Mac vs PC - Pros & Cons Comparison Review

In this unbiased comparison review, I want to address both Pros and Cons of both PC and Mac computers. I am a PC user. As a PC user, I was very interested to know about the Apple Mac computer Photo Editing experience work-flow. I must admit that after reading some hundreds "Mac vs PC" articles and forums threads, I still didn't get an answer, should I?

Well, Mac and PC computers are rivals back from the old days, where Steve Jobs (Apple) and Bill Gates (Microsoft) where... what can I say.. friends?. However, instead of digging deep into the past, I want to concentrate on what we have now, and how Mac computers compete against PC computers in terms of photo editing RAW power, software availability and user experience. I personally know many photographers who will not give up their Mac computers (iMac or MacBook Pro) for anything but a new Mac computer. As a photography tool, computers help us shorten our workflow process and give us many tools to achieve out final goals.


There are also many photographers who use a PC computer for daily photo editing jobs, and they are more than happy with their hardware equipment. Whether you should buy a Mac or a PC, is a question that is very hard to answer, because it has many answers that will probably lead you to a dead end. So in this "Is Mac right for me?" or "Mac vs PC" blog post, I want to address some of the pros and cons, concerns, facts and opinions, that both Mac and PC users/photographers have been arguing about. Let's see if I can find the final answer - Buy a Mac or  a PC for photo editing workflow and what are the cons and pros for each one and one of them.

Photo Editing Software

Both Mac and PC have a wide variety of hardware configurations. However, before jumping to that section, let's see what photo editing (graphics) software are available for Mac OS X (Leopard), compared to those you can find for Microsoft Windows operating system. Photo editing software is the main tools that photographers use to manipulate their digital images. Both professional and amateur photographers, use photo editing software to satisfy their creativity needs and deliver the right end product to their clients. There are both professional photo editing software and tools, as well as simpler and affordable ones for hobbyist photographers. The differences between them vary, depends on the usage and needs for every photographer as an individual. Some you can find on both Mac and PC, and some are just for a specific platform.

Mac

Mac has a large arsenal of photo editing software for Max OS X, which anyone can find its own solution that fits its own budget and photo editing workflow needs. If you are searching for free photo editors for Macintosh, you should probably take a look at The GIMP, Seashore, Pixen, Apple's iPhoto (comes as part of iLife with Max OS X Snow Leopard) and many others. Most of them are Open Source, and can be a great solution for amateur photographers, who are searching to download a free Mac OS X photo editing software.

However, the main reason photographers buy a Mac computer, is to take advantage of professional photo editing software & tools, that most of them are not free. Professional photographers will choose Adobe Photoshop CS5 for their digital imaging needs. There are cheaper solutions like Adobe Photoshop Elements, which is an affordable photo editing software that makes editing pictures a snap. You can also find paid Mac photo editing software like Pixelmator, Acorn, Aurora, PhotoStudio, LightZone, Compositor and of course, Adobe Photoshop Lightroom. Adobe Photoshop Lightroom and Aperture 3, are  probably the most popular  (paid) photo editing software among Mac photographers and designers.

PC

Almost every photo editing software that you can find on a Mac, you can find on a PC. That includes Adobe Photoshop CS5 and Adobe Photoshop Lightroom for professional photo editing workflow. Although that some of the free open source software are for Mac only,  you can't ignore the large collection of free photo editing software for the Windows OS too.



Conclusion: Mac: 1, PC: 1

If it's a pro photo editing software, plugin, image noise reduction tool or an image viewer, both PC and Mac computers have a wide variety of solution that will feet everyone. The main advantage that the Mac has over a PC, is that it comes bundles (for free) with iLife. It means that out of the box, hobbyist photographers and designers can enjoy more advanced tools right away. If you are a Microsoft windows user, you probably know that PC built in photo editing software is... what I can say... just bad. Apple has given much thought about user experience design, and in terms user-friendliness, user experience design & straight out-of-the-box availability, I would give the Mac 1 point. PC gets one point also, because in reality, I think that they are comparable int terms of photo editing software availability.

Hardware Configuration

Probably, one of the most valuable decisions are based on the computer configuration. The better specs, the faster the results. When it comes to 2D usage, you won't see a great advantage between some close computer configurations, as if you compare it with 3D software. One of the most valuable parts of the computer for photo editing tasks is the CPU. Nevertheless, in order to take advantage of current multi-threaded apps & multi-tasking needs, you will probably need more RAM and a good graphics video card to speed things up. Comparing Mac and PC computers one against the not a smart thing to do. There are not black-boxes, and every one of them can be upgraded according to your specific tasks needs.

