Digital Photography – The Operating System Debate
One of the most hotly contested concepts in the world of digital photography is that of operating system superiority. Mac users claim that due to OS X’s ease of use and Apple’s eye for design, their systems are the best in the world for storing and editing digital photos. But on the flip side, Windows users have long said that PCs are more universal and thus are more qualified to meet the needs of the digital arts community. So who is right in this battle of the software titans?
Windows – The PC Software Giant
Microsoft Windows has long been the standard for business applications such as Excel, Outlook, and Word. The majority of offices use PC’s with windows as this is mainly due to the lower cost of PC equipment and the compatibility of different systems working with windows. However when it comes to digital photography, using Windows gives you no clear advantage over any other operating system.
Software like Adobe Photoshop run almost the same on Windows as a Mac and since Apple switched to using Intel processors now the hardware is almost the same as well. What are the pluses of using Windows? To start with, PC’s are significantly less expensive when compared to Mac’s. Much of the software available for OS X is also available for Windows and you can get a good PC that works well with photos for a lot less than an Mac with similar software. If you’re cost conscious and on a tight budget, then you should probably consider getting a PC with Windows.
Mac – The Comeback King
It seems impossible to think that just ten years ago, some analysts saw Apple as a sinking ship. With its innovative design and easy to use software, Apple had an incredible comeback and is now one of the top technology leaders in the world. OS X has been praised for its intuitive interface and seamless meshing of multiple bits of software, and was built from the ground up with multi-media in mind.
Apple computers are sometimes perceived as less advanced as PC’s when it comes to hardware and are usually a lot more expensive. The top of the line PowerMac could run you over $4,000, and when you consider that the easiest way to upgrade a Mac is to buy a new one, taking the financial plunge can be quite difficult. That being said, OS X is an incredibly stable operating system that suffers from minimal virus threats and rarely (if ever) crashes. You’ll also find interfacing through several programs at once (Photoshop, iPhoto, web sites) is much easier on a Mac than a PC, and can dramatically increase the speed at which you can work.
Naturally, people are going to fall into their respective camps, and this is where the real answer to the Operating System Debate lies: You should use whatever operating system works best for you. Personal preference cannot be explained – for example we’ll never know why some people prefer gold leaf picture frames over distressed picture frames- it’s just what they like. There is no difference between the file formats that Photoshop or Lightroom create on either operating system, and having one or the other will not have a negative impact on your ability to work with digital photographs. Visit the Apple store, visit a computer store, and play around with both operating systems. Whichever one makes the most sense to you is probably going to be the best one to invest in, unless you’re looking for something specific your normal OS doesn’t have.
Windows and Mac both have their strengths and weaknesses and either one could be the victor depending upon the needs of the user. However, in the world of digital photography, either one is a good bet towards taking your photos to the next level. As long as it makes sense to you, everything should be just fine.
Painting the face Digital art
