Is Mac or PC Better for Graphic Designers?

It’s astounding to me that the question of which operating system you should use is still a debate today. Many designers find themselves turned down for jobs if they prefer using a Windows PC rather than a Mac. Many designers feel that if they can’t afford a Mac, people won’t take them seriously, so they’ll even invest in buying a used Mac that costs twice as much as a newer PC.

In reality, these “marketing optics” do matter to some people, even if they shouldn’t. You will, in fact, be judged by whether or not you use or own a Mac as a graphic designer. There is a reason. It’s not a practical one (in my opinion), but it is a reason: tradition.

The History of Macs and Graphic Design

In my opinion, the bias toward using Macs today is based on the long-standing history and tradition of graphic designers using Macs. It currently has no technical basis (in terms of performance and hardware) since Apple moved to using third party components from Intel and other companies.

Adobe has gone on record via their Adobe Hardware Performance White Paper to point out that the performance of their software comes down to specs, not operating system. So there is no real evidence for the old saying “Adobe software runs better on Macs.” Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, and the rest were not designed to perform better on any particular operating system.

Digital Typography and Adobe Photoshop Were Born on the Mac

In the early days of graphic design and digital typography (the early 1980s), the Apple Macintosh was the first computer to truly allow for digital typography. Susan Kare was a pioneer in this field.

Over 25 years ago (in 1988), John and Thomas Knoll built the first version of Photoshop on a Macintosh computer because it was essentially the only computer with the color display and capacity to handle the program they were building. The Knolls pitched their project to two companies in Silicon Valley—Adobe and Apple—and the rest is history. Adobe released Photoshop exclusively for the Mac in 1990, with a Windows version following over two years later.

So What Does That Have to Do With Macs vs. PCs?

The reason many designers gravitate to buying a Mac and are looked down on in the industry if they don’t is mostly a matter of tradition, not substance. Most people who have been in the industry for 20 years or more have a preference for the Mac because for a very long time it was the only option and, in their minds, it still is. Apple has been good to them and good for their careers and they know it works, so they remain loyal. This culture has been handed down to their “disciples,“ and because they respect the experience of their mentors, it becomes their experience as well, and the cycle continues.

You also have to remember that until recently, technology was a mystery to the people using it. Most computer users, no matter how intelligent, didn’t have a clue about how things worked under the hood and many still don’t. They just know how to use them to get their job done.

Macs vs. PCs Today in Graphic Design

Due to changes in how users understand and relate to technology, there are many graphic designers today who use Windows-based PCs to get their work done. I use both Macs and PCs myself and see very little difference in my ability to work if both machines have similar hardware.

Part of the shift is that many designers are also gamers or video editors and want to take advantage of the ability to customize their hardware and get more power for the price, something they can’t easily do with a Mac.

As a result, more designers are dropping the bias toward Macs, having experienced a certain degree of freedom in choosing what components and hardware they use and having more options based on their budgets.

Legitimate Reasons to Prefer a Mac

Of course, there are legitimate technical reasons why some people should choose a Mac for their design workflow. Here are a few:

• You are using Thunderbolt 2 for large file transfers or connecting to 4K monitors, especially with a laptop.
• You are integrating a workflow that uses other Apple devices, such as the iPad and iPhone.
• You’re a Motion graphic designer who uses Apple Motion and Final Cut Pro in addition to your Adobe applications.
• You prefer macOS for usability and minor features.

Legitimate Reasons to Prefer a Windows PC

Likewise, here are some important reasons you might opt for a PC:

• Windows computers cost dramatically less for the same performance specs, particularly in laptops.
• You want access to Windows-only productivity and business software.
• You prefer system compatibility with your business clients, especially outside the creative services industry (90% of which are Windows users).
• You want the ability to upgrade and customize hardware to specific needs.
• You’re doing high-end animation or video production in addition to design and need to leverage multiple hard drives and graphics cards in your workflow.
• You prefer Windows for usability and minor features.

In the End, It’s a Matter of Preference

Ultimately, it’s up to each person to choose the tools they feel help them get their job done and will be reliable. Quality tools are quality tools regardless of the brand.

Those of you who are photographers in your spare time may remember similar debates between Canon and Nikon users, but at the end of the day, you can’t tell if a picture was shot on one or the other just by looking.

The same is true of design work. The “real designers use Macs” argument dies the moment you are shown quality work, regardless of what device was used in its creation.