So it usually ends up with the cost of a equivalent hardware specs. In many PC vc Mac Multi-Core CPU benchmarks. Today you can buy a Mac with Quad Cores (i5 and i7 Intel CPUs), 8-Cores and Even 12 Cores with the Mac Pro, You can get more horse power if you just pay for it. But it is not just about CPUs, but also about the screen and hardware architecture.

Mac

Mac vs. PC hardware benchmarks are everywhere. You can find many YouTube videos of Mac users that compare their Mac computers (iMac, Mac Pro and MacBook Pro) against PCs computers.  Take a look at this video for comparison:

Mac vs. Pc - iMac 2.8 i7 Benchmarks and Tour

This guy on the video has used Geekbench benchmarking software to accurately measure processor and memory performance of its Apple iMac against top leading PC hardware benchmark scores. Seems pretty impressive, isn't it?

One thing that is probably worth mentioning. Apple developed Mac's operating system and has a very close inspection on most of the hardware manufacturing process. Part of the hardware is made by apple and other parts are made by third party manufacturers. They utilize the 64bit power in every Mac OS X software, optimizing the performance and code too. Because they have a control on both manufacturing processes, they can better optimize the code for specific software design, take advantage of the 64bit architecture and Multicore supported apps, to elevate software performance.

Also, According to Wikipedia: "Apple directly sub-contracts hardware production to Asian original equipment manufacturers such as Asus, maintaining a high degree of control over the end product" (source: Wikipedia). Thanks for commenting about that.


PC

Many of you have PC computers, both laptops and desktop computers. The main advantage of PC computers when compared to a Mac computer, is that you can custom built your own dream machine.On Mac, customization is limited, There are branding solutions also from DELL, HP and other manufacturers too. Even so, it is easier to get a more affordable computer that exactly fits your needs, many photographers and designers choose the PC as an alternative for a Mac. The price is probably the biggest issue. Many people don't take their working hours into account. How many times have you spent in front of your computers, waiting for Photoshop finishing its filtering process? - You can ignore that time that the machine consumes in order to finish a specific task.

Yes, PC computers are more affordable. And you can build a fairly equivalent High-End Macintosh computer's configuration for less. With PC, you can choose from thousands of different graphics video cards, memory vendors, motherboards, latest CPUs technologies from AMD and Intel. It is a great advantage overall. Even so, it can also be a big disadvantage, depends how you look at it. Some hardware parts don't work well together. Because many computer parts are from different manufacturers, you must read the manufacturer compatibility list on their product's page, to see the official comparability test results. You may find that some memory cards won't work well on specific motherboards, for example.

For many people it can be a big headache and can cause problems later on. When you buy a iMac, Mac Pro or MacBook Pro computer, you get a well tested hardware equipment, that comes from a single manufacturer, Apple. Even happened that your computer power supply just died, the computer gets too hot, sudden shutdowns and restarts, failed motherboard? -- Well, this is the life of a PC user (at least for some).

I am a PC user, and I can tell you that I have personally had many problems with both laptops and desktop computers. This is an unbiased opinion as you can guess.

Conclusion: Mac: 1, PC: 0.5

0.5 score for PC and 1 for the Mac. PC has its own advantages of being comparably cheaper, but cheaper doesn't mean always good. You know the saying "You get what you paid for" (from Chinese, 一分钱一分货). In many cases, you will find out that it is a very smart saying. Other advantages of the PC include: more available custom parts & buy the latest hardware innovation instead of waiting for a company to adapt the technology and implement it. On the other side, Mac computers are built to last. They are all manufactured by Apple, optimized for optimal compatibility with other hardware parts and software. You won't need to read manuals, read comparability lists on various 3rd part companies' websites, you get a perfect & fully featured product, right out of the box. Apple has implemented the finest materials, that are optimal for long lasting hardware use, even for the most demanding needs and industrial usage.  On many PC vs. Apple Mac websites, I see that they give full one score only. In this section, the Mac is absolutely worth the extra 0.5 score.

All in all, with Mac computers you will get both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, DVD reader and burner, a cool wireless Magic mouse & Wireless keyboard that has the WOW-factor embedded on them. But if you want a new Blu-Ray burner drive, you will probably will need to wait another year or two. So you get the point.

