iMac vs. PC for CS5... EASE OF USE Comparison

[MrAwesome]

I'm going to purchase CS5, for which I will use Photoshop and InDesign only.

Here's the thing- I will also be LEARNING to use Photoshop and InDesign, and while I'm VERY familiar with the PC, I have never used a MAC except in the store to play around a little.

I will be scanning and assembling 100 page brochure type booklets, both photos and text, a lot of scanning photos in, also digital photos from my camera, etc... and I will be doing this a good bit over the next couple of years.

Assuming I have a comparable Dell XPS desktop & screen spec-wise to the best iMac, which is better to use CS5 on...? MAC or PC? (I know it's an age-old question) and if it's MAC, is it enough of an advantage for me to go learn to use the MAC as well as to learn the PS & ID programs?

I realize that PC is more performance per $. But without factoring in $, I'm only looking for the ease of use and also speed comparisons, and would consider the extra cost an investment. A lot of comparisons across the internet have the issue I'm concerned about diluted because price comparisons are brought into the mix.

Alot of the advice on this forum seems to be remarkably un-biased compared to what I expected while searching for similar posts, so I will value your input. Thanks in advance!

 

[Booch21]

I purchased my iMac i7 last September. Got 8 GB of RAM and the 27" screen. Prior to that, I ran Production Premium CS4 on an older Dell running Windows 7. When I made the switch to Mac, I was going to run CS4 under Parallels. Then CS5 was released and I found out that Adobe would let me upgrade across platforms. So I did and haven't looked back. I run CS5 at work on an i5 Windows machine and my Mac blows it away. I am now running CS5.5 as of this week on my Mac.

Having said all of that, make the leap. It isn't as harsh a transition as you might think, but take the time to read the Win to Mac docs on Apple's web site. It'll make things smoother for you. But for running Adobe products, Mac wins out for me. You'll be very pleased with the results.

 

[johnfkitchen]

I have switched from PC to Mac for Photoshop use, and am more than happy. I spend less time working for the OS, and it's just a nicer experience.

That said, I bought Apple's Aperture 3, and now rarely use Photoshop. Aperture is also a much nicer experience with none of Photoshop's modality silliness, and complexity. I still use Photoshop for times when I want to get REALLY creative with layers, masks and stuff. But for 99%+ of the time, Aperture is perfect.

 

[Badger^2]

They are the same app, regardless of platform.

Heres what I dont like on the PC part: key commands.

On the Mac its Command + key (red circle), PC is the green circle, Control + key.

Using you thumb for Command + C, Command + D, Command + S, etc is far, far, far easier than using your pinky for Control. As you get better and better with PShop and learn to use key commands more and more... you will see the difference right away.

 

[MrAwesome]

THANK YOU SO MUCH GUYS! These personal opinions comparing the two are JUST what I needed. I really, really appreciate it. And if anyone else that sees this thinks there's a clear benefit one way or the other, I'll still keep checking this post.

Again, I really appreciate you all taking the time to share. Thanks so much!

 

[DannyBres]

I believe it is more optimised and will run slightly faster in windows but the workflow in OSX will mean that you wuill work faster!

 

[CHSeifert]

So if a guy owns the iMac 27 ultimate and is about to purchase Adobe CS5 Master Collection (all CS5 programs together) what should one get if Adobe CS programs runs slightly better in the windows version ?

I will run win 7 bootcamp on my iMac anyway......for Office for Win

 

[DannyBres]

Hmmm... which would be easier for you?! Do you really need the windows version of office?! Can you not cope with Office for Mac?

Do you need to run office and CS at the same time?!

How much time do you spend in windowS?

 

[NutsNGum]

So if a guy owns the iMac 27 ultimate and is about to purchase Adobe CS5 Master Collection (all CS5 programs together) what should one get if Adobe CS programs runs slightly better in the windows version ?

I will run win 7 bootcamp on my iMac anyway......for Office for Win

----
Vh/Regards
Claus - TapaTalk on my Ip4

To be honest, the performance difference will be negligible to the average user. I've used CS5 on my own Mac and a PC at a colleague's place and the only real difference I've noted is that the time it takes me to do something in OSX compared to the PC is greatly reduced due to keyboard shortcuts. I think Badger mentioned that already.

Why the Office for Windows? Do you already own a copy of Windows? It seems a bit of a pain to have to reboot every time that you want to use a word or excel. Have you looked into parallels or Office for Mac?

 

[MrAwesome]

Thanks again everybody! So what I'm feeling from the comments is that machine to machine, if price is NOT an issue, that it would be worth learning to use a Mac to use Photoshop on, right? That a Mac is the machine to use Photoshop on if you're going to use Photoshop regularly, right?

 

[brucem91]

I have CS5 on my Dell and I have CS4 on my iMac. Photoshop (not SERIOUSLY used Indesign since CS2 or something like that) seem to run considerably better for me on the mac. So that is what I would recommend. I've also noticed with Adobe After Effects(I know u mentioned PS and ID) that a few things that work on the mac version don't seem to work on the windows version, so that may or may not be the same with PS or ID.

 

[nStyle]

Thanks again everybody! So what I'm feeling from the comments is that machine to machine, if price is NOT an issue, that it would be worth learning to use a Mac to use Photoshop on, right? That a Mac is the machine to use Photoshop on if you're going to use Photoshop regularly, right?

