Microsoft Vs. Apple: Which Is Better For Graphic Designing?

By Raquel Addams , Jun 25 2018
Graphic Designer

Featured Image: iStock/Sidop

The endless debate between Microsoft and Apple seems to be never-ending. While Apple has been the go-to technology for graphic designers for years, Microsoft is now rearing its head as a formidable competitor.

Graphic designers need the best platform for showcasing their abilities and getting their projects done well. They need a compatible surface, versatile software, and the ability to easily portray their ideas on the screen. Since both Microsoft and Apple have made huge strides in their graphic designing technology, this debate has also seen many changes.

The question of whether Microsoft or Apple is better for graphic designing may not have been an issue before, but it is now. Only a few years ago, Apple would have been the obvious choice. However, both of these giants are now constantly developing and improving their offerings. Microsoft is quite a serious contender to Apple’s sleek and chic technology, especially after the release of the Surface series. Users should hence consider the following before they make a choice for their graphic designing purposes:

Added Functionality In Windows

A Windows 10 upgrade has now included the Creators Update, which would add a huge functionality factor to its machines. This would include updated and improved software for the classic Paint program, along with enhanced touchscreen hardware, updated 3D capabilities for modeling purposes, and much more.

Graphic design and illustrations are hence now added functionalities that Windows can offer its users. Of course, Windows did support a lot of design software even before such upgrades. However, with the added upgrades and options, the Microsoft Surface series could finally give Mac designing a run for its money.

iMac Vs. Surface Studio

Graphic designers usually preferred Apple software for the important features it made available. Among these were an amazing range of propriety software and advanced font rendering. On the other hand, Windows computers have been known for their huge selection of software, hardware, and several features embedded among them. However, nothing was uniquely constructed for catering to a designing platform and its unique requirements. This could make the Windows choice confusing for some users.

iMac Vs. Surface Studio
Image Source: Pcmag.com

However, the Surface Studio is finally here for Microsoft users. These would provide an optimized and unique range of devices especially geared towards graphic designers. Even loyal Apple and Mac users are getting tempted by the new offers from Microsoft.

Displays

Displays have a very high level of importance for graphic designers all over the world. Keeping this in mind, Apple has traditionally separated its current iMacs into screen resolution categories. The 21.5 inch iMac has a Retina 4K display, while the 27-inch has a Retina 5K display.

While the Surface Studio does have a stunning display, it’s only available in one option. This is a 28-inch PixelSense that only goes around 63% beyond the 4K resolution capability.

Displays
Image Source: Microsoft.com

On the upside, the larger display is completely touchscreen, so extra hardware like drawing tablets are no longer needed. Graphic designers can hence look forward to a 23.5 by 15.5 inch area of touchscreen space when they go for the Windows option. Needless to say, this is a huge upside for any graphic designers. The display is capable of many actions at once, along with a lovely color variance option.

The Studio further allows sRGB, Viviv (P3-D65), and DCI-P3 for the designers’ ease. The sprinkle feature in Studio’s color space is always worth a try.

For some users, the hardware of iMac is secondary to the familiarity they feel with the program and their dependency upon it. For others, the hardware of a PC is all that matters. There are several variants of each kind of hardware, so it’s not easy to compare the Microsoft options with the Apple ones. However, the price of the iMac and the Surface Studio are quite similar. We may hence point out common and different aspects of the two options:

Graphics Cards

Microsoft’s Surface Studio is equipped with a NVIDIA GeForce GTX 965M with around 2 GB of video memory. The iMac’s standard is a 4 GB video memory with a AMD Radeon R9 M395X graphics card. Both these options cost just about the same. It’s worth noting here that the iMac gives a superior clock rate and a larger video memory than the Surface Studio.

Unfortunately, both graphics cards don’t allow their respective machines to utilize both the maximum visual setting and the native resolutions. This may not even be necessary for graphic designers, so isn’t much of an issue. If these were gaming systems, the problem would have been quite serious. However, it is imperative that both cards could render 3D drawing and 3D videos rapidly, efficiently, and without difficulty.

The Processors

The Surface Studio and the iMac are both powerhouses that need a solid, strong processor to see them through all their workings. To this end, they both have their own hardy processor model that boasts unique qualities.