More related stuff:

iMac vs Gateway One PC
Mac vs. PC cost analysis

Security

When it comes to Mac vs. PC security concerns, many experts think that Windows has caught up with Apple. Before Microsoft Windows 7, we have all heard that Windows operating system is a targeted platform for malicious attacks. Of course it is true, but the question is. Does the operating system has the right tools to defend it self? With Mac computers, you won't need to worry about viruses as you do in Windows operating system. The real problem is not only about viruses, but about security breaches that allow hackers to penetrate into your computer, and steel you valuable art works, photographs and important (and sometimes secret) media assets. It was proven that both Windows 7 and Mac OS X Snow Leopard have their own glitches. DailyTech.com posted an article, saying that one prominent Mac hacker has pointed out that Mac OS X Snow Leopard is less secured than Microsoft Windows 7 OS. Well, if a Celeb hacker says so, we should probably take it pretty seriously.

So it seems, at least when making a business decision, that you shouldn't pick a Macintosh over a PC, just because people are telling you that Macintosh doesn't have viruses, or they are more secure. Apple OS X Snow Leopard is based on the UNIX core. That fact alone doesn't make it more secure than Windows 7 as you can see. We just couldn't ignore the fact that viruses are real pane in the axx. As a power PC user, I am fad up with all those pop-out windows saying "You have been infected with a Virus...". I would probably be very happy knowing that I can work quietly, without worying about viruses and all that craxxx horrors that the Internet brings with it. You just can't blame Windows operating system for being more popular.

Conclusion: Mac: 1, PC: 0.5

Overall, I think that Mac deserves one point for the user experience. It is not PC fault that it is a more popular target compared to the Mac. But Microsoft Windows 7 has proved to be a more secured OS, and even if it has it own flaws that trouble users, it deserved a half point score in my opinion.

More related stuff:

Mac security news
Apple product security (on Apple's official website)
Microsoft online safety and Privacy Education (on Microsoft's official website)

Operating System

When it comes to comparing both Apple Mac OX X Snow Leopard and Microsoft Windows 7 head-to-head, I have my own opinion too. Both Max OS X and Windows are among the most popular OS available. Microsoft had its own pitfalls with Windows Vista, but was managed to correct its reputation when Microsoft introduces Windows 7. The operating system is the base for every software and designer workflow process. It needs to implement the best  user experience design offers. Today, many photographers and designers need a multitasking environment, while jumping from one application to the other. Technology has brought some significant improvements in terms of usability, speed, stability, security and the fun factor. More Multimedia applications are being developed and upgraded as we speek.

Both Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X offer a wide variety of tools for managing our digital assets. Whether we connect online or offline. Apple has the best user experience and designers team in the world. This fact alone, gives Apple a major advantage when compared to Microsoft. Some believe that Microsoft copies Apples ideas after every major upgrade. In reality, the most important factor will be how the operating system performs in terms:

• Usability & Graphical user interface (UI)
• speeding photographers and web designers workflow
• Managing and organizing digital assets
• Internet browsing experience
• Hardware install ,configuration and compatibility
• Performance
• Security
• Startup speed
• Software availability
• Updates & Upgrades
• Ease-of-Use
• Ease of application development
• Networking - Wired and Wireless connectivity

As you can see, there is a lot to be done in order to satisfy both the consumer & professional user. So which one is the best, Apple OS X or Microsoft Windows?

Mac

Apple's Mac OS X Snow Leopard has proven to be  the most advanced operating system Apple's has ever released (not surprisingly, it's the latest version). Apple gives a lot of emphasize on usability, accessability, design and performance of its OS. I can personally understand why Apple has found itself in the heart of many artistic people and businesses. It is perfectly engineered and designed to provide the best of all worlds: Compatibility, Accessibility, Ease-of-Use, Performance & Security (well, we can argue about the security).

Apple implements many new technologies and enhancements in every major upgrade. Supporting 64-bit architecture for every software and application, supports Multiple Cores CPUs, optimized for photo & video editing software and much more. People just love the look and feel of Apple OS X Snow Leopard, it runs smoothly, has the best UI and it is very intelligent. Well, by meaning "Intelligent", I mean that Apple's engineers seems to understand how users want their operating system to behave. Managing tasks and digital assets are a snap. Everything seems perfectly combined together for the optimal user experience. I didn't hear people saying bad things about Apple's OS, but I have read & heard thousands of unsatisfied Microsoft Windows' customers.

The optimization for each major upgrade is noticeable, Even if you run the OS on same hardware, you will feel the differences between the two versions. It optimized to take advantages of every piece of hardware installed on its computers, and the results are nothing but astonishing!

Apple OS X enjoys its upgraded Expose and the superior Dock functionality. The Zoom slider, Stacks and Exchange support are all useful and welcome features.

