tons of raw and jpg files from a PC platform to a Mac platform? Sneakernet on DVD maybe?
Take a close look at the latest Macs with the Intel processors. I love Mac and have used them continuously since they first appeared, but also recognize certain limitations. We're forced to use PC's also, simply to be able to use specific software not available for Macs (Garmin GPS map software, Fuji studio management software, and one software package from our photo processor, for example). To me the PC file handling system feels really awkward compared to Mac, but that's a familiarity issue rather than a criticism.
In a great and wonderful world, it's starting to look like you can handle both systems on the newest Macs. That would be a real plus for all your accumulated PC software if it's true and highly functional. I'd try to confirm that point and buy accordingly. If Mac is still not quite flawless in that regard, I'd be tempted to wait a month or two for the kinks to be straightened before buying.
Once the two platforms are on the same machines, Mac-heads like me are going to have to learn a whole lot more about viruses and protection I suspect.
Don't know if it will hold true with the new dual platform systems, but in general terms Mac's are much more stable than PC's in terms of crashes.
I did the switch to Mac about a year ago. Adobe charged me the price of shipping to switch my CS2 version from windows to the Mac. I would never go back to a Windows machine and I used them for 15 years. Just my opinion no flame intended.
Posted by Scott Buckel on May 25, 2006 at 12:19 PM
To change OS Adobe will charge you the upgrade price. When CS came out they allowed you to upgrade from 7 and OS at the same time. Prior to that it would have been two upgrades - the new version and the new OS.
Several years ago I made the change from Mac to Windows. I had a wired hub that I used to set up a network and I moved the files from the Mac to the PC. It was rather painless as I remember.
The main reason I switched from Mac was support from local sources. My support locally was very poor, in fact, the Mac guys around here were difficult to deal with as they made you feel like an idiot if you had problems. I had problems getting support from Apple and Espon when I had printer issues. More recently I was helping a neighbor set up his digital darkroom on a Mac and I was able to get good support from the local CompUSA.
I also run a laboratory that has a dedicated windows support guy that now supports my problems on my home network for a six pack of good local microbrew. That said I really like Macs and wish I did not havet he poor experiences that I had.
Your mileage will likely vary from mine. The new intel macs look intriquing to me due to Boot Camp.
Posted by Richard Wong on May 25, 2006 at 12:53 PM
I use Dell PC's at home, but use Mac at work and did at school. The windows filing system is more comfortable to me but that's because I've used PC's for 15 years or so. What I don't like is that the system is chronically unstable and have to worry about viruses, etc... If money weren't an issue, I'd probably have a mac system for PS work and a PC for recreational use.
I've used Wintel (actually started with DOStel) since IBM first put out their "PC-1." As a CS prof. I've used this platform for teaching and research until Jan. 2004 when I become a switcher - got a 17" Powerbook. I absolutely love the Mac and OSX! It's such a joy to use! I can certainly point out the usual reasons Mac people use (no viruses, fewer crashes...), but for me it's a zen thing - I can't put my finger on it, there's just something elegant about it. That said - I still use both platforms (along with Linux), and strongly feel that each has its unique character. You just have to figure out which one connects with you.
As to your questions - I have no problems with post processing on a Mac. All the software I need is available. Copying data files from PC to Mac is easy, no technical problems - use a router at home? Just log into one machine from the other, set up the permissions correctly, and copy files. I don't know about transfering CS2 license from PC to Mac, as I got into digital photography after switching - bought my first copy of CS2 for the Mac.
- Pierre
Posted by Basil Greber on May 26, 2006 at 11:50 AM
Go4Mac
I've used Macs for myself and PC's with Windows and Linux at school/university, and I've always preferred Mac.
I think its been noted here that I'm an avid Mac geek... and will always suggest Macs as the way to go...
Also right now is a good time for Macs as far as software goes... Apples Aperture app is obviously Mac only, and Adobe's Lightroom is at the moment also mac only (PC version coming soon)... that should tell you a little about what the industry thinks of OS X....
Hardware wise, you'd be hard pressed to find a better machine than any of the new Intel Macs... extremely powerful, while being extremely efficient.... and the whole price arguement is debateable... from a hardware only standpoint you'll get more features in a Mac, and once you throw in the OS and all the bundle apple software, there's really not much competition price wise... here's an article debating the old macs are too expensive theory (its macbook pro vs dell laptop)...
http://www.macworld.com/news/2006/02/13/pricecomparison/index.php
Now, one thing i will point out is, at the moment, Adobe CS2 is NOT optimized to run on the Intel chips... so Photoshop runs in emulation (albeit transparently)... and while this will be slower than running it natively on a PowerPC G5, and probably a higher end Pentium4, depending on your system, you may not notice much of a performance hit... it will depend on what type of stuff your doing, heavy filter use could be an issue for example. In the small amount of testing i've done between a Macbook Pro 1.83ghz and my Powerbook G4 1.33ghz, is that there isnt too much difference in speed and performance...but i dont do photoshop all day every day for a living.
that would be the one thing to consider at the current time. once adobe ships CS3 next year, things will be fine. also you can use Boot Camp to dual boot into window and run your windows version of Photoshop natively that way, and would get all the performance and speed the macbook has to offer!! now thats a bonus...
