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Macintosh

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The Apple Macintosh, or 'Mac', is a brand of computers established in 1984 with (then) the first commercially available WYSIWIG graphical user interface (GUI). The advent of Aldus Pagemaker, Adobe Postscript and the Apple Laserwriter quickly established it as the system of choice for graphic design, especially desk top publishing (DTP). Subsequently Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator strengthened the Mac's predominance. The success of the Mac as a preferred platform by those that could afford it was a key driver in the development of Microsoft Windows, which, since version 3.1, has challenged the Mac's graphic superiority, first with Windows only applications such as Corel Draw, and, later, with the availability of the full suite of professional Mac graphic applications on the Windows platform.

From 2002, all new Apple Macintoshes were supplied with OS X, which had been available since 2001, replacing the aging Mac OS which at that point was at version 9. OS X was an entirely new operating system for the Mac, and was part of the UNIX family. Although its graphical user interface and user-interaction was very similar to OS 9, its underlying function was entirely different. This in turn allowed the eventual transition in 2006 to Intel based chip-sets, replacing the Motorola chips which Apple had worked with since the Apple ][, the first commercially available personal computer.

Macs have traditionally been favoured much more by the creative sector, including photographers, than by other sectors. Overall, the Mac's market share has been around 5% for most of its existence, although it rose to 9.6% by close of 2008. Various explanations have been put forward for this: the comparative immunity of OS X to virus attacks, the decreasing price differential between OS X and Windows computers, the ability to run both Windows and OS X on Intel based Macs, and the relative stagnation of the personal computer market, leading consumers to consider upgrading to more expensive machines. Equally, the halo effect of the iPod and iPhone have established Apple as a consumer brand to a much greater extent.

Debates between the relative merits of Apple Macs and Windows based computers have been running since the 1990s, and show no sign of resolution. Most of the special features which were Mac-only in the early days are now available on Windows, so that the Mac is no longer the clear, only, choice for creative professionals. Equally, the price difference between a Macintosh and a Windows system equipped to the same specification is no longer significant (except for self-build, which is still cheaper for Windows). Apple's recent advances in customer service through the Apple Stores have in many ways transformed the landscape, since, previously, it was difficult to find local support and advice for Apple related problems.

Generally speaking, commercial design is still predominantly Mac based, and photographers working closely with commercial designers may find that the compatibility issues are eased using a Mac. Photographers who primarily work with consumers may find that the higher compatibility with Windows users is important.

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  • This page was last modified on 22 March 2009, at 14:22.
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