PC

Many of you know and experience the cons and pros of Microsoft Windows operating system. When VISTA came out, the WWW was tumbling and mumbling like a huge storm of unsatisfactory towards Microsoft. However, we are looking at the present and not the past. When Microsoft introduced Windows 7 (even before that, at the beat stage), things just seem to get along much better. Windows 7 is a much better OS in my opinion, more stable, secured and easy to use. It is not a major upgrade of course, but as many people say: "Windows 7 is what VISTA was supposed to be...".

I am currently working on Windows 7, and as a power-user, I must admit that I am very satisfied with the end product. I have also had a chance to try out OS X many times. In terms of business applications, I think that Microsoft has the upper hand. But the operating system is much pricier than Apple's Snow Leopard, costs around $600 compared to $29 for the OS X.

There are many businesses that choose Microsoft Windows and buy a PC computer, because there are special business software that are Windows-only. It is a debate of course. When Apple introduced native version of Microsoft Office and Microsoft Exchange server support, it has shrunk this gap.

Running Windows 7 on Snow Leopard
Personally, and I think that many of you will agree, that both PC and Mac have great OS. I think that it is just a matter of what you are used to. Apple tries to convince PC guys to switch to Mac, and they are doing it because they know that many people are just used to working with Microsoft Windows OS. But there is a second part for this story. Any Mac user, whether using a Mac Mini, MacBook Pro Mac Pro or iMac, can install and seamlessly integrate Windows 7 operating system with OS X. You can use VMware Fusion, Parallels Desktop 5, CodeWeavers CrossOver Mac or Apple's Boot Camp. So for are asking: "Can I run Microsoft Windows 7 on my Mac computer?", I say: "YES, You Can!". Oh, let's not forget that there are some options to run OS X on Windows 7 as well (see Hackintosh.com).

Here is a Mac Vs. PC: Windows 7 Vs. Snow Leopard video, that I think that you find interesting:

It seems that this guy (Lack78) is very convincing, so should you switch to Mac from PC or not?
Did you know that 85% of Macintosh users in America also owns a PC? - Really?

Conclusion: Mac: 1, PC: 1

I think there is no real reason to prefer on over the other. Both are great OS and has cons and pros. So I give one point for each one of them. Some say that the OS X has the WOW-factor, while the Windows 7 doesn't. With both you will be very productive.  So if you are a designer who search for the ultimate OS for photo editing jobs, both offer a great base for installing your favorite photo editing software and work without a problem.

Product Design

In terms of product design, Apple has certainly has the upper hand. It does that every time it introduces a new product like the iPhone, iPad, iMac,PowerBook G4, MacBook Pro, iPod, etc. We must give a big credit to Jonathan Ive, Senior Vice President, Industrial DesignApple. Jonathan "Jony" Paul Ive has done wonders to Apple's product from the first day he landed its feet at Apple. I would be surprised that someone will argue about that, even though everyone has its own opinion about what is Beautiful and what is not. There are some nice PCs out there, and you can greatly customize them too. In my opinion, Apple wins the crown in terms of product design, Thumbs Up!!

Full 1 point for Apple for that.


Conclusion: Mac: 1, PC: 0

Marketing

No body will argue that Apple is the kind of viral marketing. You might find some PC ads/commercials on local magazines and newspapers, but you will not find great "Mac vs PC" / "Get a Mac" / "Buy a Mac" / "Hello, I am a Mac, and I am a PC" commercials like Apple produces.

Here is collection of 15 "Buy a Mac" ads:

Well, there is not reason to give Mac a score for that, it was just for pure fun!

Final Verdict - Mac Wins (5-3)!

It seems that we have a winner here, and it is the Mac. In the real world though, I think that both computers have their cons and pros. For designers who search for the ultimate machine for photo editing software, I think that both PC and Mac will serve you well. Nevertheless, Mac seems to be a more friendly, virus free, stable & highly optimized for performance. It has the design WOW factor that many designers and creative people will just love to put on the work, at work or at home.

With Mac, you won't need to worry about hardware comparability issues & malicious codes that run on your computer. It is a proven product that found  itself on the desk of many designers and photographers, and for a reason! (actually, many reasons).

Mac computers cost more, that's a fact. But if you take all the variables into consideration and Crumple them into time saving and effectiveness, I think that you will find Mac computers to be very friendly & affordable  computers overall, better than a PC computer. Again, I am a PC user, and this is my final verdict about the never ending discussion "Which one is Better? - PC or Mac". Hope you find this article interesting. If you do, please share it.

I will update this review from time to time, to better reflect the advantages and disadvantages between the two platforms (the score too).

Idan.