For the Surface Studio, there’s a sixth-generation Intel quad-core i7 processor. The CPU of the Studio would hence gain the full benefit of Skylake from Windows 10. Users who have other versions of Windows may face some issues with performance and updates in the future. There are also RAM modules built into each PC which would help the processor boost the machine’s performance.

With the iMac, one would get a 4.0 GHz quad-core Intel Core i7. This is similar to what the Surface Studio has for around the same price. However, the iMac gives us a whole 32 GB of RAM while the Surface Studio manages only half that amount. The performance level isn’t doubled, but the additional RAM definitely makes video editing and image tweaking much easier.

Peripherals

Graphic designers need accuracy and ease of use when it comes to the tools they’re using with their systems. Hence, the peripherals of the Surface Studio include the Surface Keyboard and Mouse, while the iMac has the Magic Keyboard and the Magic Mouse 2.

Magic Mouse And Keyboard

Magic Mouse And Keyboard
Image Source: Letemsvetemapplem.eu

There are many difference between the peripherals for both systems, but the designer tools are what would affect graphic designers the most. While the keyboard and mouse have the same performance level for both iMac and the Surface Studio, there are other accessories that are unique to each one.

One example of this is the Surface Pen of Windows. This enables Surface Studio users to use their device as a huge tablet. This is a unique and bold offering, since it makes the Studio double as a drawing board right after unpacking. Plus, the Surface Pen is equipped with a magnetic, flat edge that can easily fix upon the Surface display itself.

However, the Surface Pen does have some jittering issues. After all, this offering is a new one from Microsoft and would be susceptible to some problems in the beginning.

Apple’s answer to Microsoft’s touchscreen technology is the Magic Trackpad 2. This is a larger, sleeker version of the first Magic Trackpad, but includes haptic feedback with a unique motor. This is similar to the clicking we perform on the trackpad instead of with a mouse.

Surface Keyboard And Mouse

Surface Keyboard And Mouse
Image Source: WindowsCentral.com

This trackpad gauges the level of pressure that a user’s finger has and overall helps to guide any kind of working on the large screen. This could come in useful when adjusting volume, sounds, etc. It’s a new device that would be familiar to Apple users from the get go.

The adjustment accessory for Microsoft is the Surface Dial. This a unique and somewhat different device for input purposes. It’s placed on the screen and can be used to adjust various settings, including brush or pencil widths, brightness, volume, etc.

The compatibility software of the Surface Dial only stretches to a few applications for now. It has to be purchased separately, though, which could set a graphic designer back around $100. However, it is a great secondary control along with the Surface Pen.

Surface Dial Only Stretches
Image Source: WindowsCentral.com

Conclusion

Comparing the Microsoft and Apple for the purpose of graphic designing may not be an equal discussion. After all, Apple’s iMac has been known to be an all-rounder for many years, including graphic designing as one of its many specialties. On the other hand, Microsoft’s Surface series is the first of its kind and caters especially to graphic designers and their needs.

The hardware of both offerings is also quite different, with varying purposes and prices. The iMac and the Surface Studio may technically be both desktop computers, but they’re very different products at the end of the day. Apple’s not interested in touchscreens for Macs right now, which may be fine for graphic designers used to its accurate pointer hardware. Still, it may face some serious competition with Microsoft sooner rather than later.

Microsoft is trying to transform the ways a designer can input their creativity into a PC. This is why the touchscreen interface is the main difference between the two systems. Microsoft provides a drawing tablet for beginner designers and illustrators as well as professional ones.

All in all, the discussion between Microsoft and Apple for graphic designing boils down to the needs and preferences of their users. Microsoft is fast attaining new goals in embedding several new features, coming up with new peripherals, and including new OS functions. Apple offers what it has been best at—elegant simplicity, all-roundedness, and familiarity for its loyal users.

 

Computer Company Logos
IT Firm Logos
Ecommerce Logos
Conferences Logos
Business Logos
Software Development Logos

 

How useful was this post?

Average rating 1.3 / 5. Vote count: 3

No votes so far! Be the first to rate this post.

Raquel Addams is a professional blogger and graphic design enthusiast who employs a unique combination of journalism, communication design and marketing strategy to help her clients to position and launch their enterprise or start-ups.

 

Leave a Reply