I know, I know. This question has come up a billion times, but I am stuck. When I grow up (I am currently 13 and in 8th grade) I would like to be a Graphic Designer and a freelance Photographer. I love creating things just for the fun of it. Windows Movie Maker is one of my favorite programs because I can use both media and photos until I looked more into the Mac. I was talking to my friend today during school and she's a little mini photographer. She's amazing at that too. She told me she has a Mac. Another one of my friends has one too.
Now I've been a Windows person all my life, but for the things I want (photo editing, movie making, website things, etc.) Mac looks the best. Now here is the real thing behind my question: My family is going through a hard time right now (I live in MIchigan so if you know whats going on there you can understand a bit) and they don't have the money like they used to. I have looked at Mac and it is really expensive (with the laptop and the programs). continued....
..but when I go to look at the Windows, they're prices are not as bad as Mac.
The biggies that I want is a good photo editor (I have one - Photofiltre), movie maker (I think I can have something more other than movie maker) and editing software like for websites.
I also saw all of the software for making music and that's what I really love, but it's just too much.
Christmas is right around the corner and I've already reached my limit with iPod Touch =P
Question: Am I able to get all of that (at a good quality) in a Windows? Or where can I find at least a cheap Mac and I'll worry about the programs later? 95% of the people in the Graphic Design Industry use macs exclusively. So get use to the mac interface.
Plus macs have the ability to emulate windows XP, so you can have run windows on your mac. It is called bootcamp. http://www.apple.com/macosx/features/boo... Its not the machine, its the software. Ask your friends what software they use. I bet its available on a Windows machine.
Adobe Photoshop is awesome, and I challenge anyone to prove that a MAC is better than a PC at anything.
Our school teaches television production, including video editing, and they use Windows machines with Avid.
Mac is overpriced, and inside they are practically a PC. Its the software, not the hardware. it comes dont to what you like, PC i personally use and love PCs but Macs do have better sercuity Check out Apple's Black Friday deals and their edu page
http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/We...
iMovie is way better than Windows Movie Maker
http://www.apple.com/ilife/
and Final Cut Studio wipes the floor.
London鈥檚 Met Film School trains students using Apple鈥檚 professional applications because the Mac platform supports the flexible filmmaking that will underpin the future of the video industry. As an Apple Authorised Training Centre for Education (AATCe), the school trains around 200 students each year in Final Cut Pro to Apple certification level, convinced that the skills acquired using industry-standard software will help students kick-start their careers.
http://www.apple.com/uk/education/profil...
Q. Who should consider a Mac?
A. Pretty much every average consumer using a computer should at least look at the Mac. It combines gorgeous hardware with an operating system I consider superior to Windows, with better built-in software. It can even run Windows programs if you buy and install a copy of Windows. And unless you do that, you won鈥檛 be vulnerable to the vast array of viruses and spyware that threaten Windows users. Only a handful, so far, have been written to run on the Mac operating system, OS X.
Q. Who shouldn鈥檛 consider the Mac?
A. People who spend much of their time playing cutting-edge games should stick to Windows computers, because there are far fewer games written for OS X. Apple doesn鈥檛 offer hardware tuned for serious gaming. People looking for the lowest-price PCs should also avoid the Mac, because Apple鈥檚 cheapest model, the Mac Mini, costs $599.
Another group that should shun Apple鈥檚 computers are people who depend for support on corporate IT departments that are either ignorant about, or hostile to, the Mac. Finally, if you know and like Windows, and expect mainly to use Windows programs, stick with a Windows PC.
Q. Can I run Microsoft Office on a Mac?
A. Yes. Microsoft makes a Mac version of Office, which uses the same file formats that Word, Excel and PowerPoint for Windows have used for years. A new version of Office for the Mac is due in January and it will handle the new file formats Microsoft introduced this year. But the Mac version of Office omits Outlook. It has a similar program called Entourage, but Entourage can鈥檛 use Outlook data files. If you want a Mac but must have Outlook, you will have to install Windows.
http://ptech.allthingsd.com/20071115/her... I've used both Macs and PC's for many years. I currently work as a graphic designer and am also a photographer. If it makes a difference, I've been in design for 10 years.
I've always been a fan of PCs (and before you make your mind up now... let me finish!) I say that because in my younger days, I didn't have the money for a Mac. PC's were easier to come by because of their cheaper price. And obviously there's more software out there for a PC.
Here's where things get interesting. In the earlier days, it was all about the fun of doing this stuff. Now, it is a matter of business and making money... that's it. That being said, I would completely urge you to start with a Mac if at all possible. Why's that? Because I've now owned a Mac Mini for over a year doing freelance design. We also upgraded to two Minis at work in our design department.
I can tell you from experience that I always found myself battling viruses and crashes on a Windows computer. It was NEVER-ENDING, let me tell you. I can't say I was ever that productive....
Nowadays, since it's all about making money and being productive, the Mac is hands down the best. I've never had to worry about installing anti-virus software, I haven't had to worry about spyware. The Mac runs for months on end, opening and closing programs, without slowing down, or crashing. Now, yes, a Mac will crash from time to time, all computers do. But, in over a year, I can say I only recall two times that I've had a crash. Neither one was serious. I was able to force quit the problem application and continue working, no sweat!
Here's the better part. The base model Mac Mini, (no monitor keyboard or mouse however) can be picked up new at Apple for $600.
Here's the better part, you do a search on eBay for a Mac Mini, and be sure to keep track of the seller's rating, make sure they have good feedback. Keep them on your watchlist until you can pick one up for a good deal. You can get one that's a year old for $300-$400 if you be patient. You can use any monitor and USB keyboard/mouse to get you started. You don't have to have Mac peripherals (which tend to cost more.) Therefore, you can use the existing monitor from your computer and if you need to, buy a basic USB mouse/keyboard for less than $20... anywhere.
About the software. Mac Minis come standard with iPhoto, iMovie, and the new ones come with Keynote and Pages, which are Apple products for layout design, movie editing and slideshow/presentations. They are very effective programs, not your typical PC program by any means. And of course, all major design software is available for Mac, including Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, Flash, Dreamweaver, etc.
If you're into movies, be sure to look for the Mini with the DVD burner, then you can burn movies to DVD!
I'm not big on the Mac vs. PC battle, I can only give you what I know based on my experience. I get more done in a day on a Mac than on a Windows computer. |
