Questions for Mac Website Designers...Mac vs PC?

Coffee1970 · #1 August 2nd, 2007, 03:42 PM

Hello, and thanks for reading.

Enrolled in college (I'm 37) for e-Business and major in website design.

I have a Windows PC that works fine. I know that Macs used to be all the rage in graphics and such, but now Windows PC's have really come into the picture.

I will be buying a second computer for me to use....so....

Do I need to learn how to use a MAC in todays website design job market? I know that a lot of programs like Adobe's are available on both systems, but if I get a job somewhere that use Macs still? Are Macs still being used as much these days for website design?

Here's the lowdown.........
I have approx $500 to spend on another computer.
I will either get a Dual 1.25/1.42 G4 Powermac off eBay (1-2gb ram, ati pro, etc)...or go buy a new windows laptop that has the usual Athlon X2 or Intel Duo.

I know that the G4 is older technology, but that's ok....with a good video card, max memory, maybe even Firewire 800, it should still rock, yes?

Any help would be greatly appreciated by those in the field.

Thanks again,
Brian.

**Giaguara** · #2 August 2nd, 2007, 05:03 PM

G4 still performs fine for what you are looking for. For graphics etc etc.

And to learn the Mac way .. just hang out here for a while and post what you want to know. The only dumb questions are those that one doesn't ask

A third option if you have already or can get an external display - a Mac mini. If you get a new (or any Intel based at least) Mac mini, you will be able to run Fusion with it - and that way you can also have Windows, Linux and whatever you need on your system. So when there would happen to be a project where you'd need to be in Windows, you wouldn't even need to start up in Windows, just boot up from the VM and run OS X on the background. That is something that might be for use for you, but Fusion (and Parallels) will need an Intel based Mac. With that technology you would be safe for the necessities that they would tell you to need something on a Windows PC. And you could also use what ever you like from Linux (like Gimp for free graphics) all while in OS X. (Or any Mac that you can find that already has Intel in it.. Mac mini, iMac, MacBook etc).

Macs are still used in graphics - fortunately. And they are so much more comfortable, logical, and user friendly and effective that if you can choose, go Mac.

Greg Reez · #3 August 2nd, 2007, 05:13 PM

Technically, you're ok. And I know my Mac design friends will beat me for this, but if it is more economical for you to buy a meaty new PC vs. a "slightly" out dated G4 then by all means go ahead, just remain calm if you get viruses and such or your computer freezes blah blah... If you do go that PC route you don't want to totally neglect Macs altogether. Granted more and more software come in both forms these days, which is cool, but if you use a PC make sure you expose yourself to the Mac desktop, its programs, shortcuts, finder windows, organizations... and when the time comes you can put "confident in both mac & pc platforms" on your resume as it pertains to your field.

As a designer myself, if I am given the choice of a Mac or a PC, you better believe I'm saying Mac all the way to the bank. Its trendy and the girls like it. I get food for free everywhere I go, famous people offer me money and when I go for walks in the park, cute little birds land on my shoulder and baby deer and rabbits walk with me.

I'm biased, but I'd get the Mac, and I'd definitely make sure I don't neglect upgrading it like you said.

Coffee1970 · #4 August 2nd, 2007, 06:13 PM

Well, I do like the idea of walking with the smallest of God's creatures........

I used to have an eMac G4, so I know a little. Have another degree in technical studies, so the windows stuff is easy enough, but like you said, it would be nice to have the confidence to know the ins and outs of a mac.

I just thought that a dual G4 is very upgradeable, cheaper than a new mac mini and can run Tiger and most apps just fine. I know that the G4 system bus is slower, mem is slower, etc.
The G4 I would have would be dual 1.25/Firewire 800, 2gm ram, at least 7200rpm drive, ati pro or GeForce 4/3ti or similiar.

Cannot go over $500 , so a new mini is out for now. Rather have a miror door G4 than a G4 mini.....well, I will keep looking around and think about.

Thanks again,
Brian

**Giaguara** · #5 August 2nd, 2007, 07:41 PM

Brian, the specs of that G4 sound good. The G4 is definitely more upgradeable than the other items listed.
Should we add poll options for voting in the thread?

nixgeek · #6 August 2nd, 2007, 07:49 PM

Just to give you an idea, I have a friend who uses Final Cut Pro on a dual-processor 500 MHz Power Macintosh G4. He's upgraded the video card, upgraded the RAM to 1.5 GB, and is running Mac OS X Tiger. He's VERY happy with it. Mind you, this is a Mac that's quite a few years old...

http://www.lowendmac.com/ppc/g4mp.html

If he's very happy with this particular Macintosh for video editing in FCP, the Mac that you've mentioned with more than twice the power per processor should be more than enough to cover for what you want to do. Don't count out the G4 just because it's not in production anymore. Yes, it's not as snappy as the Intel Macs, but the Power Macintosh G4 CAN hold its own and has a lot of aftermarket upgrades out there, especially compared to the Power Macintosh G5 which barely has any.

Qion · #7 August 2nd, 2007, 08:20 PM

You absolutely should (and in some cases, have to) know the Macintosh platform as well as the Windows platform if you're serious about design. I believe that those of us who are working artists enjoy using the Mac more because it's intuitive, allows lovely organizational techniques without fuss, looks good, feels good, etc...

All the goods about the Mac aren't necessarily why you need to know it, however. The more you know, the more marketable you are. The largest design firm in my city (mind you, they've got some extremely upscale accounts -Audi, Volkswagen, Ferrari, Subaru, Charles Schwabb, etc.-) has a 20-some Macintosh design studio right next to the 18 PC's for the secretarial/financial offices. It's been a way to distinguish the designers from the rest of the employees up until about a week ago, when they asked my coworker, whom has a computer consulting business on the side, to completely outfit everybody with at least a Mac Mini.

The design world keeps moving forward, and I'm seeing even more Macs sprouting up all over the place. I imagine that some potential employers might even laugh at you if you tell them you're a design student without any Mac experience.

As far as buying a Mac goes, the G4 you mentioned sounds completely fitting to your needs. I still use a 733MHz G4 to handle part of my workflow!

sirstaunch · #8 August 3rd, 2007, 05:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg Reez

As a designer myself, if I am given the choice of a Mac or a PC, you better believe I'm saying Mac all the way to the bank. Its trendy and the girls like it. I get food for free everywhere I go, famous people offer me money and when I go for walks in the park, cute little birds land on my shoulder and baby deer and rabbits walk with me.