Mac or PC for working at home.
NODe
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
So in about a month I'll be working from home doing what amounts to slightly more involved data entry. I will also be getting back into freelance illustration work after a moving across the country related year long hiatus.
My only machine at the moment is an iMac G5.
The data entry job requires installing some Windows based proprietary software with pretty gentle requirements. I'm basically using this as an excuse to get a new machine.
I would like it to also be a significant upgrade for my illustration work as the iMac is struggling to keep up with running PS or Painter.
Assuming I'm indifferent to the OS, is there any reason that a PC would be a worse choice than a Mac for running Adobe CS, Painter etc.?
Specific recommendations would also be appreciated.
Thanks.
My only machine at the moment is an iMac G5.
The data entry job requires installing some Windows based proprietary software with pretty gentle requirements. I'm basically using this as an excuse to get a new machine.
I would like it to also be a significant upgrade for my illustration work as the iMac is struggling to keep up with running PS or Painter.
Assuming I'm indifferent to the OS, is there any reason that a PC would be a worse choice than a Mac for running Adobe CS, Painter etc.?
Specific recommendations would also be appreciated.
Thanks.
NODe on
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My opinions:
-Drag&Drop
Drag and drop between OSX native applications and files actually works pretty reliable. Even while using whole documents I opened in another application. I never had quite the same experience in Windows.
If you are using lots of image editing / image / video creation - applications you will find this handy.
-Managing Windows
Also, Spaces and Expose are awesome - I know no equivalent in other OSes (maybe Linux if you enable the desktop compositing feature).
For example: I use a dual screen setup wich is shared with a Windows PC and a Mac (Powermac G5). I only need one screen to control all open windows on the Mac with spaces.
-Nifty small features
Another nifty feature I use quite often is to color the label of files and folders. Especially usefull if you are batchprocessing certain files, sorting out outdated files - without having to move or rename them to make them stand out.
Automator is great tool for batch processing (copy, move, rename) - if you don't want to deal with scripts or the *NIX CLI.
-Virtualisation
OSX has the best and fastest virtualisation programs - VMware and Parallels - even with 3D support. So if you need Windows you can easily run it side by side with OSX. Otherwise, Macs are Intel based so you can also install Windows very easily on another partition if you really need the native speed.
-Integration
OSX already has X-11 server and lots of *nix toold if you have to deal with lots of *nix apps, or if you one of the guys who pipe the interface of their programs from another server. I find it funny that on my Macbook (I also have) I find myself running Windows programs, Linux applications and OSX apps side by side.
To sum it up. If I had the choise in my work environment I would choose the Mac. Especially in your case, if you still have the licenses for all the programs from your G5. (maybe you need to update to Intel native versions)
PC adavantages (not counting various notebooks):
If you need upgrade-ability, more flexibility, want to decide what goes in your machine, want to play games at max detail and resolution and if you want to be able to swap more components than HD and RAM - get a PC instead.
Edit: if you don't want to spend time researching your HW options and building the damn thing, if you want to have a "works out of the box"-experience with nifty features get the Mac instead.
Or there is the hackintosh method, if you have a day to kill building your first PC.
And consider wasting even more time getting the damn thing to run, or have it break after the latest OS update.
PERSONALLY: I prefer OSX. The interface in general is really intuitive. As Dratatoo already mentioned, there are loads of useful features for getting shit done. Expose is extremely useful, and beats the piss out of alt-tab for using multiple applications. Spaces is also really handy if you want to organize loads of windows. I'm also a big fan of the file colour-labeling feature. I use it constantly, be it to mark my place in a folder of videos, or highlight particularly important files/folders. It's such a simple tool, but its usefulness can't be overstated. In general, OSX has way more nice, thoughtful touches that make a huge difference. I've only scratched the surface. That said, Windows isn't without them. I like the window management features in Windows 7, where it will automatically resize and position multiple windows by dragging them to either side of the screen. And jumplists are genuinely useful.
So, if you want to know what I would do, I'd grab a 27" iMac with an i5 processor (with RAM and storage as needed). The 5750 graphics card that comes with it should be more than capable for most games. For your windows only data entry stuff, you can either dualboot XP or Windows 7 (good for games as well). Or, if it's a relatively mild program, you could use parallels or vmware fusion to run it in OSX.
http://irradiatedsoftware.com/cinch/
If you do decide to go the PC route, I heartily suggest getting Switcher. I can take or leave Spaces, but Expose is something I find very hard to live without. Switcher does a fine job of emulating it on Windows.
It's really not harder than installing windows. And this one I'm typing on never broke though software update, so...?
That being said, the fact that you're a Mac person already is going to hamper you a bit - at least initially - when you're using Windows.
If you get the Mac Pro, throw in a Intel or OCZ SSD and you'll feel like you have the powerfulest computer in the world for quite some time.
For one, the 17"s are HUGE. They are a pain in the ass to lug around. Unless you like backaches, avoid.
SSD is ridiculously priced right now. If you must, get a hybrid SSD (Seagate XT Momentus) or a 7200 RPM drive.
Your best bet is a 13" or 15" MacBook Pro and a nice big LCD for use at home.
