So, we made the switch from Mac to Windows. Scary stuff. But the dread of a clunky operating system, ugly kit and, let’s face it, the problem that IT’S NOT A MAC was finally outweighed by the fact that Mac is just not supporting the design industry in the way that Microsoft now are happy to do.
Essentially Mac has become increasingly less responsive to the needs of our industry. In the last 5 years, there have been no updates that have made upgrading the machine worthwhile, whilst Windows have made significant improvements to their operating system. In terms of GPU rendering, which is mainly reliant on Nvidia graphics card, this function is not provided by Mac. Those of us who have been waiting for Mac to offer an upgrade to enable super-fast rendering have been left out in the cold.
Then there’s the small issue of cost. This is a no-brainer. The ability to build and customise your Windows machines to a far higher spec than Mac has available, and for a lower cost to your business is, or course, another win for Windows. The machines can be modified and re-configured, making Windows more flexible and responsive. It is a better fit for now and the future.
And personally, I’ve become somewhat disillusioned with Apple. True I would not ditch my iPhone, but Apple’s focus on mass consumer products seems to have come at a cost to the design industry and the users of the Mac Pro.
So, having pushed the cheese-grater to the limits of what it can do, we willingly opened our hearts and office to the PC. How did it go? The migration of files was a little tricky and time-consuming. Trying to do this mid-project was probably not the best planning we’ve ever done, but we got there. After carefully opting for the Microsoft Surface Bluetooth keyboard, crucially because it looks and feels like a Mac keyboard, came the crushing realisation that keystrokes and shortcuts are different on a Windows keyboard. How do you train your fingers’ muscle memory out of something they’ve been doing for nearly 20 years? The answer is, you make a lot of really bad mistakes, which speeds up the learning time!
But for us, there the problems ended and the benefits have far outweighed those first transition weeks. Render speeds alone are a revelation. I wouldn’t say we’ve rendered stuff just for the sake of it(!) but I did run a comparison with the Mac and the render times were easily cut in half. Microsoft has done some really nice work in terms of shaping up the look and functionality of the Windows operating system. Windows 10 is surprisingly similar to Mac OS, and the Adobe and Cinema 4D interfaces are exactly the same, which all makes for a smooth transition in terms of the everyday work processes.
Overall it took around 2 weeks to fully migrate, adjust and be comfortably up and running on the new kit. It has definitely been worth it.
