Hi all,

I'm looking for opinions from those in the graphics field on whether or not Macs are still the "industry standard" for designers. I'm the contest administrator for TopCoder Studio (an online graphic design competition site) and we're planning on holding an onsite tournament this summer. We'll be providing workstations for the designers, and we would like to provide Macs (with an optional Windows environment for those used to using PCs).

Those of you still in school, or just out of school -- are classrooms still Mac-only environments? Those of you working -- are your companies providing Macs or PCs? If you freelance, which do you prefer?

Thanks in advance for any insight you can provide on this. We want to be sure to offer the best possible environment.

Mac is where it's at

from what i know, many designers uses mac as the same with colleges, and while some use pcs, i personally use a pc because im more comfortable with it, but macs are still being used.

I Use a PC, but I think more formally trained people use macs (not all, but most colleges teach a lot of design on macs)

i kind of prefer a mac and use it at home, but have set up pcs at work since:

a) pcs are definitely a more cost-effective solution as compared to macs
b) my staff seem to prefer pcs over macs

I just started a design class this week at my university. We are using macs. The class is in the graphic design building and there isnt a PC in the entire building.

macs are more common place, but i personally hate the things

i think a nice, huge and fast PC will do the job just right! i have a starnge problem with macs, and the new windows vista that looks just like it... So pc for me

PC ALL THE WAY!! lol, both kewl but i prefer pc since im more comfortable with it

I currently use a PC but I'm after a mac as they are better for designers. My school uses PCs but thats only because the educational software isnt for macs rofl.

how so is that the mac is much better (jw), i do know macs carry less virus if anything but, if your talking about computer's power, are you like comparing a mac vs a dell etc, i mean the power all depends no? you can custom build your own computer for less cheaper and carry strong power, or is it that cuz the mac is alot stronger and cheaper??? really what is the thing that makes mac better for designers? im not trying to prove a point but im just wondering what is is that make macs better for designers

Macs are good to use, especially when you are also doing multimedia design (video and audio rec and editing). I use a PC for my freelance mainly because its much more affordable and easier to develop HTML/PHP with.

I think it's becoming more of a toss-up every day.
In the 'old days' of graphic design on personal computers, Macs had the definite advantage and were, and still are, more prevalent in design shops. However, PC's have caught up significantly in their power and graphics capabilities, not to mention the much lower price of a killer PC these days.

I don't like Macs, never have, and I have ZERO problems designing on my PC

Once upon a time...In early days of computers.....
MAC - graphic OS (windows,icons,mouse, ...)
PC - MSDOS (command line....)

Mac was more suitable than PC for graphic jobs.

Now, situation is different. PC can do all the things that MAC do. I like MAC, but I have PC. Similar hardware and software configuration with MAC will cost me much more.

I use pc, but think that many professional designers prefer macs. God knows why!!

when i was in college it was macs all the way. PCs have caught up a bit, but i'm still a die hard mac lover. Probably because i lived through the days where a PC wouldn't open a file created in the same app on a mac, and a couple catastrophic ZIP disks reformats. Exposé in Photoshop is almost worth it alone for me

i will say this, every single person i know who has switched to a mac has never looked back, no exceptions. And now mac can run windows along side OSX (if you like blue screens) so why not opt for the best of both worlds?

For most of my carrier I have designed on a PC. However, during the last 8 months I was 'forced' to work on a Mac. After the experience, I would have to say that I prefer working on the PC. It's not that the Mac is in anyway inferior, it's simply that I am more comfortable and experienced with PCs.

So my verdict ? No real difference. It's just a matter of interface style.

I want an IntelMAC!!!!
Currently run an AMD dual core 4400+ , 2 gig of RAM, dual monitor display and is so weak i could use 2 gigs more.... and a professional graphics card...
Anyway- for Photoshop 2 gig RAM is not enough.

PC here. I use PC because I've used them all my life so I'm comfterable and know what i'm doing on PC along with the design programs on PC...if I switched to mac I know I'd be asking for help 24/7 haha...but yes lots of colleges teach designing on macs...

For my freelance,i prefer to use PC,becuase it is so simply and more confortable
to work,but in our company (a printing company)CTP(computer to plate)department they use macs ~