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michaelc35741989
Participant
September 28, 2015
Question

Which is better to use Photoshop on, Mac vs PC?

  • September 28, 2015
  • 8 replies
  • 76134 views

I have been an avid Mac user since college, it was what I was trained on. But I am looking into learning how to use Photoshop and the Adobe Suite at a professional level. I already have a Mac (White Macbook from 2009), but several things are starting to go wrong with it: some of the keys have stopped working as well as the CD burner.

Which is best to run and learn Photoshop, Illustrator on? I do not have it in the budget for a new Mac (Macbook Pro at  $1200). I could get a very nice PC for $350.

Do PCs run Photoshop well? Are there any drawbacks for using a PC for Photoshop?

    This topic has been closed for replies.

    8 replies

    marliton
    Community Expert
    marlitonCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    January 21, 2019

    More important than the Operating System, is the configuration aspects like ram, processor, etc.

    Marlon Ceballos
      T
      timothyl85839792
      Participant
      January 21, 2019

      It doesn't matter, whatever you're used to. I've used Photoshop CC on both platforms and the differences are negligible.

      (Edited By Mod to remove personal info and link)

        L
        Lumigraphics
        Legend
        January 22, 2019

        Not to wade into the platform wars or be a fanboi but I use Photoshop every day on both platforms (Windows 7 and 10, Mac High Sierra and Mojave currently) and the Mac has fewer problems and (for me, anyway) is just a lot easier to use.

        The Windows machines are actually better hardware spec'd than my Macs but I still see a substantial difference.

        If you are in a business environment with IT staff, its less of a gap.

          gener7
          Community Expert
          gener7Community Expert
          Community Expert
          May 25, 2016

          Well if you can't get a new Mac, Amazon does sell used Macs for about $300-$400. That's where I got my mid 2009 Macbook.

          postrophe
          postrophe
          Inspiring
          May 25, 2016

          Hi

          Me, I would only trust Apple Store products ( with warranty ).

          Refurbished Mac and/or Clearance Items

          http://www.apple.com/ca/shop/browse/home/specialdeals

          Note, that Apple don't offer any assistance to products aged 5+ years old.

          Pierre

          kotaostler748
          kotaostler748
          Participant
          May 25, 2016

          Granted you may not be able to run photoshop efficiently on a $350 PC but for the same price as a $1200 macbook, you can get a PC setup that works much better. Thats where the disconnect is. And most people in the design industry when you go to a design job, you are more than likely working in an office that uses Mac OS machines in their office

          postrophe
          postrophe
          Inspiring
          May 25, 2016

          Hi

          If you read all the threads on this forum, you will realize that the majority of OP's having problems use PC's Windows.

          My 2¢

            D Fosse
            Community Expert
            D FosseCommunity Expert
            Community Expert
            May 25, 2016

            postrophe wrote:

            Hi

            If you read all the threads on this forum, you will realize that the majority of OP's having problems use PC's Windows.

            My 2¢

            You're kidding, right?

            This is the sort of thing you could see ten years ago, but I thought we were past that now.

            Why are we even having this discussion? The answer, the correct answer, to the OP is "there is no difference".

              Terri Stevens
              Terri Stevens
              Legend
              September 28, 2015

              At the moment there are many problems associated with Photoshop CC2015 on the Mac. Some are due to Adobe releasing 2015 with bugs , but more seem to be associated with the Yosemite OS itself. There are people still having to cripple their graphics subsystem to run Photoshop after 6  months which is pretty poor I would say. Adobe blame Apple and Apple blame Adobe. What is more worrying is their next OS El Capitan is in beta and older Adobe products don't run at all because of a Java revamp making CS6 at least for now broken. I like Apple hardware because it looks nice, but if you take it apart its no better than good PC hardware. If your budget extends to a good games machine from a well reviewed system builder go for a PC. It will run Photoshop brilliantly -you'll save money and Windows these days is a pretty impressive operating system. In addition if you want to upgrade the hardware in a few years you can, whereas with a Mac you need to buy a new computer. Its not for nothing that Apple Inc is so profitable. Just my take though-others will undoubtedly differ

              Terri

                Nancy OShea
                Community Expert
                Nancy OSheaCommunity Expert
                Community Expert
                September 28, 2015

                I use PCs, no problems providing you have sufficient computer resources.

                You need a fast microprocessor, a high quality graphics card and as much memory (physical and RAM) that you can afford.  A $350 Windows PC might be fine for word processing and email but I think you will be unhappy with the performance in a graphics intensive app like Photoshop & Illustrator.

                Nancy O.

                Nancy O'Shea— Product User & Community Expert
                  sarsaxen
                  Community Manager
                  sarsaxenCommunity Manager
                  Community Manager
                  September 28, 2015

                  Hi michaelc35741989,

                  Photoshop works great on both Windows and Mac system depending upon the the system configuration.

                  Here is the list of minimum system requirements for it:

                  System requirements | Photoshop

                  Regards

                  Sarika

                    A
                    Anonymous
                    January 21, 2019

                    No, it doesn't.

                      JJMack
                      Community Expert
                      JJMackCommunity Expert
                      Community Expert
                      September 28, 2015

                      I would venture to guess that would depends on which OS your most comfortable using.  Your personal preference. If you want to do some video editing get a desktop workstation for either OS. A laptop is ok for image editing if the laptop has a good display.

                      A $350 maching will not be good for the whole Adobe suite. A professional would not use a $350 machine.

                      Read this http://blogs.adobe.com/jnack/files/2012/07/CS6_hardware_recommendations.pdf

                      JJMack
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