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mik2007 · Jun 8, 2008, 08:10 PM

Hey everyone! I have recently finished my degree in web page design and development and am interested in buying a iMac. I currently use a PC and don't have much experience in the mac computers. I was wondering how good they are to use in web development? Is it worth buying one for my designing of websites or should I just buy a new PC. I know its an ongoing question in what is better Mac or PC but I hope there isn't a debate in this topic.

I use dreamweaver and flash but I know that the iMac has iweb. I was wondering how well that works as well and if dreamweaver and flash work on a mac just as good as they do on a PC? Please get back to me with your answers I would greatly appreciate it.

Scleros · Jun 9, 2008, 06:18 AM

I'm not a web designer, but here's my $0.02 anyway. Presumably, you're going to want to test your design with different web browsers so it's friendly to the widest audience. To do this, you'll need both a PC and a Mac, and probably a Linux box too. If you're going into business for yourself, you will need to accommodate your client's web infrastructure and that means having the tools and skills to develop for IIS / Apache / asp / php / cgi / whatever they want and I think a PC would be the most flexible in this regard for tool selection and availability.

ScottGem · Jun 9, 2008, 06:28 AM

Scleros has a good point about being able to test your design under multiple platforms. And that acutally points towards a MAC since you can run Windows and MAC OS on an Intel based MAC.

On the other hand. If you are going to be working on your own, then its probably not as necessary.

mik2007 · Jun 9, 2008, 06:00 PM

I know that using a PC seems better if you are needing to test your designs on all browsers but I also know that you can install windows on an iMac as well to do this. But is there a point to buying an iMac to just install windows on it if I could just buy a PC and have windows already on it? I enjoy the other features that the iMac offers as well but I need to know if it will help me out in my web designing better than a PC would.

ScottGem · Jun 10, 2008, 05:52 AM

You missed the point. The idea is to be able to test on MAC AND Windows. You can't run MAC OS on a Windows based PC (as far as I know).

Scleros · Jun 10, 2008, 09:09 AM

I also think the quality of the resulting web is more dependent on talent and toolset than a specific operating system. This computer you're going to buy in all likelihood will be replaced in 3-5 years, so why not buy what you're already familiar with and then adjust your toolset and computer once you have several years of web design under your belt. Absorption of the learning curve of a new computer and tools is better done without a deadline.

mik2007 · Jun 10, 2008, 09:57 PM

Learning the OS won't take too long as my sister already has one and she can teach me. I am not worried about that. My web design professor told me that she uses her mac for everything including designing and loves using it. I know you can run OS X and windows on an iMac but do you think that is worth buying one and doing that. Like if you are designing sites using a PC how are you able to test it on safari without having a mac?

Scleros · Jun 10, 2008, 10:35 PM

Originally Posted by mik2007

how are you able to test it on safari without having a mac?

Safari runs on Windows, see Apple - Safari. I really don't care which you get. Both have their merits. You just seem eager to get a new shiny expensive gadget to improve your design prowess and I believe it to be more about toolset and talent.

I'm also probably casting too much of my own desires and experience on the decision as I'd want a dual monitor setup, RAID 5 storage subsystem, and I tend to be constantly tinkering with internal components. The iMacs I've worked on have been a pain to take apart and put back together and the parts were expensive.

Read the specs, compare the costs, and enjoy whichever you get.