jackpi Loc: Southwest Ohio

If you get a PC, make sure you get an IPS screen for accurate image color rendition. I believe all Apple screens are IPS.

elliott937 Loc: St. Louis

How many times and how often would you plan to replace your PC? I began in 1995 by purchasing Photoshop and installed it on my desk top PC. Gateway, then HP, then Sony Vio. Each time replacing a PC that lasted about two years before seeing the Blue Screen of Death at least once a week if not once a day. Then in 2005, after three PCs, I purchased an Apple iMac. It's 2014 and that computer continues to sit on my side desk totally functioning. That's eleven years.

I'm now using a 27" Intel iMac, only because Photoshop changed its software to work only on the Intel chip, so I had to buy the newest iMac .. with the Intel chip. That was 2009, and that computer still functions perfectly, and I plan to continue using it, the same iMac, in 2020, or longer. Why not?

So Mac is more expensive, to purchase initially. But it sure is inexpensive in the long run. Oh, by the way, I've never seen a Blue Screen of Death in a Mac.

I also have a Mac Book Pro that I use to teach with. I initially began doing that when a dear friend of mine gave me her 10 year old Mac Book, which I began to use in my class for Power Point, actually Keynote which is Apple's version of Power Point. So I continued using her 10 year old Mac Book for three more years. When Apple put the Mac Book Pro on sale for about $1000, I bought it for peace of mind. But her Mac Book continues to this day, and about to become a teen ager. Do you see the pattern? Buy a Mac, enjoy it being very user friendly, and enjoy how well it works with Adobe products. And enjoy NOT having to replace it because it would stop working properly, because it won't. It just keeps working well. And it sure saves me money.

This needs to be said, because I spent an hour last night listening to a dear friend who is replacing, yet again, a monitor for her desk top. The actual computer was replaced last year. The prior PC tower laster her less than three years. I'll also add what my college students tell me. Their lap tops last them about two years before them become unreliable. Those who bring Mac Books to class tell me they've been using it since high school days. Get the picture?

Peace of mind is priceless.

Dngallagher Loc: Wilmington De.

Yep, pretty much a repeat of what most people that switch to Mac have learned.... buy it once, use it for a decade at the same speed it displayed in the store.

I did the same thing a long time ago when I bought my first IMAC....

My big reason to upgrade from my original IMAC- I wanted to go to the 27" screen.

OlinBost Loc: Marietta, Ga.

What ever you get try to get the SSD drive. The SSD drive will do more for performance than more ram. 8 gig of ram minimum will do.

dcampbell52 Loc: Clearwater Fl

I have never gotten a blue screen of death and never had issues with my pc. I have had as many as 10 running various OS at the time Unix for intel, windows 3, windows 95, windows xp, windows 7 (I HAVE NOT GONE TO NOR WILL I GO TO WINDOWS 8 until it has been on the market for 2 years). I have learned that you do not move to a windows upgrade until it has been out for 2 years because of flaws. Gates idea of a beta test is to produce 4 or 6 versions of the next os and release them to the general public to see which has the least issues and then upgrade 1 is to change the bad ones to the one with lease issues. then upgrade 2 is to fix issues in the remaining software. Having kept to this policy, I probably will not go to Windows 8 but will wait for the 3rd issue of Windows 10.(Note: Microsoft seems to be skipping 9 for some reason. if I live that long). As for upgrades, my old pcs are still running but have Solaris, Unix, and Linux on then and are now servers for my current 4 machines (1 high end windows 7 ultimate, one so so windows 7 premium with 4gb and no graphics running LR/PS and connected to the servers for mass storage, and 2 windows 7 laptops connected wirelessly to my home network and taken on trips. Most of my old machines are still running. Just not windows. If Adobe and everyone would write for Unix/Linux that is what I would use, but they don't. Windows and Mac both have flaws. You just have to recognize them and work around them.

Dngallagher Loc: Wilmington De.

Agreed 100%.....

Stanley Fleming Loc: Maine/Florida

I switched from PC to Apple 10 years or more ago and there is no way I would go back to the Windows world. Sure, it took a little adjusting to doing things on the Mac but it was usually because things are so easy to do I figured it had to be 'more difficult than that'.

Yup, it is a little more costly to get a Mac but to keep it simple and non-technical - 'you get what you pay for' is my personal opinion.

One thing I really can't get used to is the lack of rebooting with the Mac - that just seems so unnatural.

If you do decide on the Mac system I would second another persons statement - max out your memory - that would be true of a PC as well - I don't think I need to tell you but, photo work uses lots of memory so it just makes good sense. Additionally, get lots of storage space and BACK IT UP - this is true for both the PC & MAC - both systems can fail.

I know I have not talked about bits and bytes or clock speed or chipsets - I know nothing about that stuff - my basis for loving the Mac and never wanting to see Windows again is based totally having used both and the performance of each.

dampatents

Right brain? Mac

Left brain? PC

Papa Joe Loc: Midwest U.S.

They are both great, assuming you don't settle for a wimpy setup, (for either one). I've been in the PC world since Abraham Lincoln's time, (well, almost!), and am used to that world, so would not change for any enticement, (unless you GAVE me a good Mac), but seriously, get a powerful PC. All the power you can afford and it will serve you well. If one is involved exclusively (or primarily) with Photography, then a Mac would do well but you'll be in a limited world, compared to the variety a PC offers. In the end, you'll have to decide which is best for you. With equal power in each machine, the PC would be less expensive.

Oly Guy

I also switched fron pc to macbook pro in 09-only 250g hard drive but still has not been a problem. I use I cloud and External hard drives for storage every year or so. Have found iPhoto to be a great way to download and edit-sometimes I use Sigmas editing for that as no one interfaces with it. But the slide shows and graphics are so good I love it-very simple and good video and all Graphics. Handles Raw canon and nikon instantly. I would never go back! Get largest Hdrive you can-also they are fast and stay fast for uploads etc. Check them out at Best Buy - most of the computer sales people are Mac. Hmmmm. Figure 10 years for their life-with a great 3 year tech support-Added fee of course.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

"Intuitive" and "user friendly" really mean you already know how to use it.

Dngallagher Loc: Wilmington De.

Perhaps the best suggestion would be take a trip to the mall, while you are waiting for the crowds to thin out in the Microsoft store, wander into the Apple store a few doors up and spend a few minutes actually using a Mac - you will find it feels comfortable, works just as easily and be under no pressure to buy.

TLConner Loc: Haslett, Michigan

Three reasons to change to a Mac. 1. Windows 8 is terrible. 2. Apple OS upgrades are free. Windows upgrades are not. 3. Installation of an upgrade for Apple is automated and easy with no reinstallation of software.

OlinBost Loc: Marietta, Ga.

If you go to the stores take a photo (on a memory stick) and see if they will let you try to edit it. Take a large file.

Hando Rei Loc: Long Island New York

Macs are geared for a number of tasks but more are used by graphic artists ,photographers , I have a Mac Pro and an IMac…never any issue for my use !