Digital Photography Basics – The Windows Vs Mac Debate
One of the most hotly contested concepts in the world of digital photography is that of operating system superiority. Mac users claim that due to OS X’s ease of use and Apple’s eye for design, their systems are the best in the world for storing and editing digital photos. On the other side of the discussion, Windows users have long bandied about the assertion that PCs are more compatible, more universal, and thus more qualified to handle the workload of the digital arts community. So who is right in this battle of the software titans?
Windows
Microsoft Windows has been the long time standard for business software like Outlook, Word and Excel. The majority of offices use PC’s with windows as this is mainly due to the lower cost of PC equipment and the compatibility of different systems working with windows. However when it comes to digital photography, using Windows gives you no clear advantage over any other operating system.
Photo editing software such as Adobe Photoshop runs almost identically on Windows as it does on a Mac, and since Apple made the switch to Intel processors the chances are good that the hardware is nearly identical as well. What are the pluses of using Windows? For starters, PCs are cheap, especially when compared to Macs. Much of the software available for OS X is also available for Windows and you can get a good PC that works well with photos for a lot less than an Mac with similar software. If you’re cost conscious and on a tight budget, then you should probably consider getting a PC with Windows.
Mac
It’s hard to believe that just ten years ago, many industry analysts declared Apple “dead in the water.”. Thanks to innovative design and easy to use software, Apple managed to stage an incredible comeback to become one of the leaders in the world of computers. OS X was designed and built with multi-media in mind and is often praised for its intuitive interface and seamless meshing.
Apple computers are sometimes viewed as less advanced as PCs hardware-wise, and often cost an good chunk of money. The top of the line PowerMac could run you over $4,000, and when you consider that the easiest way to upgrade a Mac is to buy a new one, taking the financial plunge can be quite difficult. That being said, OS X is an incredibly stable operating system that suffers from minimal virus threats and rarely (if ever) crashes. Another thing you’ll find better with a Mac is when you work on multiple programs at once it’s a lot faster and easier which can significantly increase your productivity.
Most people will naturally select their preferences so the real answer to which operating system is better lies in what ultimately works best for you. Personal preference just can’t be explained because no one can tell you why one person prefers let’s say likes – ornate gold leaf picture frames and someone else loves distressed picture frames – it’s just their taste. There is no difference between the file formats that Photoshop or Lightroom create on either operating system, and having one or the other will not have a negative impact on your ability to work with digital photographs. Your best solution is to visit the Apple store and then visit a computer store and play around with both operating systems. Whichever system makes the most sense to you based upon your needs and budget is the one you should invest in.
Windows and Mac both have their strengths and weaknesses and either one could be the victor depending upon the needs of the user. However, in the world of digital photography, either one is a good bet towards taking your photos to the next level. As long as it makes sense to you, everything should be just fine.
November 22, 2010
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Posted by Jam Man
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