Computers and technology

Computers and technology
Apple Macintosh or Windows PC (and what about Linux)?

There was a time when Apple Macs were the immediate choice for any professional graphic designer or pre-press studio. But times have changed and the Mac Vs PC argument is not so clear cut.

When desk top publishing (DTP) and WYSIWYG were first developed in the 1980s, along with the graphical user interface (GUI), Macs were really the only option for the design and printing industry.

Nearly all design layout and graphics software was either Mac only, or was far more reliable on a Mac than it was on a Microsoft Windows PC. Moreover, Macs were so closely linked to the various technologies used in the prepress and printing industry, such as scanners, RIPs and imagesetters, that to use a Windows PC was simply not a viable option.

But this has not been the case for some time and now there are many design studios, publishers and printers that have either standardized on Windows PCs or, at the very least, are happy to deal with files supplied from PC users. Along with the advert of web design, the reliance on Apple Macs for print reproduction has become even less.

Despite this, it is important to acknowledge that most print-based graphic designers still use Apple Macs and many graphic artists and pre-press bureaus still prefer dealing with documents created on the Macintosh platform. It is also generally accepted that color calibration is more reliable on the Macintosh platform.

Of course with modern versions of Mac OS X and Windows, there is no reason why designers have to choose between Macintosh or Windows computers. Both will happily coexist on the same network and, within reason, open the same file types.

Those designers who choose new Apple Macs can now have the best of both worlds, as the Intel-based Macs can now boot up into both Mac OS X and Windows XP.
Linux for graphic design?

With the increase in popularity for open source software solutions, some designers may be tempted to investigate whether Linux is a viable option. And there are some open source graphics applications, including DTP packages, vector drawing programs and photo editors. However, for professional print design, few designers will currently trust their business to these programs.
Mac v PC - are there actually any differences now?

There are, of course, some differences when it comes to using Macs and PCs for graphic design work. The the gap between general usability, between Macs and Windows PCs, has narrowed dramatically. Indeed Windows, since version 2000, has been a very stable operating system and some designers have argued that Apple's latest operating system, OS X, is somewhat less user friendly than its previous operating systems.

Many designers have also grown up the Apple Mac GUI and believe it to be more focused on creative aspects than other operating systems. In particular color calibration and WYSIWYG issues are often thought to have been dealt with more favorably on Macs than PCs.
Proprietary hardware – good or bad?

Apple make their own hardware and software and this is often given as a reason for higher build quality and hardware compatibility. The Windows operating system will run on any variety of PCs and Mac enthusiasts sometimes argue that this can give rise to driver software issues and compatibility problems. Windows users may counter that this allows far more choice and value for money. As ever, it's horses for courses and most designers will choose the platform that works best for them for their particular purpose.
Working together in a cross platform environment

These days a graphic designer is very likely to be working in a mixed Mac and PC environment. This is much less of an issue than it used to be, with either platform being able to open documents created on the other. However, there are potential problems to be aware of and issues such as fonts matching and text overflows can cause all sorts of problems – even when using the same piece of software and fonts from the same foundry. For this reason alone, many studios will standardize on one platform.

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