So there is no real evidence for the old saying “Adobe software runs better on Mac.” Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator etc were not designed to perform better due to OS preference. In my opinion, the bias towards using Macs today is based on the long-standing history and tradition of Graphic Designers using Macs. It has no technical basis (currently in terms of performance and hardware), since Apple moved to using 3rd party components from Intel and other companies.Īdobe has gone on record via their Adobe Hardware Performance Whitepaper to point out that the performance of their software comes down to specs, not operating system. There is a reason, it’s not a practical one… (in my opinion) but it is a reason. You will in fact be judged by whether or not you use or own a Mac as a Graphic Designer.
In reality these “marketing optics” do matter to some people, even if they shouldn’t. Many designers feel that if they can’t afford a Mac they won’t be taken seriously, so they’ll even invest in buying a used Mac that cost twice as much as a newer Windows PC. Many designers find themselves turned down for jobs if they prefer using a PC rather than a Mac.
It’s astounding to me that in 2015 the question of which operating system you should use is still a debate.