SSDs are really not that expensive anymore and they are dropping in price very quickly. But a hybrid is a good solution too. I didn't think of that before. I would get one of OCZ's 120gb SSDs.
The way I see it too is that if you can afford one of Apples more high end machines, then the price of an SSD probably isn't an issue and the performance is completely worth it. OSX and all of your software starting up almost right away? Yes please!
This is just a personal recommendation though, you can totally get by without one and with the holidays fast approaching, you might want to hold off even longer for one. I think around december, retailers and newegg are going to be slashing prices on SSDs a lot.
The OS isn't a big leap for me either way, I use both pretty regularly, I do prefer working on a Mac but I don't know if I prefer it enough to make up the price difference.
I definitely want the largest practical monitor. Gaming isn't a consideration. The only concern I really have is can it run Adobe CS, Painter etc. efficiently working on big files. It's probably a ridiculous concern, I've just only ever used Macs for those applications.
I really appreciate the advice. I guess I'm still undecided at this point though.
I'm sorry, but 10x as expensive as the same size 7200rpm drive is really not that expensive?
You don't buy the same sized SSD though. You get a 80 - 120gb SSD, put your OS and applications on there (none of that needs that much hard drive space), and throw your games, movies, and music on the bigger 7200rpm drive and your saves files. None of that stuff benefits from an SSD.
Have you experienced an SSD for yourself? The performance increase is worth it. I can't stand 7200rpm drives anymore, they are just way to slow, it makes the premium price of an SSD completely worth it. And like I already pointed out, if you think they are still to pricey, they are rapidly dropping in price and Newegg is always doing deals on them.
I think you are looking at SSDs the wrong way. You don't buy them for the hard drive size, that is not their purpose right now. In maybe 2 or 3 years these will be the only drives available and the price for the real big ones will be good, but not right now. You have to have one along side a 7200rpm drive.
Look at what NODe is wanting here. He is talking about possibly buying a new high end mac and buys programs like photoshop for this freelance work. None of this is cheap. I don't see how price factors into it. The last thing you think about with buying a Mac is the price. If price starts to become a factor at all, then a Mac is the last thing you want I think.
I can likely get anything apple related at a discount through work.
What are you talking about? This is some serious wharblegarble. There's a pretty wide range of prices for Macs. Yes, I can get a comparable PC for cheaper, but that doesn't mean that only those who consider price to be no object should invest in a Mac.
I also don't remember him saying he was looking for a high-end Mac anywhere.
What is your budget going to be?
That's easy, either of the 27" iMacs. The i5 is your best bet.
You don't need an SSD really. I mean, it'd be nifty, but save yourself the money and spend it on software.
If you do get a mac, get VM Fusion and a copy of Windows 7 to put on it. And if you have anyone remote into your machine , have them remote directly into the windows 7 machine.
fixed. No need to pay extra for a gui theme that won't work (does aero work in a VM now?) and a bog standard VM.
I'm literally technologically retarded outside of very specific software. Would I be able to use any monitor (non-apple) as a second monitor alongside an iMac?
The iMac is a dang sexy machine I have to say. I mean if it wasn't for the whole not being able to upgrade a lot of stuff thing I'd want one (but I'm a gamer so I tend to stick with a pc for desktop use though my laptop is a MBP). As for your uses it sounds like it would be an amazing machine and a huge performance jump over your current G5.
As for a 2nd monitor sounds like with the right adapter you could use anything you wanted with it from the iMac tech specs:
Needs an adapter but yes.
Last I checked it does now. Plus, you can run apps seamlessly, which is a huge boon to Fusion over virtual box. But, I've heard virtual box is doing this now as well.
I dunno, we're long past the point where faster machine = faster to use. That is, unless he's got some ram eating monster app running there. I'd say the main reason to kill a G5 is the huge amount of power they suck up. If PPC is a must the answer is always G4.
EDIT: the whole "seamlessly" thing is so overrated. Graphical weirdness galore when I tried it.
Yeah, if you use a "prepacked" version, which are pretty much pirate copies anyway and shouldn't be discussed here.
I wouldn't recommend the "Hackintosh" methode at all, for work related use. License and EULA and Apple's HW pricing aside, some of these "unofficial" versions have/had known issues with the Adobe programs. (open - save dialog problems for example). You would be running this OS on an unsupported platform, you would have to select your Hardware very carefully prior purchase, you would have to wade through FAQs and determine if their content still matches with install procedure you are doing. If you find yourself having unsupported HW you'll be knee deep in the CLI replacing critical system files. Even the "install Windows on a bog-standard PC" or Bootcamp on Mac would be a much easier route.
If you do work related stuff, do it with proper licensed software / hardware only.
Nah, I did it from a retail copy. And weren't the Adobe problems with 10.4 and hacked kernels or something?
I also think you're really overstating how hard it is to get it working on unsupported Hardware. To even boot enough to get a gui you need a supported motherboard anyway, so you just throw kexts at osx86 tools and it's done. I never touched the terminal. Promise. Besides, just asking on the right forum will get you all the help and advice you could ever need, before you even order the first peice of hardware. hackintosh: it just works
Not that this matters, I mean he just said he'd rather not anyway. But still, knowlage!