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Why Do Photographers Use Macs?
When it comes to photo editing, all PC and Mac architectures can be extremely powerful and capable, with each having its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Choosing one site to another can be daunting because there are too many different facets and factors to take into account. Hardware, software, operating system, cost, design/aesthetics, convenience, ease of use, stability, upgrading choices, resale value, height, and weight are some of the considerations to consider when choosing between PCs and Macs.
What makes it much more difficult is that some of these variables will have very different weights. For example, cost and hardware are often the two most important considerations influencing buying decisions.
Distinctions of Hardware
Back when Apple ran on IBM’s PowerPC processors, one might argue that there were major hardware variations between the two, but once Apple converted to Intel, those differences disappeared. Both PCs and Macs will now run Intel CPUs of comparable generation and processing power. The PC architecture is more versatile because it can run AMD CPUs (Apple devices are exclusively based on Intel microarchitecture), but this is not a significant advantage because AMD CPUs are normally slower than Intel CPUs.
So, in terms of raw resources, there is little inherent hardware distinction – all PCs and Macs are similarly capable systems.
However, there is one downside to Macs: they are produced by a single corporation, while the PC world is made up of tens of thousands of small and large suppliers. Apple does not make hardware parts. It either identifies or purchases the components it requires, or it collaborates with various vendors to create components tailored especially for Macs.
For e.g., the motherboard, which houses the CPU, RAM, video card, and all of the connectors, is engineered by Apple engineers who change the initial Intel specs to delete components such as eSATA ports to fit Apple’s proprietary ports such as Thunderbolt. Apple developers also create new firmware / BIOS for motherboards in order to make them compatible with the hardware and the Mac Operating System (Mac OS). If the specification is final, Apple’s manufacturing partners, such as Foxconn (China), produce certain pieces exclusively for Apple.
The product is then assembled at a separate factory, which may or may not is owned by the same manufacturer. All other parts, with the exception of the chipset, the Fusion motor, certain Apple-specific hardware components, and the external cases, are imported from regular PC product suppliers. HDD, SSD / PCIe Flash Storage, Video Cards, and RAM, for example, are all basic PC products that are widely available and compliant. Even the displays used in Apple’s Retina screens and monitors are manufactured by companies such as Samsung, which also produces related products for the PC industry.
So, why are Macs at a disadvantage?
Due to potential scheduling problems and the high demand for R&D services. When something new is published, it can be almost immediately available in the PC environment. Since businesses rely on individual components rather than the whole system, new computer parts will enter the market immediately after the device is released. Stuff cannot happen so easily in the case of Apple. Product overhaul, integration, firmware creation, and testing all require time to complete properly. When Intel unveiled its 9th generation microarchitecture, for example, you could develop or purchase a PC based on the same architecture. You always have to wait before Apple announces new computers.
Differences in Software: Drivers and Integration
The main benefit of Apple is their superb combination of hardware and software, which has undeniably contributed to the popularity of Apple products. For this cause, Macs are often considered more secure than PCs. And it is true: taking care of software and hardware integration is much simpler when you just have to work with a few hardware vendors and parts. In short, dedicated hardware is still superior.
Where it comes to PCs, there are several CPU makers, hundreds of motherboard manufacturers offering various versions with different feature sets, and the list goes on and on with all other products, all of which must be able to communicate nicely with each other end of the day. When you have put it together, you will have to work with tech, which is always the root cause of stability problems. For the normal user, dealing with buggy drivers, buggy firmware, and even incompatible hardware may be extremely irritating.
In general, Apple goods do not have any issues. The motherboards are meticulously built to work with the selected hardware modules, and everything is hand-picked to run optimally on that device. If the modules are assembled, drivers and firmware are tailored for that particular hardware, eliminating the need for third-party drivers and help. As a result, you will have a more reliable infrastructure with fewer hardware and device integration headaches to deal with in the long run.
We are used to running driver upgrades, configuration updates, and operating system updates on a regular basis as PC owners. And when things fail, as they do from time to time, our only approach for resolving problems is to perform a fresh or “new update,” which involves wiping everything out and starting from scratch.
Since software, hardware, and driver upgrades are shipped in a single upgrade kit, Mac users rarely face the same problems. There are no external products from third-party suppliers to deal with.
Is this why Macs outperform PCs?
In general, yes, but there is one difference – Microsoft. As you might be aware, Microsoft has been investing heavily in hardware production for its Microsoft Surface and Surface Book laptop lines. Through this move, Microsoft would be a direct competitor and probably a direct competitor for Apple in the future because Microsoft is using the same approach by effectively coupling hardware and software. Microsoft, like Apple, can customise the drivers and operating system to fit best with carefully selected hardware, resulting in rock-solid stability.
Ergonomics and Usability
Another field where Apple excels is ergonomics. The concept of a simple interface extends similarly to navigation and the use of both hardware and software elements. Since using the iMac, no one in the PC world has worked out the trackpad like Apple.
Graphic designers also prefer Macs over PC! Learn graphic design with Blue Sky Graphics to find out why.