Better is subjective in this case. The entire design industry would testify that PS on a Mac is better, but the designation would still be entirely subjective.

There is nothing regarding CS5.5 on a mac that you can do that you can't do in CS5.5 on a PC. Adobe caters to both operating systems quite consistently. For example, the same web site designed in Photoshop on a Mac could easily be replicated on a PC. Therefore, you have no advantage other than owning a machine that nearly all design firms and anyone associated with design uses. Is the aforementioned fact absolutely justified? I would say for the most part, no; my answer would be as simple as "that's just the way it is".

I wouldn't base buying a Mac solely on the fact that it might run Photoshop a little better or more efficiently than what you are used to: this would be a blind move. There is much more to an OS than a few nuances identified when comparing software designed on two different platforms.

In short, don't be fooled into thinking you need a Mac to perfect or perform miracles in Photoshop like many people are.

 

[parkersjones]

I've used photoshop since '92 and mostly on a Mac. I'm in and out of photoshop and various other photo-related programs such as CaptureOne and really notice a difference between the Mac and PC when running actions, batch scripts (saving all open photos to jpgs) and saving/backing up large tiffs.

as you'll be relying on scanners etc to talk correctly with the Mac ( and it's your first?) I suggest confirming your current peripherals have all the latest drivers and they will work with the Mac - most do - but there are enough horror stories to at least confirm via google and forums to avoid headaches when setting up your new shiny iMac!

 

[Munc]

I'm a 20+ year graphic designer and I use CS5 every day for 10 hours at work on a mac pro 2.66 quad and at home on a custom built pc core i7 920 2.66 for side work. I feel the pc is a little quicker. the pc has 6gb 1600 ram 120gb ssd 6tb storage, the mac 16gb 1066 ram, 60gb ssd, 5tb storage. the software operates the same on both platforms. the pc cost me half as much as the mac. I can work on both OS's just fine, no difference to me.

 

[CHSeifert]

To be honest, the performance difference will be negligible to the average user. I've used CS5 on my own Mac and a PC at a colleague's place and the only real difference I've noted is that the time it takes me to do something in OSX compared to the PC is greatly reduced due to keyboard shortcuts. I think Badger mentioned that already.

Why the Office for Windows? Do you already own a copy of Windows? It seems a bit of a pain to have to reboot every time that you want to use a word or excel. Have you looked into parallels or Office for Mac?

I already own a 3 user license of Office for Win - and will only use it if necessary.
I also bought iWork family pack, and will try to start using that as my main office programs.

 

[MrAwesome]

Is there anyone who uses both Windows and Mac for Photoshop on a regular basis who'd have an opinion? Again, we're talking STRICTLY "EASE OF USE" comparison here. Thanks!

 

[dantra]

Better is subjective in this case. The entire design industry would testify that PS on a Mac is better, but the designation would still be entirely subjective.

There is nothing regarding CS5.5 on a mac that you can do that you can't do in CS5.5 on a PC. Adobe caters to both operating systems quite consistently. For example, the same web site designed in Photoshop on a Mac could easily be replicated on a PC. Therefore, you have no advantage other than owning a machine that nearly all design firms and anyone associated with design uses. Is the aforementioned fact absolutely justified? I would say for the most part, no; my answer would be as simple as "that's just the way it is".

I wouldn't base buying a Mac solely on the fact that it might run Photoshop a little better or more efficiently than what you are used to: this would be a blind move. There is much more to an OS than a few nuances identified when comparing software designed on two different platforms.

In short, don't be fooled into thinking you need a Mac to perfect or perform miracles in Photoshop like many people are.

Agreed, I have a mid 2010 iMac i7 that has Photoshop CS5 and Dreamweaver CS5 installed. I really don't see a difference. I've used a pc for many years and recently switched to an iMac about 9 months ago however I find myself going back to the pc sometimes. I will not say one is better than the other, nor will I claim one is faster than the other because the pc I have kicks butt and is extremely fast. I guess it balls down to your personal preference.

As previously stated Adobe will run equally on both an Apple or Windows machine. The choice is yours. As far as ease of use, again I personally don't feel or see a difference in either machine.

Dan

 

[brucem91]

Is there anyone who uses both Windows and Mac for Photoshop on a regular basis who'd have an opinion? Again, we're talking STRICTLY "EASE OF USE" comparison here. Thanks!

Based on "EASE OF USE", both versions work EXACTLY the same. The only immediate "USAGE" advantage is that I personally find "CMD + Shift + S" (Save As, use often with texture work) a little easier on my mac keyboard than the equivalent pc shortcut in PS "CTRL + Shift + S".

On the other side (may just be a specific CS4 issue or one time issue), but I noticed a few days ago that the "Action" window suddenly disappears on my mac. However, on school computer (CS5 PC), no such issue.

One other Mac advantage I found (in my opinion) is that in the "Save" or "Save-As" window, it shows me all files in the selected directory, regardless of file type selected. On the PC I noticed a file type mask, where if you have save as PSD selected, it will only show PSD files in the current directory. May be a minor issue, but it bugs me when I use the PC at times.