Discussion
9 repliesNow, I hold a license for Photoshop CS2 on PC. Can I move that license to a Mac, or do I have to buy another license? Maybe there's an upgrade path?
Anyone have experience with both Mac and PC post processing? In either case, I'm looking at stuffing it up with RAM (4g) and turning lots of little spindles in a stripe set (Mac can do that, right?) to maximize disk I/O. Any other recommendations from either camp? Can I transfer my tons of raw and jpg files from a PC platform to a Mac platform? Sneakernet on DVD maybe?
Thanks! Looking for your insight!
Ultimately the differences come down to the user interface so try both and decide which one works best for your personal style.
If I were in the market I would wait a little longer for the Core2 Duo processors, which are supposed to be an improvement over the first generation.
Guy
In a great and wonderful world, it's starting to look like you can handle both systems on the newest Macs. That would be a real plus for all your accumulated PC software if it's true and highly functional. I'd try to confirm that point and buy accordingly. If Mac is still not quite flawless in that regard, I'd be tempted to wait a month or two for the kinks to be straightened before buying.
Once the two platforms are on the same machines, Mac-heads like me are going to have to learn a whole lot more about viruses and protection I suspect.
Don't know if it will hold true with the new dual platform systems, but in general terms Mac's are much more stable than PC's in terms of crashes.
Several years ago I made the change from Mac to Windows. I had a wired hub that I used to set up a network and I moved the files from the Mac to the PC. It was rather painless as I remember.
The main reason I switched from Mac was support from local sources. My support locally was very poor, in fact, the Mac guys around here were difficult to deal with as they made you feel like an idiot if you had problems. I had problems getting support from Apple and Espon when I had printer issues. More recently I was helping a neighbor set up his digital darkroom on a Mac and I was able to get good support from the local CompUSA.
I also run a laboratory that has a dedicated windows support guy that now supports my problems on my home network for a six pack of good local microbrew. That said I really like Macs and wish I did not havet he poor experiences that I had.
Your mileage will likely vary from mine. The new intel macs look intriquing to me due to Boot Camp.
As to your questions - I have no problems with post processing on a Mac. All the software I need is available. Copying data files from PC to Mac is easy, no technical problems - use a router at home? Just log into one machine from the other, set up the permissions correctly, and copy files. I don't know about transfering CS2 license from PC to Mac, as I got into digital photography after switching - bought my first copy of CS2 for the Mac.
- Pierre
I've used Macs for myself and PC's with Windows and Linux at school/university, and I've always preferred Mac.
Basil
Also right now is a good time for Macs as far as software goes... Apples Aperture app is obviously Mac only, and Adobe's Lightroom is at the moment also mac only (PC version coming soon)... that should tell you a little about what the industry thinks of OS X....
Hardware wise, you'd be hard pressed to find a better machine than any of the new Intel Macs... extremely powerful, while being extremely efficient.... and the whole price arguement is debateable... from a hardware only standpoint you'll get more features in a Mac, and once you throw in the OS and all the bundle apple software, there's really not much competition price wise... here's an article debating the old macs are too expensive theory (its macbook pro vs dell laptop)...
http://www.macworld.com/news/2006/02/13/pricecomparison/index.php
Now, one thing i will point out is, at the moment, Adobe CS2 is NOT optimized to run on the Intel chips... so Photoshop runs in emulation (albeit transparently)... and while this will be slower than running it natively on a PowerPC G5, and probably a higher end Pentium4, depending on your system, you may not notice much of a performance hit... it will depend on what type of stuff your doing, heavy filter use could be an issue for example. In the small amount of testing i've done between a Macbook Pro 1.83ghz and my Powerbook G4 1.33ghz, is that there isnt too much difference in speed and performance...but i dont do photoshop all day every day for a living.
that would be the one thing to consider at the current time. once adobe ships CS3 next year, things will be fine. also you can use Boot Camp to dual boot into window and run your windows version of Photoshop natively that way, and would get all the performance and speed the macbook has to offer!! now thats a bonus...
sorry for the long post, but i hope it helps.